Can atrial fibrillation be cured?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia in daily life. Many patients often ask their doctors after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, "Can my atrial fibrillation be cured?" The answer is affirmative. With the advancement of medical technology, some patients can be completely cured of atrial fibrillation, which needs to be analyzed and judged based on the treatment methods for atrial fibrillation. First, medication treatment, which is currently the mainstream method for treating atrial fibrillation. Most patients use medication treatment, but it cannot effectively cure atrial fibrillation. Second, radiofrequency ablation treatment, which is a minimally invasive means of treating atrial fibrillation. This technology has become very mature, and many patients have achieved complete cure of atrial fibrillation through radiofrequency ablation treatment. Third, surgical treatment, where a portion of the patients undergo a Maze procedure during surgery, which can also achieve the purpose of curing atrial fibrillation.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Can atrial fibrillation heal itself?

No. Atrial fibrillation, often abbreviated as AFib, is becoming more common as society ages. Many patients ask their doctors if AFib will go away on its own. The answer is no, AFib will not resolve itself. Therefore, once diagnosed with AFib, it is essential to visit a hospital and follow the guidance of a doctor. Proper medication under medical supervision can control symptoms, prevent complications, ensure a good quality of life, improve long-term outcomes, and extend life expectancy.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Nursing Care for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) refers to atrial fibrillation, caused primarily by organic heart diseases, commonly seen in coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and pulmonary heart disease, as well as certain metabolic disorders such as hyperthyroidism. Patients with AF can experience impacts on cardiac function, and in severe cases, may develop heart failure. Nursing care primarily involves ensuring the patient rests and avoids excessive fatigue. Mild physical activities can be performed, and it is advisable to eat easily digestible foods and avoid spicy foods to reduce gastrointestinal irritation and lessen the burden on cardiac function. Attention should be paid to sleep, avoiding smoking and alcohol, routinely checking the electrocardiogram (ECG), and seeking timely medical treatment at a hospital if special conditions arise.

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Written by Zeng Wei Jie
Cardiology
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Can atrial fibrillation be completely cured?

Regarding whether atrial fibrillation can be completely cured, it essentially depends on the definition of being completely cured. If the criterion is complete cessation of medication, then many patients cannot achieve this. However, if the standard is conversion of atrial fibrillation back to normal sinus rhythm, then it is achievable for many patients, such as those with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, who suffer from recurrent episodes and do not respond well to medication. In such cases, radiofrequency ablation might be attempted, and there is a high likelihood that after the treatment, the rhythm will convert to sinus rhythm. In this sense, some people can be considered cured. However, whether anticoagulation therapy can be discontinued depends on their thromboembolic risk score. This means that even if atrial fibrillation converts to sinus rhythm after radiofrequency ablation, some patients still need long-term anticoagulant medication. Therefore, from the perspective of discontinuing medication, such patients with atrial fibrillation are not considered cured.

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Written by Cui Bo
Cardiology
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Is atrial fibrillation the same as atrial flutter?

Atrial fibrillation, commonly abbreviated as AF, is a simple way to express atrial fibrillation, which is fundamentally pathological. Normal heart rhythm is sinus rhythm. Therefore, once atrial fibrillation occurs, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly rather than ignoring it. All patients with atrial fibrillation are scored to determine if they require anticoagulation therapy. Since atrial fibrillation is a trembling of the atrium and results in a completely irregular heartbeat, it can easily lead to the formation of blood clots in the left atrial appendage. Hence, if one discovers their heartbeat is very irregular, utterly irregular, immediate medical attention is necessary. An electrocardiogram can confirm the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, but it is essential to seek the underlying cause of the condition and manage both the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation and the anticoagulation therapy.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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What medicine is used for atrial fibrillation?

The current medications for atrial fibrillation mainly include three types: the first type controls the ventricular rate, which ensures the basic function of the patient's heart and minimizes the cardiac dysfunction caused by atrial fibrillation. This includes drugs such as receptor blockers and calcium channel antagonists, digoxin, amiodarone, and others. The second type of drugs are those used for cardioversion. The third type of drugs are those used to prevent embolism, which are anticoagulants. Currently, the main drugs include warfarin, new anticoagulants such as dabigatran and rivaroxaban, and intravenous medications like low molecular weight heparin calcium and nadroparin.