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.

Other Voices

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
48sec home-news-image

Is atrial fibrillation the same as atrial flutter?

Atrial fibrillation, also known simply as AFib, is the same disease just referred to by different names. Atrial fibrillation is caused by various reasons leading to pathological changes in cardiac contractility and conductivity. By using a stethoscope, a doctor can detect irregularities in heart rate and varying intensities of heart sounds. Electrocardiogram (ECG) tests can record the distinctive waveforms of atrial fibrillation. Rapid atrial fibrillation requires medication for treatment. If not effectively treated, long-term atrial fibrillation can lead to heart failure, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the body and causing significant harm.

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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 Tang Li
Cardiology
1min 12sec home-news-image

Can atrial fibrillation cause cerebral infarction?

Patients with chronic atrial fibrillation have a relatively high incidence rate of embolism. For instance, those with a history of embolism, valvular disease, hypertension, diabetes, elderly patients, left atrial enlargement, and coronary artery disease are at increased risk of embolism. Atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor for stroke. As age increases, the incidence of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation also increases annually; atrial fibrillation doubles the mortality rate of stroke and significantly increases the disability rate. At the same time, atrial fibrillation also significantly increases the risk of recurrent stroke. Studies show that the incidence of stroke within the first year after a stroke is 6.92% in patients with atrial fibrillation, compared to 4.7% in those without atrial fibrillation. Therefore, anticoagulation therapy is the primary strategy for managing atrial fibrillation.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
1min 37sec home-news-image

Is heart palpitation the same as atrial fibrillation?

Palpitations are considered a disease term in Chinese medicine, while atrial fibrillation is a medical term in Western medicine. Generally, if there is a correlation between Chinese and Western medical terminology, palpitations can correspond to atrial fibrillation, but not all cases of palpitations are atrial fibrillation. In Chinese medicine, palpitations refer to a subjective feeling of unease or discomfort in the chest, and a feeling of irregular heartbeats. For example, some people may feel their heartbeat distinctly even when their heart rate is not fast, especially when their blood pressure is high; this is also considered palpitations. Additionally, some people may experience a rapid "thumping" heart rate after physical exertion or when they have a fever, which is also a manifestation of palpitations. There are also healthy, sensitive young individuals who can feel their heartbeat while lying down quietly or during sleep, which is also classified as palpitations. However, palpitations that are caused by heart arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation, where individuals can feel their heart beating rapidly and experience anxiety, are specifically indicative of atrial fibrillation; other types are not considered the same.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Can atrial fibrillation be cured?

Can atrial fibrillation be cured? Many patients often ask doctors this question, and the answer is affirmative. With the development of minimally invasive interventional treatment techniques, some patients with atrial fibrillation have been cured after radiofrequency ablation treatment and have not experienced any recurrence. As for which atrial fibrillation cases are suitable for radiofrequency ablation treatment, I suggest that if the atrial fibrillation recurs repeatedly and the symptoms are quite apparent, and the effect of medication is not ideal, one should consult a specialist cardiologist to see if radiofrequency ablation treatment is appropriate.