Is atrial fibrillation without symptoms dangerous?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on June 17, 2025
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Atrial fibrillation without symptoms is still dangerous. Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmic disease among the elderly and can cause the following issues: First, it can induce heart failure. Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of acute heart failure, especially in the elderly, who may suffer from acute heart failure due to an episode of atrial fibrillation, particularly those with structural heart disease, making them more prone to developing heart failure. Second, it can lead to thromboembolic complications. Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of thromboembolic complications. These complications are unrelated to whether the atrial fibrillation is symptomatic or not. When atrial fibrillation persists, it significantly increases the chances of forming atrial thrombi. If a thrombus dislodges, it can lead to the occurrence of thromboembolic events, such as a stroke.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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"Heart atrial fibrillation" refers to what?

Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinical arrhythmia. An electrocardiogram reveals abnormal fluctuations in the atria, which are fast and disordered with some fibrillating waves, known as atrial fibrillation. Diseases causing atrial fibrillation are often associated with structural heart disease. Common conditions include rheumatic heart disease, heart failure, pulmonary heart disease, viral myocarditis, coronary artery disease, and congenital heart disease. Atrial fibrillation can also occur in conditions that cause sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve activity changes, with hyperthyroidism being a common related disease.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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Can atrial fibrillation be cured?

The treatment of atrial fibrillation, first and foremost, should actively seek the primary disease and inducing factors of atrial fibrillation, and make corresponding treatments. Currently, the treatment of atrial fibrillation mainly includes two types: one is drug treatment. Since patients with atrial fibrillation have a higher incidence of embolism and may have a history of embolism, valve disease, hypertension, diabetes, older patients, left atrial enlargement, and coronary heart disease, which can increase the risk of embolism, therefore, such patients should be advised to undergo long-term anticoagulation treatment. Another type of drug treatment is to control the ventricular rate. When drug treatment is ineffective, surgical treatment can be chosen, and the main surgical treatment currently is radiofrequency ablation.

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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 Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Can atrial fibrillation lead to sudden death?

Atrial fibrillation is a very common arrhythmia in our daily lives, but does it lead to sudden death after its onset? Generally speaking, atrial fibrillation does not cause sudden death, but this does not mean that atrial fibrillation is safe. Atrial fibrillation often poses the following risks: Firstly, it causes symptoms; repeated episodes of atrial fibrillation can cause symptoms such as palpitations and chest tightness in patients. Secondly, it triggers heart failure; acute episodes of atrial fibrillation are often a significant cause of heart failure, which necessitates hospital treatment for many patients. Thirdly, it leads to complications from blood clots, which is one of the most severe yet common complications of atrial fibrillation, leaving sequelae such as weakness in walking or hemiplegia on one side of the body.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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How is atrial fibrillation treated?

Atrial fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia in our daily lives, and it has many dangers. First, it produces symptoms; when atrial fibrillation occurs, patients often experience palpitations and chest discomfort. Second, it can induce heart failure. Third, it can cause complications such as cerebral infarction. Therefore, the treatment of atrial fibrillation is usually divided into the following types: first, pharmacological treatment, such as using amiodarone to maintain sinus rhythm and taking warfarin to prevent thrombosis. Second, surgical treatment, such as radiofrequency ablation therapy, which is a minimally invasive method and is hoped to prevent further episodes of atrial fibrillation.