Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib) Prevention and Prognosis

Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib) Prevention 

      Individuals that do not have atrial fibrillation can lower their chance of getting this arrhythmia by minimizing risk factors. This includes minimizing the risk factors for coronary heart disease and high blood pressure listed below.

• Do not smoke. 
• Maintain a healthy weight. 
• Make nutritious, low-fat or nonfat foods the basis of a lifestyle; some physicians suggest increasing a person's intake of fish oil, fiber, and vegetables.
• Take part in moderately strenuous physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day. 
•  Control (reduce) high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 
•  Use alcohol in moderation (maximum of 1-2 drinks per day), if at all. 
• Avoid caffeine and other stimulants as much as is possible.

      If patients have atrial fibrillation, their health care professional may prescribe treatments for the underlying cause and to prevent future episodes of atrial fibrillation. These treatments might include any of the following (see Medical Treatment for more information):

• Medications 
• Cardioversion 
• Pacemaker 
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Maze surgery

Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib) Prognosis

     In general, the outlook for most individuals with A fib is good to fair, depending on the cause of the disease and how well the patient responds to treatment. The most dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation is stroke.

• Someone with atrial fibrillation is about 3-5 times more likely to have a stroke than someone who does not have atrial fibrillation. 
• The risk of stroke from atrial fibrillation for people aged 50-59 years is about 1.5%. For those aged 80-89 years, the risk is about 30%. 
• Warfarin (Coumadin), when taken in appropriate doses and monitored carefully, reduces this risk of stroke by over two-thirds. 
• It is important to know that clinical trial data have shown that individuals can live just as long with atrial fibrillation with a controlled heart rate -- for example, with medications plus Coumadin -- as other people in normal sinus rhythm (AFFIRM trial).

     Another complication of atrial fibrillation is heart failure.

• In heart failure, the heart no longer contracts and pumps as strongly as it should. 
• The very rapid contraction of the ventricles in atrial fibrillation can gradually weaken the muscle walls of the ventricles. 
•  This is uncommon, however, because most people seek treatment for atrial fibrillation before the heart begins to fail. 

    Patients with complications of stroke or heart failure have a more guarded outcome than those without complications. However, for most people with atrial fibrillation, relatively simple treatment dramatically lowers the risk of serious outcomes. Those who have infrequent and brief episodes of atrial fibrillation may need no further treatment other than learning to avoid the triggers of their episodes, such as caffeine, alcohol, or overeating.