Treatment

The good news is that with the right treatment, you can live a long, healthy life with AFib. But you need to be in tune with your heart and body. If untreated, atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots, stroke and other heart-related problems, including heart failure. 

Your treatment will likely depend on:

• Your age
• Your symptoms and how often the episodes happen
• Whether your heart rate is under control
• Your risk for stroke (see the CHADS2VASC score to find out your risk and need for blood thinners; your health care team may use other calculators or tools to assess your risk as not all conditions are included in this score)
• Other medical conditions, including if you have heart disease 

Treatment of AFib focuses on lifestyle changes and either rate control or rhythm control. Treatments to help blood clots and lower the chance of stroke are also important.