Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heart rhythm that significantly increases the risk of fatalities associated with heart disease and the risks of experiencing a stroke. According to the National Institutes of Health, the occurrence of AF increases with age, affecting one of every 200 people younger than 60 and nearly nine out of 100 people over 80.
Some AF patients are unaware of their condition, while others may suffer from chest discomfort, palpitations, fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
UT Southwestern Medical Center’s cardiologists can accurately diagnose your irregular heart rhythm and prescribe the medication or procedures needed to reduce or completely eliminate the condition. Our team of cardiologists includes heart rhythm management specialists, who have extensive experience diagnosing and treating arrhythmias.
Treatment is tailored to each patient. For some, a combination of medications or procedures may be needed to prevent rapid or slow heart rates during AF, to restore and maintain normal heart rhythm, and to prevent strokes.
If rhythm-control or rate-control medications fail to significantly reduce the incidence of arrhythmias, or if medication cannot be tolerated, you may be a candidate for one or more effective heart rhythm management therapies or surgical procedures, including ablation of atrial fibrillation or the implantation of a pacemaker.
Our cardiology specialists are respected by their peers as experts in the use of heart rhythm management procedures, including: