About Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Function

Hand drawing Afib diagram with heart and fibrillation signals

The heart maintains blood circulation
The heart has two sides (right and left)
Each side has two chambers, one top chamber (atrium) and one bottom chamber (ventricle)

Blood circulation through the heart

Blood flows from the veins into the top chambers (atria) and passes into the bottom chambers (ventricles)
Ventricles pump blood out into the arteries
The right side receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs
The left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the rest of the body
The lungs and the left atrium are connected via pulmonary veins which are located adjacent to the left atrium

Normal heart rhythm

The heart’s natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, sets the regular heart beat rhythm

SA node initiates the heart beat by sending out electrical signals
Electrical signals stimulate the top chambers (atria) to contract and pump blood into the bottom chambers (ventricles)
AV node sends out electrical signals to the ventricles
Electrical signals stimulate the ventricles to contract and pump blood out to the lungs and the rest of the body

Abnormal heart rhythm / atrial fibrillation

This most common cardiac arrhythmia is caused by abnormal pacemaker activity in the pulmonary veins.

Electrical signals from the pulmonary veins disturb the normal electrical signals in the heart
The pulmonary vein signals trigger atrial fibrillation
Electrical signals spread as erratic circular waves stimulating the top chambers (atria) to fibrillate (contract irregularly and rapidly)
Ventricles also receive abnormal electrical stimulation and may contract quickly
Atria and ventricles are uncoordinated causing an irregular heart rhythm
Blood is inefficiently pumped and can pool, forming clots in the atria

About the condition

Clinical impact

Atrial fibrillation (Afib/Af) tends to progress from paroxysmal (occasional, short and self-terminating), through persistent to chronic (long term). People with Afib are 5 to 7 times more likely to suffer a stroke and are at an increased risk of heart failure, but may also suffer only minor effects.

Signs and symptoms

Palpitations (heart fluttering or racing)
Shortness of breath
Weakness or problems exercising/exhaustion
Chest pain, pressure, discomfort
Dizziness, fainting, lightheadedness
Tiredness, lack of energy
Confusion
Many patients are asymptomatic (do not suffer symptoms)

If you are concerned, please seek medical advice. A doctor can check and monitor your condition and, if necessary, ensure you receive atrial fibrillation treatment.

Diagnosis

There are a variety of methods, including electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, several monitoring devices and stress tests, that check for atrial fibrillation and if an atrial fibrillation treatment is needed.

20000000

2% of the developed world population, including 20 million Europeans and Americans, suffer from Afib

200%

This is estimated to double in the next 50 years

Atrial fibrillation
Stroke patients

Atrial fibrillation is found in 5-15% of stroke patients

Underlying factors

Cardiac arrhythmia may occur due to a heart abnormality or chronic high blood pressure. It is often associated with aging, obesity, hyperthyroidism, smoking or excess alcohol. Family history can play a genetic role.

Atrial fibrillation treatment options

Management of atrial flutter patients aims at reducing symptoms and at preventing severe complications associated with abnormal heart rhythm. These therapeutic goals need to be pursued in parallel, especially upon the initial presentation of newly detected cardiac arrhythmia. Prevention of Afib-related complications relies on antithrombotic therapy, control of ventricular rate, and adequate therapy of concomitant cardiac diseases. These therapies may already alleviate symptoms, but symptom relief may require additional rhythm control therapy by cardioversion, antiarrhythmic drug therapy or ablation therapy using a catheter.

Medication

Afib medications, antithrombotics/antiarrhythmics, are one of several atrial fibrillation treatment options and are used to prevent the formation of thrombi (clots) and reduce the risk of strokes, but carry a risk of bleeding. Atrial fibrillation medication is used to maintain a normal heart rhythm.

Cardioversion

Cardioversion is where, under brief anesthesia, an electric shock is applied to the heart to normalize its rhythm. This technique necessitates antithrombotic treatment due to the increased risk of thromboembolism (blockage of blood vessels by clot).

Catheter ablation

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation is currently for patients who are suffering paroxysmal (occasional) abnormal heart rhythm despite medication. It is a minimally invasive treatment designed to block the abnormal pacemaker activity in Afib. A catheter (a thin, flexible tube) is directed, via entry into the body from the groin, through the veins, into the left atrium and pulmonary veins. Energy is delivered from the catheter to ablate (damage) the small area of heart tissue where the abnormal electrical activity occurs. This stops dysfunctional electrical stimulation, treats Afib and restores normal heart rhythm. The energy source required for ablation can be ultrasound, heat (radiofrequency ablation), cold (cryoablation) or laser. We believe, our simplified technique using laser light is the most precise and best ablation method for atrial fibrillation treatment. Please read about our method of cardiac ablation for Afib.

Catheter treatment of atrial fibrillation is the best chance
for a lasting recovery.

Healing AFib
with Light
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