Hendrick provides advanced treatments for atrial fibrillation

An irregular or fluttering heart rate – known as arrhythmia – is a serious condition that can adversely affect daily activities and lead to a higher risk of stroke. Hendrick Health offers advanced treatment options, enabling patients to manage this cardiovascular disease while experiencing an increased quality of life.

More prevalent in people ages 65 and older, an arrhythmia develops when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions. A common form of the condition is atrial fibrillation (AFib) in which the heart not only beats irregularly but its upper and lower chambers are not working together as they should to pump blood effectively throughout the body.

Hendrick cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and specially trained nurses, technicians and therapists offer the latest technology and procedures for diagnosis and treatment. These experts bring advanced, “big-city” care for AFib and other cardiac conditions to Abilene, Brownwood and the Texas Midwest region.

Treatment options include medications, cardioversion to put the heart back into a normal rhythm, minimally-invasive left atrial appendage occlusion to reduce the risk of stroke, and catheter ablation that targets areas of the heart generating faulty electrical pulses.

Symptoms of AFib can include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, fainting and fatigue. This condition also can be present without symptoms. Left untreated, AFib can lead to a clot forming in the heart, possibly breaking free to cause a stroke.

To find a cardiologist or other healthcare provider, visit hendrickhealth.org.