Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a heart condition that causes the upper heart chambers, or atria, to beat rapidly and irregularly.
“The typical patient population affected by atrial fibrillation is primarily older adults with the majority of cases occurring in people over the age of 60, and the prevalence significantly increasing with advancing age,” said Adel Mina, MD, FACC. “Meaning the most common demographic for atrial fibrillation patients are elderly individuals, particularly those between 65 and 85 years old.”
One common cause of AFib is aging. “Besides age, conditions like high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart failure, sleep apnea, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, excessive alcohol intake and thyroid issues can also increase the risk of atrial fibrillation,” Dr. Mina said.
While some do not have any symptoms, patients may experience chest pain, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath or weakness. Patients may also feel a fast heart rate, palpitations and an inability to exercise. Smoking and large amounts of alcohol consumption can also worsen symptoms.
Three methods of treatment are typically prescribed for treating AFib. One option is to control heart rate with medication and improve symptoms. Medications can also prevent the heart muscle weakening due to a prolonged elevated heart rate.
The second option is to use blood thinners. This option helps to prevent the risk of stroke as AFib can cause blood to pool in the upper chambers of the heart.
The third option is to restore heart rhythm. This is done with medication or cardioversion, an electric shock treatment, or with ablation. Ablation is a treatment that uses heat or freezing to address an irregular heartbeat. This treatment also lowers the risk of experiencing AFib again.
In October 2024, Carle Health began offering a new ablative treatment for AFib patients, the PulseSelect PFA System. This FDA-approved method was found to lower rates of adverse effects when compared to other ablative treatments.
“The PulseSelect PFA System is a cardiac ablation system that uses short high voltage electrical pulses to treat atrial fibrillation,” Dr. Mina said. “These pulses interrupt irregular electrical signals that cause atrial fibrillation.” This procedure is non-thermal, meaning that heat is not used, and it avoids damaging the surrounding structures of the heart. The PulseSelect PFA System is also performed faster than typical ablation methods.
Ablation procedures like the PulseSelect PFA System are treatment options for patients who do not respond to or are intolerant to medication. It is also an option for those who do not want to use heart medications to control their heart rhythm.
K.J., a Carle Health patient, began experiencing AFib symptoms in 2024.
“I had been experiencing little episodes where I felt like my heart was racing or irregular,” K.J. said. “In the middle of May last year, I had this type of episode that lasted for several hours. And my daughter, who’s a nurse practitioner, happened to be with me and said she thought I needed to go to the ER.”
K.J.'s heartbeat had stabilized when she arrived at the Emergency Department. She went to see her primary care provider the following week, and he recommended she wear a 30-day Holter monitor to track her heart rhythm. It found a few more of the episodes K.J. felt before, and she was referred to Dr. Mina.
“They [Dr. Mina and his team] looked at the Holter, too, and said I definitely had AFib,” K.J. said.
Before her visit with Dr. Mina, K.J.'s primary placed her on Eliquis, a blood thinner to prevent the possibility of blood clots. Dr. Mina also prescribed her Sotalol, an antiarrhythmic AFib medication.
“He told me I could stay with the medication or try ablation,” K.J. said. “I wanted to try the medications first and not do surgery right away. But I was still having these little episodes, and the medications were making me tired.”
Dr. Mina then recommended moving forward with the ablation with the hope of reducing the medication K.J. was taking or stopping her taking it completely.
K.J. was one of the first Carle Health patients to receive an ablation treatment with the PulseSelect PFA System.
The procedure typically lasts between two to three hours, and patients are discharged as early as three to four hours afterwards. K.J. had her procedure at eight in the morning and was on her way home by 4:30 p.m. that same day.
“Recovery is short in terms of minor restrictions for the first couple of days,” Dr. Mina said. "Patients can do normal daily activities in the next day or two.”
“I had a good experience,” K.J. said. “The hospital was just fabulous for pre-testing and good to my husband and daughter who were there the day of the procedure.”
In the months since her treatment, K.J. hasn’t experienced any episodes or side effects. Future appointments will continue to track her heart health, but K.J. is happy to be feeling fine.
For more information about atrial fibrillation and treatment options, visit Carle.org.
“The typical patient population affected by atrial fibrillation is primarily older adults with the majority of cases occurring in people over the age of 60, and the prevalence significantly increasing with advancing age,” said Adel Mina, MD, FACC. “Meaning the most common demographic for atrial fibrillation patients are elderly individuals, particularly those between 65 and 85 years old.”
One common cause of AFib is aging. “Besides age, conditions like high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart failure, sleep apnea, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, excessive alcohol intake and thyroid issues can also increase the risk of atrial fibrillation,” Dr. Mina said.
While some do not have any symptoms, patients may experience chest pain, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath or weakness. Patients may also feel a fast heart rate, palpitations and an inability to exercise. Smoking and large amounts of alcohol consumption can also worsen symptoms.
Three methods of treatment are typically prescribed for treating AFib. One option is to control heart rate with medication and improve symptoms. Medications can also prevent the heart muscle weakening due to a prolonged elevated heart rate.
The second option is to use blood thinners. This option helps to prevent the risk of stroke as AFib can cause blood to pool in the upper chambers of the heart.
The third option is to restore heart rhythm. This is done with medication or cardioversion, an electric shock treatment, or with ablation. Ablation is a treatment that uses heat or freezing to address an irregular heartbeat. This treatment also lowers the risk of experiencing AFib again.
In October 2024, Carle Health began offering a new ablative treatment for AFib patients, the PulseSelect PFA System. This FDA-approved method was found to lower rates of adverse effects when compared to other ablative treatments.
“The PulseSelect PFA System is a cardiac ablation system that uses short high voltage electrical pulses to treat atrial fibrillation,” Dr. Mina said. “These pulses interrupt irregular electrical signals that cause atrial fibrillation.” This procedure is non-thermal, meaning that heat is not used, and it avoids damaging the surrounding structures of the heart. The PulseSelect PFA System is also performed faster than typical ablation methods.
Ablation procedures like the PulseSelect PFA System are treatment options for patients who do not respond to or are intolerant to medication. It is also an option for those who do not want to use heart medications to control their heart rhythm.
K.J., a Carle Health patient, began experiencing AFib symptoms in 2024.
“I had been experiencing little episodes where I felt like my heart was racing or irregular,” K.J. said. “In the middle of May last year, I had this type of episode that lasted for several hours. And my daughter, who’s a nurse practitioner, happened to be with me and said she thought I needed to go to the ER.”
K.J.'s heartbeat had stabilized when she arrived at the Emergency Department. She went to see her primary care provider the following week, and he recommended she wear a 30-day Holter monitor to track her heart rhythm. It found a few more of the episodes K.J. felt before, and she was referred to Dr. Mina.
“They [Dr. Mina and his team] looked at the Holter, too, and said I definitely had AFib,” K.J. said.
Before her visit with Dr. Mina, K.J.'s primary placed her on Eliquis, a blood thinner to prevent the possibility of blood clots. Dr. Mina also prescribed her Sotalol, an antiarrhythmic AFib medication.
“He told me I could stay with the medication or try ablation,” K.J. said. “I wanted to try the medications first and not do surgery right away. But I was still having these little episodes, and the medications were making me tired.”
Dr. Mina then recommended moving forward with the ablation with the hope of reducing the medication K.J. was taking or stopping her taking it completely.
K.J. was one of the first Carle Health patients to receive an ablation treatment with the PulseSelect PFA System.
The procedure typically lasts between two to three hours, and patients are discharged as early as three to four hours afterwards. K.J. had her procedure at eight in the morning and was on her way home by 4:30 p.m. that same day.
“Recovery is short in terms of minor restrictions for the first couple of days,” Dr. Mina said. "Patients can do normal daily activities in the next day or two.”
“I had a good experience,” K.J. said. “The hospital was just fabulous for pre-testing and good to my husband and daughter who were there the day of the procedure.”
In the months since her treatment, K.J. hasn’t experienced any episodes or side effects. Future appointments will continue to track her heart health, but K.J. is happy to be feeling fine.
For more information about atrial fibrillation and treatment options, visit Carle.org.
Categories: Redefining Healthcare
Tags: AFib, Atria, Atrial, Blood, Cardiac, Cardiology, Chamber, Clot, Fibrillation, Health, Heart, Heartbeat, Rhythm, Vascular