Atrial Fibrillation

Living With Atrial Fibrillation

Because atrial fibrillation is often the result of a heart condition, making changes to improve your heart condition will usually improve your overall health. Some of these changes include:

• Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke. Quitting smoking may be the most important step you can take to prevent coronary artery disease. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking.
• Controlling your cholesterol. This can be accomplished by diet and exercise, and medicines if needed.
• Controlling your blood pressure. Follow a low-sodium, low-fat, and low-saturated fat diet; increase your exercise; decrease alcohol intake; and take medicines, if needed, to control your blood pressure.
• Trying a balanced, low-fat and low-sodium diet, such as one based on the American Heart Association's healthy diet guidelines.² For more information, see:

  Heart disease: Eating a heart-healthy diet.

• Eating more fish. Experts recommend that adults eat at least two servings of fish each week, particularly fish such as salmon, trout, and tuna, for a healthy heart. Also, a recent study found that eating baked or broiled fish may reduce your risk for developing atrial fibrillation.¹
• Not using alcohol, caffeine, or stimulants, such as methamphetamines or cocaine. Be aware that some nonprescription medicines, especially cold and herbal remedies, contain stimulants that can trigger atrial fibrillation. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicine.
• Trying an exercise program. Exercise has many positive effects: weight management, cholesterol reduction, blood pressure control, blood sugar leveling in diabetes, triglyceride reduction, mood elevation, and increased strength. Try to exercise on most, preferably all, days of the week. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program. For more information, see the topic Cardiac Rehabilitation.
• Avoid getting sick from the flu. Get a flu shot every year.
• Being on the alert for signs of obstructive sleep apnea because many people with atrial fibrillation also have obstructive sleep apnea.
• Using complementary options to help control your stress. Examples include:
  • Yoga.
  • Biofeedback.
  • Meditation.

Taking anticoagulant medicine

If you are taking anticoagulant medicine, such as warfarin (Coumadin, for example), it is important to follow a few precautions:

• Take your medicine at the same time each day.
• Call your doctor if you miss a dose of anticoagulant.
• Do not switch medicine brands without talking to your doctor.
• Check with your doctor before using any nonprescription medicines, especially ones that contain aspirin. To help keep track of all of your medicines, use a daily medication planner (What is a PDF document?).
• Wear a medical alert ID bracelet, pendant, or charm to let others know that you take anticoagulants. Ask your pharmacist for information about ordering one.
• Tell any new doctor you consult that you are taking anticoagulant medicine. This includes your dentist.
• Be on the alert for signs of bleeding, and call your doctor immediately if any of these signs occur.
• Get regular blood tests to check your clotting time. When you are taking an anticoagulant, you will have your blood drawn and tested regularly so that your doctor can monitor the level of the anticoagulant in your blood. The test that measures how long it takes your blood to clot is called prothrombin time, or pro-time.
• Before a surgery or some tests (such as a colonoscopy), talk to your doctor about whether you need to stop taking your anticoagulant for a short time before the procedure. Stopping the anticoagulant helps prevent extra bleeding during the surgery or test. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to start taking your medicine again.
• Eat a balanced diet. Don't suddenly change your intake of foods that are rich in vitamin K. Vitamin K can interfere with the action of anticoagulants, making it more likely that your blood will clot. For more information, see:

  Anticoagulants: Vitamin K and your diet.

• Tell your doctor if you are not able to eat for several days or have stomach upset, diarrhea, or fever or if you have a major change in your diet for other reasons. It is important not to have sudden changes in your diet.
• Avoid excessive use of alcohol. If you drink, do so only in moderation. Alcohol decreases the effect of anticoagulants. Alcohol also affects your balance and coordination and raises your risk of injury from a fall.
• Don't smoke. And avoid secondhand smoke. Smoking affects how the body uses medicine and increases the blood's clotting effects.
• Avoid activities that have a high risk for injury, such as skiing, football, or other contact sports. An injury could result in excessive bleeding if you are taking anticoagulants.
• Modify your environment to help prevent falls.

Because atrial fibrillation raises your risk for stroke and many people do not have symptoms of atrial fibrillation, the U.S. National Stroke Association recommends that everyone, particularly those ages 55 and older, check his or her heartbeat once a month. To learn how to check your pulse, see taking your pulse . If you notice that your heartbeat does not have a regular rhythm, talk to your doctor.

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: December 18, 2008
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine John M. Miller, MD - Electrophysiology
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