Recently, heart disease has become one of the major causes of death in the United States. Different heart complications may occur due to risk factors, including hereditary, age, and lifestyle. Several Upper East Side atrial fibrillation cases have negatively impacted the well-being of individuals in the region. If you are a candidate, do not worry because there are a series of medications your healthcare provider can prescribe to decrease the risks of stroke, control heart rate and restore normal heart rhythm. The following are some medications for atrial fibrillation you should know.
Anticoagulants
It is responsible for stopping your blood from clotting and can assist in lowering the possibility of having a stroke. Doctors usually recommend directing-acting anticoagulants like edoxaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban if they are more vulnerable to stroke. Your doctor should allow you to choose your anticoagulation and discuss the advantages of every medicine. Do not worry about apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban because they do not associate with other drugs and do not need regular blood tests.
Pacemaker
Pacemakers are tiny battery-operated devices that are mainly implanted in your chest below the collarbone. A healthcare ecosystem provider uses the device to stop your heart from beating extremely slowly, although it may be responsible for enabling your heart to beat regularly in atrial fibrillation. When receiving the fitting of the pacemaker, you will undergo minor surgery under a local anesthetic. This treatment is mainly effective when other medicines fail to give positive solutions or are unsuitable for individuals aged 80 years and above.
Warfarin
It is a standard anticoagulant prescribed if you are suitable for receiving direct-acting anticoagulants. However, there are chances of experiencing bleeding, although the remunerations of avoiding a stroke mainly outshine this small risk. It is integral to take warfarin as your provider prescribes.
With warfarin, you also require regular blood tests, but your doctor may change the dose. Since several drugs can associate with warfarin and lead to severe complications, you should check that any new medicines your doctor prescribes are safe to take. You should avoid drinking cranberry and grapefruit juice as it can interact with warfarin causing other problems.
Digoxin
Digoxin medication plays a critical role in strengthening your heart muscles’ contractions and function on the heart’s electrical system to lower the rate of signals that moves from the atria to the ventricles. You should take digoxin once daily and consistently take it simultaneously each day. Besides, you should ensure you adhere to label instructions on the period you should take it. Your condition dictates the time between the doses and the medication’s longevity.
Cardioversion
This medication entails giving your heart a managed electric shock to fix abnormal heart rhythm. Your cardiologist will perform cardioversion in a hospital to ensure they can monitor your heart carefully. You should look for instant medical assistance because if your atrial fibrillation exceeds 2 days, cardioversion may surge the risks of clot formation. In this situation, your provider can give your anticoagulant for about 3 to 4 weeks before prescribing cardioversion. Afterward, they will give anticoagulants for a minimum of 4 weeks to reduce the possibility of having a stroke.
Atrial fibrillation, if untreated, can cause chaotic heart rhythm leading to a blood clot in the atria. If you are currently having or are suspicious of this condition, contact Upper East Side Cardiology in Upper East Side, New York. The center offers outstanding cardiology services that you can trust, led by an experienced specialist Satjit Bhusri, MD. If you experience fatigue, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness, contact his office or request an online appointment.
