An Overview of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

​Atrial fibrillation (AFib), also known as irregular heartbeat, is a type of cardiac arrhythmia which causes both the lower and upper chambers of the heart to beat fast, erratically, and out of sync. Persistent atrial fibrillation is one of the main types of AFib, which occurs when an abnormal heart rhythm continues for more than one week. The heart rhythm can either return to normal on its own, or treatment may be required to regulate the heartbeat. Persistent AFib usually begins as short-term AFib or paroxysmal AFib. Some of the major risk factors associated with persistent AFib include old age, high blood pressure, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD). Others include smoking, coronary heart disease, and heart valve disease.

Persistent AFib can be treated using medication to stabilize the heart’s rhythm or a procedure known as cardioversion. Cardioversion is performed to restore a normal heartbeat, using either electrical cardioversion or chemical cardioversion. In electrical cardioversion, a defibrillator using handheld paddles is placed on the chest and back to deliver shock to the heart in order to stabilize its rhythm. Chemical cardioversion involves the use of medication whereby drugs are either administered orally or through an IV to control the heart rhythm. The medication can take minutes, hours, or days to take effect.

Sanjiv Narayan

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