Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) & Arrhythmia

Your heart should beat in a steady rhythm. If it flutters, skips or feels out of sync, it could be atrial fibrillation (AFib). MU Health Care offers expert care and treatment options to help protect your heart and support your long-term health.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder. It happens when the electrical signals in your heart become irregular, causing the upper chambers (atria) to beat abnormally.

When that happens, your heart may not pump blood as effectively. Blood can pool in the atria and form clots that raise your risk of stroke. Over time, AFib can also weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure.

At MU Health Care, our heart rhythm specialists diagnose and treat all types of AFib. Your care team may include electrophysiologists, nurse practitioners, lab staff and device technicians who focus on arrhythmias every day. Your treatment plan will be based on your health history, lifestyle and goals. We use the most advanced options to restore and maintain your heart’s rhythm.

Our Approach to AFib Care

AFib care works best when it’s personalized. At MU Health Care, our specialists in electrophysiology, cardiology and stroke prevention work together to create a care plan that protects your heart and fits your lifestyle.

We focus on helping you understand your condition and feel confident about next steps, whether that includes monitoring, medication or a procedure.

AFib Symptoms

AFib is often linked to conditions that strain the heart, such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease or a prior heart attack.

Some people with AFib have no symptoms. When symptoms appear, they may include:

Fatigue
Fluttering or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Worsening heart failure

In some cases, the first sign of AFib is a stroke.

When to Call Your Doctor

If you’ve been diagnosed with AFib, it’s important to see a cardiologist who specializes in heart rhythm disorders (an electrophysiologist).

Talk with your doctor if you notice new or worsening symptoms that affect your daily life. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you experience sudden chest pain, trouble breathing or signs of a heart attack.

Types of AFib

AFib affects everyone differently. Some episodes are brief, while others last longer or become constant. Knowing your type helps guide your care.

Paroxysmal AFib: AFib episodes that start and stop on their own, usually within seven days. Many last only a few hours or days.
Persistent AFib: Lasts longer than seven days or needs medicine or a procedure to get the heart back into a normal rhythm.
Long-standing persistent AFib: Continuous AFib that lasts 12 months or more.
Permanent AFib: Long-term, continuous AFib that is considered non-treatable.

Valvular vs Nonvalvular AFib

Your care team may characterize your AFib as valvular or nonvalvular, depending on your heart’s structure.

Valvular AFib occurs when you have rheumatic mitral stenosis or a mechanical heart valve.
Nonvalvular AFib is AFib without those conditions. Stroke prevention strategies may differ, and if you aren’t a candidate for blood thinners, we may recommend a left atrial appendage closure procedure to reduce stroke risk.

Your doctor may also monitor how much time your heart spends in AFib and adjust your treatment plan as needed.

How We Diagnose AFib

At MU Health Care, we use a full range of tools and methods to diagnose AFib and identify its causes.

We start by talking with you about your symptoms, reviewing your health history and understanding your risk factors.

Based on your needs, we may recommend one or more of the following tests to make a diagnosis:

Ambulatory monitoring: Holter monitors, event monitors or implantable loop recorders capture off-and-on episodes over time.
Blood work: Checks electrolytes, thyroid levels and other markers that may affect your heart rhythm.
Cardiac CT: Assesses heart structure and veins used in ablation planning.
Cardiac MRI: Evaluates heart muscle and scarring.
Echocardiogram (echo): Uses sound waves to check heart chambers, valves and pumping strength.
Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG): A quick test to document an AFib rhythm.
Electrophysiology study: Creates a detailed electrical map of your heart when more precise guidance is needed.
Genetic screening: May be recommended if an inherited rhythm condition is suspected.
Sleep study: Helps diagnose sleep apnea, a common trigger of AFib.
Stress testing: Evaluates how your heart performs during activity if AFib doesn’t appear at rest.
Wearable devices: Some people first notice irregular rhythms on smartwatches. Newer Apple, Samsung and Garmin devices can record single-lead ECGs that help flag AFib.

How We Treat AFib

Our goal is to protect your heart and support your health at every stage.

After evaluating your heart’s rhythm and function, we will recommend treatment options that fit your needs.

Medications

It may be possible to manage your condition with medication and regular heart checkups. These medicines help control heart rate, regulate rhythm and lower stroke risk. We may recommend:

Rate control: Beta blockers or calcium channel blockers help slow your heart rate.
Rhythm control: Antiarrhythmic drugs, such as amiodarone, dofetilide, flecainide or sotalol help maintain a normal rhythm.
Stroke prevention: Blood thinners reduce the risk of clots and stroke when appropriate.

Our specialists also study new antiarrhythmic drugs that regulate sodium channels to slow electrical signals and improve rhythm control.

Ablation Procedures

Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that targets the small areas of heart tissue causing abnormal rhythms. We guide a thin catheter to the heart through a small incision in the upper leg.

We offer several ablation options, including:

Pulsed field ablation (PFA): A faster technique that typically takes about 2-3 hours and is designed to protect nearby structures. We are the only health system in mid-Missouri to offer PFA. Success rates range from 70-90%, depending on the AFib type and duration.
Radiofrequency ablation: Uses controlled heat to treat the target area.

Before your procedure, we use CT or MRI imaging for planning and echocardiography during ablation to guide treatment, avoiding the use of radioactive contrast dye.

Ablation is performed under general anesthesia in our electrophysiology (EP) lab, located within the cardiac catheterization area.

You may be able to go home the same day after several hours of observation or stay overnight based on your health needs or travel distance.

Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Closure

If you have AFib and can’t take blood thinners, we’re the only hospital in the region offering left atrial appendage (LAA) closure — a minimally invasive procedure that reduces stroke risk.

During this procedure, we place an umbrella‑shaped Watchman device to seal the left atrial appendage (the small pouch where about 90 percent of clots form in nonvalvular AFib).

At six weeks, you’ll return for a follow‑up visit, where we monitor and record your recovery progress and determine whether you can reduce or stop blood thinners. When you come to MU Health Care for AFib treatment, you’ll be supported by a dedicated program coordinator who helps you before and after your procedure.

Device Options

You may need an implanted device to help control your heart rhythm and prevent serious complications.

We may recommend a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a small device that corrects dangerous heart rhythms and helps prevent sudden cardiac death. Both are battery-powered and placed with a minimally invasive procedure.

We also offer the latest leadless pacemaker, a wire-free device implanted directly into the heart. It’s not widely available and may be a better fit than other options.

If you have a pacemaker or ICD, you’ll see your cardiologist regularly to make sure it’s working properly. Between visits, many devices can send data to your care team through your phone or our HEALTHConnect online patient portal.

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle management plays a major role in reducing AFib episodes and improving long‑term heart health.

Alcohol use: Reducing alcohol intake helps decrease recurrence.
Physical activity: Regular exercise, such as brisk walking 30-40 minutes at least three times a week, supports heart health.
Sleep apnea: Screening and treatment can improve rhythm control.
Weight management: Losing about 10% of body weight can reduce AFib by up to 50%.

Ongoing Follow-Up

Your care doesn’t end after your initial treatment. We’ll continue to check in with regular visits to track your progress, adjust medications if needed and monitor your heart rhythm over time.

Follow-up schedules vary from person to person. Once your AFib is well controlled, we may coordinate with your referring cardiologist for long-term care, while staying available if your needs change.