Reducing Your Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Here’s good news: following a heart-healthy lifestyle can help you avoid or improve atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat, a rapid heartbeat or a quivering of the upper chambers of the heart, called the atria. AFib is the most common heart irregularity, or cardiac arrhythmia. Untreated AFib can lead to lead to stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

The risk factors for AFib include existing heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and heavy drinking.

Adopting the following healthy habits can help lower your risk for not only AFib, but all types of heart disease and the chronic conditions listed above.

  • Get regular physical activity
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Manage high blood pressure
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet
  • Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine
  • Avoid excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine
  • Reduce salt intake
  • Control cholesterol
  • Manage sleep apnea
  • Quit smoking
  • Reduce stress

To schedule an appointment, or for more information, call 841.1000