Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders, affecting millions of people in the U.S. But treating it isn’t a straightforward path. AFib care often involves navigating multiple goals at once and the right balance can look different at different stages – for different people.

What makes AFib especially challenging is that healthcare teams aren’t solving just one problem. They’re usually managing several, simultaneously. 

“With AFib, we’re often balancing stroke prevention, symptom control and long-term heart function,” says Dr. J. Christian Hays, an electrophysiologist at the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth. “Those priorities don’t always point to the same solution, which is why AFib care requires thoughtful decision-making.” 

At St. Elizabeth, caring for AFib means bringing together a multidisciplinary team of specialists to manage these competing priorities thoughtfully. Our Arrhythmia program is designed to evaluate AFib not as a single problem to “fix,” but as a condition that often requires ongoing assessment, coordination and adjustment over time.

One essential focus: reducing blood clots and stroke risk

AFib disrupts how blood moves through the heart’s upper chambers, which can allow clots to form. If a clot travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke. Preventing that risk is a critical part of AFib care.

For many patients, this involves blood-thinning medications. Deciding whether, and when, those medications are needed depends on individual risk factors such as age, blood pressure and other health conditions. For some, stroke prevention remains the primary concern even if AFib symptoms are minimal. 

“Stroke prevention often drives AFib care decisions, even when symptoms feel manageable,” says Dr. Hays. “That’s because the risk isn’t always tied to how noticeable the rhythm is, it’s tied to how AFib affects blood flow in the heart.”

This is where AFib expertise becomes especially important. At the St. Elizabeth Arrythmia Center, stroke-risk assessment is integrated into every care plan, using evidence-based protocols and close follow-up to ensure patients receive the right level of protection – even when symptoms are mild or inconsistent.

A parallel focus: managing rhythm and symptom burden

AFib can range from mildly noticeable to significantly disruptive. Some people experience fatigue, shortness of breath, or palpitations that limit daily activities; others feel little change at all.

Symptom burden plays a major role in care decisions. Options may include medications that control heart rate or rhythm, catheter-based procedures designed to target abnormal electrical pathways, or in some cases, a surgical approach may be recommended.

Choosing among these options depends on how AFib behaves, how persistent it is and how much it affects quality of life – not just on having the diagnosis itself.

An ongoing focus: protecting heart health over time

Beyond symptoms and stroke risk, AFib can influence how well the heart functions long-term. Persistent irregular rhythms can strain the heart and contribute to heart failure in some patients.

That means AFib care isn’t only about focusing on what’s happening today – it’s also about anticipating how the condition may evolve and how that may impact care.

“AFib isn’t static, patterns can change forcing care plans to change too,” says Dr. Hays. “We reassess priorities and modify strategies to address those changes. Flexibility is a big part of managing AFib.”

Expertise Dedicated to Heart Rhythm Care

Effective AFib management requires specialists whose primary focus is understanding heart rhythm disorders – how they start, how they progress and how different treatment options perform across a wide range of patients and conditions.

The St. Elizabeth Arrhythmia program is built around that specialization. Our board-certified electrophysiologists focus exclusively on diagnosing and treating complex rhythm conditions, using advanced mapping, ablation technologies and evidence-based protocols to individualize care.

For patients, this means access to a team that sees AFib every day – not occasionally – and is equipped to evaluate the full range of disciplines with depth and precision. That level of focus is what allows care decisions to be grounded in experience, not speculation.

Is AFib part of your health story?

The St. Elizabeth Arrhythmia team is here to help you understand your symptoms and your care options.Call (859) 331-3353 to speak with an electrophysiologists or visit our website to learn more.