ࡱ> AC@5@ bjbj22 \,XX*$P,T.(2444444$R3 XXmppp2p2ppZZ 0e~ .Z0Z+!+!Z+!ZDpXX p What Is Atrial Fibrillation? Atrial fibrillation is a very common heart problem. It is an irregular heart beat or rhythm that affects the upper two chambers of the heart. The heart is made up of four chambers. The upper two chambers of the heart are called the atria, and the lower two are called the ventricles. This irregular heart rhythm often causes the upper chambers to beat too fast. This leaves too little time for blood to pump into the two lower chambers. As a result, the amount of blood that flows to your body is reduced. If you have atrial fibrillation, your heart works very hard, but it still cant pump enough blood for your bodys needs. You may always feel tired and particularly weak or dizzy during activity since too little blood is getting to your muscles or to your brain. Atrial fibrillation may make you feel bad, but it is not serious. Your doctor may choose not to treat it. How Can You Control Atrial Fibrillation? If your doctor decides to treat your atrial fibrillation, he or she may use medication to help your heart beat slower. On the next page is a list of three types of drugs that are used to control heart rate. Any of them can be harmful if taken incorrectly, so it is very important to take them only as directed by your doctor.  How Can You Control Atrial Fibrillation? continuedType of DrugGeneric NameBrand NameBeta-BlockersmetroprololLopressorcarvedilolCoregatenololTenorminCalcium Channel BlockersdiltiazemCardizem Dilacor TiazacverapamilCalan Verelan Isoptin CoveraDigitalisdigoxinLanoxinWith atrial fibrillation, you have an increased chance of developing blood clots. These clots can then break off and cause strokes or other damaging effects. Blood thinners may reduce the chance of stroke caused by atrial fibrillation. Warfarin (or Coumadin) is the most commonly prescribed blood thinner. But it is also very toxic when taken in the wrong dosage. Your blood level must be checked frequently by the doctor to be sure that the medicine is safe and effective for you. Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation  PAGE 1 Tools Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation  PAGE 2 Tools Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation   @    ( : ; G N  D Q i j y  +;<w|)*Qθުޡޡޔޛޡު hI$5\ hI$CJhI$\^JaJ hI$aJhI$CJaJ+hphI$5B*CJOJQJ\^JphhphI$5CJOJQJ^JhI$ hhNS hhZhphNShhZ:!"A ! ( ; Rkd$$Ifl0A$: s t$44 la $IfgdNS$If$If$If$If*;    D Q ^ i yH(($If^H (($If $IfgdI$Rkd\$$Ifl0A$: s t$44 la$If $IfgdI$ i j k y SJDDD$If d$Ifkd$$Ifl4\$ A$`    000 t( $44 laf4p(  |vvv$If$If}kd$$Ifl4M\$ A$     t$44 laf4 |vvv$If$If}kd$$Ifl4\$ A$     t$44 laf4 |vvv$If$If}kdX$$Ifl4\$ A$     t$44 laf4 |vvv$If$If}kd'$$Ifl4\$ A$     t$44 laf4 !+3;|vvv$If$If}kd$$Ifl4\$ A$     t$44 laf4;<=>?yy'Rkdx$$Ifl0A$: s t$44 la $IfgdI$}kd$$Ifl4\$ A$     t$44 laf4?@()*PQ Rkd$$Ifl0A$: s t$44 la$If $IfgdNS$IfQRXYZ[hZhphp0JmHnHu hp0Jjhp0JU,&P1h/ =!"#$%8,&P1h/ =!"#$%8Z$$If!vh5: 5s#v: #vs:V l t$5: 5sZ$$If!vh5: 5s#v: #vs:V l t$5: 5s$$If!vh5 55 5 #v #v#v #v :V l4 000 t( $+5 55 5 / / f4p( $$If!vh5 55 5 #v #v#v #v :V l4M t$+5 55 5 / / / / f4$$If!vh5 55 5 #v #v#v #v :V l4 t$+5 55 5 / / / f4$$If!vh5 55 5 #v #v#v #v :V l4 t$+5 55 5 / / / / f4$$If!vh5 55 5 #v #v#v #v :V l4 t$+5 55 5 / / / / f4$$If!vh5 55 5 #v #v#v #v :V l4 t$+5 55 5 / / / / f4$$If!vh5 55 5 #v #v#v #v :V l4 t$+5 55 5 / / f4Z$$If!vh5: 5s#v: #vs:V l t$5: 5sZ$$If!vh5: 5s#v: #vs:V l t$5: 5s<@< NormalCJ_HmH sH tH <@< Heading 1$@&5CJDA@D Default Paragraph FontVi@V  Table Normal :V 44 la (k(No List 8O8 Tool_body_1d,<O< Tool_body_2 d,XOX Tool_column_headd,56CJOJQJaJLO"L Tool_bullet d,x^ ``O2` Tool_Disclaimer0]0^56CJOJQJaJ4@B4 Header  !4 @R4 Footer  !:Ob: Tool_HeaderCJ0aJ0ROrR Tool_Footer n:$@B] CJOJQJ>)@> Page NumberCJOJQJaJJOJ Tool_Table_Text ((CJaJ2B@2 Body TextCJLOL Tool_body_2 CharCJ_HmH sH tH VOV Tool_Table_bodyH^H CJOJQJHH  Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ,.,!"A!(;  DQ^ijky !+3;<=>?@()*PQ000000 00000 0 00 0@00 0 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 @0h @0@0h @0l 0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@00H=Q!"A!(;  DQ^iky!+3;=>?@()*PQ000000 00000 0 00 0@00 0 00@0 @0 @0 @0 `0 @0 @0 @0 `0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0 @0@0 @0 R@0My00.@0My00<.@0My00t.@0 0''````bbQ ; i ;?  '.0bik!!y+23:08=E{}*79w*3"Dik!;w*O Thom Beaulieu Vee Nelson Vee NelsonFrankieCWPmryanleslieFrancine L. Beaulieu Vee Nelson Vee Nelson  I$,@PNS_ep,Z" DQ^ijky !+3;<=>?@()@ ||||$ A$0@UnknownG: Times New Roman5Symbol3& : ArialABook Antiqua5& zaTahoma"qhc&!c&f7724d&&3QX?,PPE6Heart Failure -- Heart Failure and Atrial FibrillationV. Nelson Associates, Inc.Francine L. BeaulieuOh+'0  4 @ L Xdlt|PPEV. Nelson Associates, Inc.. NNormal4Francine L. Beaulieuwri3anMicrosoft Word 10.0@G@`=VM@z @ѫ 7Revised April 2004PPE Heart Failure0.0@G@`=VM@z @ѫ 7  4 @ L Xdlt|PPEV. Nelson Associates, Inc.. NNormal4Francine L. Beaulieuwri3anMicrosoft Word 10.0@G@`=VM@z @ѫ 7Revised April 2004PPE Heart Failure  !"#$%&'()*+,-./B8Root Entry FP)'d,"DData 1Table+!WordDocument\,SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation84CompObjj   FMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q՜.+,0 hp  V. Nelson Associates, Inc.&A PPE TitleOh+'0