Reducing your risk of Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

How can I reduce my risk of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) coming back?

 

There are many things that predispose a person to atrial fibrillation (AF). Some of the more common things include having high blood pressure (including treated), having heart failure, being overweight, getting older or your genetics. The most effective way to reduce your risk of AF coming back is with an AF ablation (see the section on 'Atrial Fibrillation Ablation') but medications and lifestyle measures are also important.

 

To reduce the risk of further AF in the future it is important to have good blood pressure control (≤130/80mmHg), achieve and maintain a healthy weight (seeing a dietitian can help with this), keep active with exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, if you choose to drink then keep alcohol to a minimum (≤2 standard drinks a day for no more than 5 days a week) and look for and treat obstructive sleep apnoea with a sleep study in particular. Monitoring your blood pressure and pulse with a blood pressure monitor at home or monitoring your pulse with a smart watch that records heart rhythm traces can be useful for managing AF as well.

 

Even patients that have had an AF Ablation can develop more 'short circuits' or a tendency for AF to return down the track. Managing your risk factors carefully will help to reduce the chance of this happening. The mnemonic HEAD₂TOES is used in the Heart Foundation and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Guidelines and is presented below to give a more detailed look at risk factor management for patients with AF.

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