AFib Treatments Can Reduce Your Stroke Risk

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a heart rhythm disorder that causes an irregular, fast heartbeat. The condition affects roughly 1 in 20 U.S. adults — sometimes without noticeable symptoms.  

AFib is a highly treatable type of heart arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm. But left unmanaged, it can lead to serious complications. The CDC estimates that AFib causes 1 in 7 strokes. Put another way: having AFib increases the likelihood of having a stroke by five times, compared to people without the condition. 

This risk occurs because in patients with AFib, the atria (the heart’s upper chambers) fail to move blood properly. This malfunction allows blood to pool in the heart and form clots, which can then travel to the brain and cause a stroke. 

For patients with AFib, managing stroke risk is key.  

Key Takeaways: AFib Treatments To Reduce Stroke Risk

• AFib is a major cause of stroke. The condition, which causes an irregular heart rhythm, can lead to the formation of blood clots that can travel to the brain.
• Treating AFib reduces your stroke risk. With proper treatment, including lifestyle changes, medication, and, when necessary, procedures, the risk of stroke can be significantly reduced.
• Blood thinners are a primary treatment for AFib. Anticoagulants (blood thinners) are used to prevent dangerous blood clots. For those who can't take them, a device called a Left Atrial Appendage Occluder (LAAO) may be an option.

Why Stroke Prevention Is Key

“The cornerstone of therapy is stroke risk reduction,” said Manoj Duggal, MD, cardiac electrophysiologist and electrophysiology medical director at Franciscan Health Crown Point. 

Lifestyle changes to treat AFib and reduce stroke risk

Lifestyle modifications can help keep your heart healthy and manage your symptoms. Remember that when you live a healthy lifestyle, it positively impacts your heart and AFib symptoms. Some tips to help you get started:

• Maintain a healthy weight because extra weight can strain the heart and worsen your symptoms.
• Get regular exercise to improve your overall heart health and regulate heart rhythms.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins.
• Reduce the amount of salt, added sugar, and processed foods in your diet.
• Limit or avoid alcohol.

Medicine To Treat AFib And Reduce Stroke Risk

Heart specialists often use anticoagulation medications (or blood thinners) to help manage Afib and its underlying cause. 

Anticoagulant medications (blood thinners) can help reduce AFib-related stroke risk. They improve blood flow and reduce the body’s ability to form blood clots. Additionally, your provider may recommend additional drugs to help bring your heart rate and heart rhythm into normal ranges. 

Doctors continue to use older medications like warfarin (Coumadin), but there are newer anticoagulation medications that don't require blood draws to monitor the effectiveness of the drug. These drugs reduce the likelihood of experiencing potentially dangerous blood clots within the heart that may cause a stroke.

But blood thinners are not safe for everyone.

“Some patients cannot take blood thinners because of a history of bleeding or because they are at high risk for bleeding,” Dr. Duggal said. For these patients, surgical procedures may be the best option. Other patients may benefit from direct cardioversion. This simple, painless procedure uses medication or a mild electrical shock to restore a normal rhythm.

Medical Interventions to Treat AFib And Reduce Stroke Risk

Franciscan providers offer a range of highly effective medical procedures to help treat AFib and reduce AFib-related stroke risk. These include:

• Cardioversion: This simple, painless procedure uses medication or a mild electrical shock to restore the heart’s normal rhythm
• Ablation: A minimally invasive procedure that blocks irregular heart rhythms by scarring sections of the heart 
• Implantable devices: Pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) help regulate heartbeat rhythm and speed
• Left atrial appendage closure: Using the left atrial appendage occluder (LAAO) device, a minimally invasive procedure seals off the left atrial appendage of the heart, the area where most AFib-related blood clots form

What is involved in ablation?

Ablation is a process that targets and destroys the faulty portions of the heart that trigger irregular rhythms.

“With ablation, we create a bit of scar tissue in the atrium to block abnormal impulses from triggering AFib,” said Philip George Jr., MD, cardiac electrophysiologist at Franciscan Health Indianapolis. 

Franciscan offers all the latest cardiac ablation methods for the treatment of AFib. These include:

• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): Scars heart tissue with heat 
• Cryoablation: Scars heart tissue with extreme cold
• Microwave ablation: Forms scars with microwaves
• Pulsed field ablation (PFA): Uses short bursts of electricity to destroy abnormal heart tissue
• Surgical ablation: Surgically destroys abnormal heart tissue

“We began using PFA at Franciscan in 2024, and the outcomes have been excellent,” said Dr. George. “It delivers high voltage over a short duration and creates scar tissue with little risk of injury.”

“PFA has helped us treat patients more quickly and shorten wait times. I expect it will soon become the main ablation method we use for AFib,” he added. 

What is involved in left atrial appendage occlusion (closure)?  

The left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure reduces AFib-related stroke risk by closing off the area of the heart where blood clots are most likely to form.  

"The shape and position of the left atrial appendage make it somewhat easier for blood clots to form there, compared to other areas of the heart," explained Saifullah Siddiqui, MD, interventional cardiologist at Franciscan Health Cardiology Olympia Fields.

During the minimally invasive LAAO procedure, surgeons implant a device to close off the left atrial appendage of the heart permanently. They direct the device into the heart via a catheter inserted into a vein in the leg. Once in place, the device prevents blood flow into the appendage and prevents blood clots from forming there. 

“With left atrial appendage closure, we can close the pocket of the heart most at risk for developing blood clots,” said Saeed R. Shaikh, MD, interventional cardiologist at Franciscan Health Indianapolis. “In most cases, patients no longer need blood thinners and are still protected from stroke, following the procedure.”

Franciscan Health offers two FDA-approved LAAO devices: the WATCHMAN™ Implant and the Amplatzer™ Amulet™. With nearly 600 procedures expected in 2025, Franciscan’s program is among the largest in the region.

“Our success rate is 99 percent, and the complication risk is only 0.5 percent,” said Dr. Shaikh. "The LAAO procedure is a very safe and effective means to reduce the risk of AFib-related stroke.”

Access Advanced AFib Care At Franciscan Health

AFib is highly manageable, thanks to a wide range of effective AFib treatment options. 

If you have AFib, our care teams will work with you to craft a tailored treatment plan to reduce your stroke risk and restore a normal heart rhythm. Learn more about Franciscan Health’s atrial fibrillation care and explore our heart and vascular services.