Suggest treatment for atrial fibrillation
Patient: I am a 76-year old female with atrial fibrillation, having logged blood pressure for 3 months. BP is good, heart rate is consistently staying at 100+ and irregular heart symbol, according to digital BP machine. This I have discussed with triage nurse and am to see heart doctor next week. Am in good health, have no stressors in my life except am a caregiver for my husband. No problems there either. After logging BP s for over 3 months, the doctor changed me from Propranolol 240 mg per day to Metoprolol, just last week. It seems my heart rate is still increasing with no apparent reason off and on the last few days, BP still fine. Still having the irregular heart symbol off and on. No chest pain, no shortness of breath or discomfort. Just the quivery feeling when the heart rate is up. I am resting more. No exercising, just the trips to store at this time. Doctor: Hello as you describe you fall in the triage of persistent /permanent AF.  With all studies it has been proved that controlled rate gives equivalent as to bring rhythm (irregularly)  under control,  so you will have irregular heart rate mostly forever and you should not be worried for it.  However you need to bring heart rate under control so they will increase the dose of metoprolol or add another drug.  Also I recommend you to be on anticoagulants (a kind of blood thinner)  to prevent clot formation and avoid future risk of stroke