What is one goal of treatment for atrial fibrillation?

Controlling the heart rate to under 100 beats per minute is a crucial goal in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation often leads to an irregular and rapid heartbeat, which can result in symptoms such as palpitations, dyspnea, fatigue, and reduced cardiac output. Maintaining the heart rate at a controlled level helps to alleviate these symptoms and prevents further complications such as heart failure or increased risk of stroke.

Keeping the heart rate below 100 beats per minute, especially during periods of activity, can help the heart function more effectively and improve the overall quality of life for patients. This goal is part of a broader strategy that may include rate control medications like beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers.

In contrast, increasing the ventricular rate could exacerbate symptoms and lead to complications, while skipping anticoagulation therapy fails to address the risk of thromboembolism associated with atrial fibrillation. Ignoring symptoms would disregard the patient's needs and could worsen their health outcomes. Thus, controlling heart rate is a foundational aspect of managing atrial fibrillation.