New national clinical guideline for the management of Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a condition where there is a problem with the electrical system which controls the heart, causing the atria of the heart not to contract properly. This can lead to very slow blood flow in the left atrium of the heart, and to an increased risk of stroke.
Once someone is diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, the risk of them having a stroke can be reduced. This is done by restoring the natural rhythm of the heart, and by giving the person blood-thinning drugs (anticoagulants).
The National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions at the Royal College of Physicians have recently published a new clinical guideline for doctors, enabling them to treat and manage atrial fibrillation. The guideline takes all the recent research into atrial fibrillation into account, and provides up-to-date and complete best practice guidance on the treatment and management of the condition.
Details of how to obtain a copy of the guideline can be found on the Royal College of Physicians website.
