Heart Beat: Atrial fibrillation and blood pressure
Atrial fibrillation is a fast, irregular beat in the atria, the two upper chambers of the heart. It can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue. It can also lead to stroke. That's because the inefficient contractions of the atria have trouble pushing blood down into the ventricles. This allows blood to linger inside the atria, which sets the stage for the formation of stroke-causing blood clots. Taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven, generic) or another blood thinner to prevent clots is a keystone of treating atrial fibrillation.
Although the best regimen for controlling blood pressure in people with atrial fibrillation is still under investigation, medications should probably include a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin-receptor blocker. People with diabetes or kidney disease should aim for a blood pressure under 130/80; the target for everyone else is under 140/90.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.