The Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Program, which is part of the Arrhythmia Clinic at the Cardiovascular Center, focuses on providing you with personalized AFib care. AFib is an irregular heart rate that typically causes poor blood flow and can lead to serious conditions, such as a stroke. We work closely with you, your referring clinician, and a team of AFib specialists to develop a treatment plan that reduces or eliminates your particular AFib symptoms and stroke risk.
Your AFib care team will include specialists such as an electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes in heart rhythm conditions), cardiologist, cardiovascular nurse practitioner, and pharmacist. As a team, these providers will:
- Determine the cause of your AFib
- Develop an effective arrhythmia treatment plan that keeps you safe and reduces or eliminates your symptoms
- Suggest what actions you can take to address your modifiable risk factors for AFib and improve your overall cardiovascular health
- Determine whether you need a blood thinner or other therapy to lower your risk of stroke
- Monitor your progress and response to treatment
Our Team
- Moussa Mansour, MD, Medical Director of Electrophysiology
- Leon Ptazsek, MD
- Stefanos Parpos, MD
- Yamini Levitzky, MD
- George Philippides, MD, Chief of Cardiology
- Alisa Rosen, MD
- Giulia Sheftel, MD
- Michael Coronado, MD
- Megan Grady, ANP-BC
- Erika Felix-Getzik, Pharm-D
Heart Care at Mass General Brigham
As a part of Mass General Brigham Heart, our patients benefit from access to a comprehensive network of world-class cardiovascular care experts.
Learn more about Mass General Brigham Heart.
Treatments and Procedures
Our AFib team works together with specialists from Massachusetts General Hospital to ensure you always have access to the most advanced treatments. Observation of symptoms or medication typically are first-line treatments, but some patients require surgery to successfully manage AFib and its symptoms.
Common medications include:
- Antiarrhythmic medications for the prevention of AFib
- Medications to control your heart-rate during AFib
- Anticoagulants for stroke prevention
During your visit
Your first visit will include a meeting with a cardiologist, cardiovascular nurse practitioner, and pharmacist. The cardiologist will review any relevant medical history, conduct a thorough physical exam, and do additional testing, such as advanced cardiac imaging, if it’s necessary to make a diagnosis.
During each visit, our doctors will make sure that you understand your condition and treatment options. Furthermore, our pharmacist will teach you how to safely take all of your medications and answer any questions you have about the drugs or cost.