Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation Explained

Описание: Rate-controlling medications are usually the first treatment offered for AFib — but most patients have no idea what these drugs actually do.
In this video, cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Scott Lee explains how beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin work, who benefits from them, and when they stop being enough.

You’ll learn:
• What rate-control medications actually do (and what they don’t do)
• How slowing the heart rate helps AFib symptoms
• Why many patients feel better at 80–120 bpm but terrible at 130–150 bpm
• The big difference between heart rate control and rhythm control
• Why these drugs don’t stop AFib progression
• When rate-control meds become a problem (low energy, dizziness, low BP)
• Why older patients tolerate them differently than younger patients
• When you may need stronger medications or an ablation
• Why over-slowing your normal rhythm can require a pacemaker
• How to know if rate-control therapy is still the right strategy for you

Rate-control medications are safe, effective for many patients, and often the best starting point — but they’re not a cure. This video gives you the clarity to understand whether they fit your stage of AFib.

📌 Continue Your Learning Path:
Watch the full playlist here:👉   • AFib Treatment Options: Medications, Ablat...  
✨ Want to Know Your AFib Stage?
Take the free AFib Stage of Progression Quiz:👉 https://heart.drscottlee.com/quiz
💬 Need Clarity About Your AFib?
Request a Second Opinion Clarity Consult (telemedicine available):
👉 https://heart.drscottlee.com/review

👨‍⚕️ About Dr. Scott Lee
Dr. Scott Lee is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in the treatment of complex and advanced atrial fibrillation. Stanford-trained and nationally recognized for his high single-procedure success rates in late-stage AFib, Dr. Lee is known for bringing honesty, transparency, and elite technical skill to a field where many patients feel rushed, dismissed, or confused.
Through his AFibEducation YouTube channel and his direct-pay consultation practice, Dr. Lee focuses on what most doctors don’t have time to explain: how AFib truly progresses, why treatments succeed or fail, and how patients can make informed, confident decisions about their care. He is committed to ethics, patient advocacy, and clear education—empowering people to take back control of their health instead of getting lost in a broken system.

🌐 More resources at www.drscottlee.com
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Check out more videos on our Channel:    / @afibeducation  

⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 — What Rate-Control Medications Actually Do
00:31 — Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers & Digoxin
01:05 — Why Slowing the Heart Rate Reduces AFib Symptoms
02:11 — How Much Speed Triggers Symptoms
02:35 — When “Just Slow It Down” Is Enough
03:02 — Pros of Rate-Control Therapy
03:59 — What These Medications Don’t Do
04:24 — When Symptoms Persist Despite Rate Control
04:51 — When to Consider Stronger Medications or Ablation
05:18 — The Problem of Over-Slowing the Normal Rhythm
05:44 — When Low Heart Rates Create New Symptoms
06:12 — Pros, Cons & When Rate Control Stops Being Enough

#AFibTreatment #HeartHealth #AtrialFibrillation