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Your atrial fibrillation may get better without any treatment. But if it doesn't, then treatment can help get your heartbeat back to normal.

More than half the people who have short-term atrial fibrillation get their normal heart rhythm back within 24 to 48 hours without any treatment.¹

For other people, atrial fibrillation doesn't go away on its own. If this happens, treatment can help your heartbeat get back to normal.

It's possible to get atrial fibrillation again from time to time. In some people, it can be permanent. If you get permanent atrial fibrillation, you may need to take pills regularly to control your heartbeat.

Some people who have atrial fibrillation get complications. Blood clots may form in the heart because blood isn't flowing normally through it. These clots can get into the bloodstream, where they can block important blood vessels. When this happens it is called thromboembolism.

If one of these blood clots blocks an artery to the brain it can cause a stroke, but drug treatment can be given to prevent these clots.

If no treatment is given to prevent blood clots, then between 1 in 20 and 1 in 30 people with atrial fibrillation will have a stroke. Your risk of a stroke is affected by lots of things. Things that increase your risk include being older, having high blood pressure, or having a long-term medical condition, such as diabetes.² Your doctor will help you decide which treatment is right for you based on your overall risk of a stroke.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.