September marks National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month

Atlanta, Ga. (September 10, 2026) - Atrial fibrillation (AFib) occurs when electrical signals in the heart cause an irregular heart rhythm. There are several different types of AFib, some where the symptoms come and go, and others that are more permanent.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it is estimated that 12.1 million people in the U.S. will have AFib in 2030. While it is the most common type of arrhythmia, many people do not know they have AFib until they are at a routine doctor’s appointment or they are hospitalized for complications caused by AFib. Compared to people without, those with AFib, even without symptoms, have a five-times-greater risk of stroke, three-times-greater risk of heart failure and two-times-greater risk of dementia.

One way to treat AFib is with controlled electric shocks to restore the heart’s natural rhythms.

Piedmont Heart is at the forefront of AFib clinical research, offering cutting-edge technologies for ablation and other advanced therapies.

Ablation procedures previously used to freeze or burn the tissue to create electrical blocks. Over the last 18 months, Piedmont invested in the latest equipment at its Fayetteville, Henry, Cartersville, and Eastside locations to upgrade the electrophysiology lab and allow for pulse field ablation to create small holes in cell membranes to destroy certain areas of heart tissue and create a wall around other tissue to restore normal rhythm. Piedmont already offered this new approach at Athens, Atlanta, Macon, and Augusta, and looks to add other locations in 2027.

Hugh Rogers, a Stockbridge resident, was the first patient to have the procedure at Piedmont Henry Hospital, and everything went perfectly.

“I’ve performed these procedures in Atlanta for many years, where cardiothoracic surgery was nearby if something went wrong,” said Akshay Gupta, MD, a cardiologist specializing in cardiac electrophysiology. “As the safety of the procedure has increased, it is able to be offered at Piedmont Henry, and other hospitals outside Atlanta, which is great for our community and local patients.”

Dr. Gupta stated that it was likely that most people know someone affected by AFib. It can be caused by many things, including hypertension and sleep apnea, as well as obesity and simply getting older. Symptoms can include dizziness, heart palpitations, fatigue, and chest pain.

If you suspect you may have this condition or another cardiac issue, Piedmont recommends scheduling an appointment with a cardiologist as soon as possible, as well as seeing your primary care physician (PCP) annually and to be aware of any factors that may increase your risk of AFib. Controlling these risk factors may prevent AFib from developing.

To learn more about Piedmont’s cardiology programs, services, and providers, visit piedmont.org/heart.