JULY/AUGUST _ 201 POPULARMECHANICS.COM
THE A-FIB FIX
Atrial ibrillation begins in the
heart’s atria, usually where
pulmonary veins empty blood
from the lungs back into the
heart (stars, left). During abla-
tion surgery, a doctor snakes
a catheter into the heart to
intentionally scar these hyper-
active hot spots.