text: Atrial fibrillation can be serious at times, especially if it is new in a patient and there is no clinical history of it.  On the other hand, if A-fib does not affect your normal routine I would not worry about it.  The negative effects of having A-fib are not that great, especially since the anatomical structure of the heart allows blood to basically fall out of the atria and into the ventricles.  Just from gravity alone, you should be getting about 60% of the blood in your atria falling down into your ventricles.  Although not highly effecient, it is manageable for living a mostly normal life.  If your doctor seems to be ok with allowing your A-fib to persist without any medical intervention, he probably sees no reason why you cannot sustain your normal activities with it therefore saving you time, pain, and money.  Hospitalizations are expensive, cardioversions are painful, and all of these plus drugs cost money.  If you don't trust your doctor's opinion and the advice of the answers you have received here, go to another city to another cardiologist and get his opinion.  Just don't mention anything that the other doctor said and take the new doctor's opinion and make a decision from that.  I see people everyday that go home from this hospital with persistent A-fib after cardioversions and every rhythm regulating drug on the market shoved down their throat, and they all seem to be just fine.  No matter what anyone tells you though, doctors, nurses, friends, family; make this decision on your own and go with your insticts and whatever will make you feel comfortable.