Electrical cardioversion is a treatment for an abnormal heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, or ventricular tachycardia (VT). Your doctor used a brief electrical shock to reset your heart’s rhythm. After the procedure, you may have redness, like a sunburn, where the patches were. The medicines you got to make you sleepy may make you feel drowsy for the rest of the day. You may feel soreness or discomfort in your chest wall for a few days.

Your doctor may have you take medicines to help the heart beat normally and to prevent blood clots.

This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to feel better as quickly as possible.