Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation ( AFib) is a
condition that disrupts your heartbeat. A glitch in the heart’s
electrical system makes its upper chambers (the atria) beat so fast they
quiver, or fibrillate. This causes the lower chambers (the ventricles)
to beat out of sync.
AFib can be dangerous because it raises your risk of stroke and heart failure.
Usually the atria and ventricles work together so the heart pumps blood in steady rhythm. But in AFib, they don't. The irregular beats can cause a fast, fluttering heart rate -- 100-175 beats per minute -- instead of the normal 60-100 beats per minute.
Some warning signs
many people may not have any symptom, but some may feel these following signs-
An uneven pulse
A racing or pounding heart
A feeling that your heart is fluttering
Chest pain
Feeling short of breath
Those who have AFib their blood doesn't move well throughout your body. One may feel:
Dizzy or faint
Breathless
Weak and fatigued
When It's an Emergency
AFib isn't always a cause for alarm. But you should call your hospital if you've any of these following signs-Severe chest pain
Uneven pulse and feel faint
Signs of a stroke, such as numbness or slurred speech
And let your doctor know whenever something doesn't feel right
Risk of Stroke
When your heart isn't pumping like it should, the slow-moving blood can pool inside, which makes it easier for clots to form. If that happens, and a clot travels through the bloodstream to your brain and gets stuck, you could have a stroke. People with AFib are five times more likely to have one.
Common causes of AFib
High blood pressure
Coronary artery disease and heart attacks
Heart failure
Problems with heart valves
Sometimes, AFib may be set off by thyroid disorders or serious infections like pneumonia.
Things that you can control-
if obese, lose weight
quit smoking
reduce alcohol intake
certain prescription drugs, such as albuterol- then ask your Dr. to change the medication
don't take stimulants and illegal drugs
You'll need treatment if a rapid heartbeat causes troubling symptoms. Doctors may also recommend treating it to lower the chances of stroke for people already at risk.
Diagnosis of AFib
The way to confirm AFib is with an electrocardiogram (EKG). The machine detects and records the electrical activity of your heart, so your doctor can see problems with its rhythm. You can do it in the doctor's office, or you may need to wear a device that keeps track of your heart's activity for a longer time to catch an episode.
If an EKG shows AFib, your doctor may want to learn more about your heart. An echocardiogram or ultrasound can show valve damage or signs of heart failure. A stress test can reveal how well your heart does when it's working hard.
Your doctor may also want tests to look for conditions that could have triggered your AFib.
Treatment
Your doctor may try to restore a normal heart rhythm with electric shock or medication. But if you've been having AFib for more than 48 hours, the procedure could increase your chance of a stroke. You may need to take a medicine called a blood thinner for several weeks before your doctor tries cardioversion, as well as afterward.
If your symptoms are mild, or if AFib comes back after cardioversion, you may be able to control it with medicine. Rhythm-control drugs help keep the pattern of your heartbeat steady. Rate-control medications keep your heart from beating too fast.
Daily aspirin or drugs called anticoagulents or blood thinners can help prevent clots and lower some people's chances of having a stroke.
Effects
Many people find that AFib has no impact on their daily lives. But some have to manage troubling symptoms like weakness, shortness of breath, or fainting.
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AFib can be dangerous because it raises your risk of stroke and heart failure.
Usually the atria and ventricles work together so the heart pumps blood in steady rhythm. But in AFib, they don't. The irregular beats can cause a fast, fluttering heart rate -- 100-175 beats per minute -- instead of the normal 60-100 beats per minute.
Some warning signs
many people may not have any symptom, but some may feel these following signs-
An uneven pulse
A racing or pounding heart
A feeling that your heart is fluttering
Chest pain
Feeling short of breath
Those who have AFib their blood doesn't move well throughout your body. One may feel:
Dizzy or faint
Breathless
Weak and fatigued
When It's an Emergency
AFib isn't always a cause for alarm. But you should call your hospital if you've any of these following signs-Severe chest pain
Uneven pulse and feel faint
Signs of a stroke, such as numbness or slurred speech
And let your doctor know whenever something doesn't feel right
Risk of Stroke
When your heart isn't pumping like it should, the slow-moving blood can pool inside, which makes it easier for clots to form. If that happens, and a clot travels through the bloodstream to your brain and gets stuck, you could have a stroke. People with AFib are five times more likely to have one.
Common causes of AFib
High blood pressure
Coronary artery disease and heart attacks
Heart failure
Problems with heart valves
Sometimes, AFib may be set off by thyroid disorders or serious infections like pneumonia.
Things that you can control-
if obese, lose weight
quit smoking
reduce alcohol intake
certain prescription drugs, such as albuterol- then ask your Dr. to change the medication
don't take stimulants and illegal drugs
Lone AFib
When it happens without an obvious trigger, it's called lone AFib. This is more common in people younger than 65.You'll need treatment if a rapid heartbeat causes troubling symptoms. Doctors may also recommend treating it to lower the chances of stroke for people already at risk.
Diagnosis of AFib
The way to confirm AFib is with an electrocardiogram (EKG). The machine detects and records the electrical activity of your heart, so your doctor can see problems with its rhythm. You can do it in the doctor's office, or you may need to wear a device that keeps track of your heart's activity for a longer time to catch an episode.
If an EKG shows AFib, your doctor may want to learn more about your heart. An echocardiogram or ultrasound can show valve damage or signs of heart failure. A stress test can reveal how well your heart does when it's working hard.
Your doctor may also want tests to look for conditions that could have triggered your AFib.
Treatment
Your doctor may try to restore a normal heart rhythm with electric shock or medication. But if you've been having AFib for more than 48 hours, the procedure could increase your chance of a stroke. You may need to take a medicine called a blood thinner for several weeks before your doctor tries cardioversion, as well as afterward.
If your symptoms are mild, or if AFib comes back after cardioversion, you may be able to control it with medicine. Rhythm-control drugs help keep the pattern of your heartbeat steady. Rate-control medications keep your heart from beating too fast.
Daily aspirin or drugs called anticoagulents or blood thinners can help prevent clots and lower some people's chances of having a stroke.
Intervention
A doctor feeds a small probe through a blood vessel to your heart and uses radiofrequency energy, a laser, or intense cold to zap the tissue that sends out the bad signals. Although you won't need open heart surgery, the procedure has some risks. It's only for people who have serious symptoms that cardioversion and medications haven't helped.Surgery
In the maze procedure, the doctor makes a pattern of small cuts on your heart to create scar tissue. These scars can't pass electrical signals, so they stop AFib. Usually you'd have this done during open heart surgery, but some medical centers can do it with smaller openings that cause less stress on your body. You may need a pacemaker after ablation, depending where the tissue was.Getting a pacemaker put in your chest is considered minor surgery, and it usually takes about an hour.Effects
Many people find that AFib has no impact on their daily lives. But some have to manage troubling symptoms like weakness, shortness of breath, or fainting.
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Labels: Atrial fibrillation AFib), electrocardiography (EKG), High BP, intervention, No alcohol, obese, quit smoking, stroke, surgery, thyroid, uneven pulse
posted by G S Iyer at 11:21 PM
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