Atrial fibrillation: symptoms, causes, to treatment

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Definition

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition in which the heartbeat is irregular and often fast. This condition can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart disease-related complications.

Normally, your heart will beat about 60-100 beats per minute while you are resting. However, in atrial fibrillation, your heart rate is irregular and sometimes it can even be very fast. In some cases, the heart rate of a person who has atrial fibrillation can be more than 100 beats per minute.

Atrial fibrillation is a condition that can come and go or may not go away. Although not usually life threatening, atrial fibrillation is a serious medical condition that sometimes requires emergency treatment to prevent serious complications.

If not treated properly, atrial fibrillation can cause blood clots that block blood flow.

How common is this condition?

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia. This disease can occur in both men and women and the risk tends to increase with age. This disease is more common in people over 50 years.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

AF usually causes the lower heart chambers and ventricles to pump blood faster than normal.

When AF occurs, the ventricles can't fill blood properly, so the heart can't pump enough blood to the lungs and body. Well, this gives rise to signs and symptoms such as:

• Palpitations (feeling like the heart has stopped beating, palpitating, or beating too hard or fast)
• Hard to breathe
• Weakness or exercise problems
• Chest pain
• Dizziness or fainting
• Limp (feeling tired)
• Confused

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, the types of AF are:

• Every now and then. In this case it is called paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. You may experience symptoms that come and go, usually lasting a few minutes to hours. These symptoms may go away or you may need treatment.
• Stay. With this type of atrial fibrillation, your heart rhythm doesn't return to normal on its own. If you have this AF, electric shock or medication is the treatment you need.
• Settled for a long time. This type of atrial fibrillation persists and lasts longer than 12 months.
• Permanent. This type of AF is a condition in which the abnormal heart rhythm cannot be restored. You will have permanent atrial fibrillation and you will need medicines to control your heart rate and prevent blood clots.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Persistent or worsening symptoms and signs of atrial fibrillation
• Chest pain
• If you suspect you have had a stroke

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Cause

What causes atrial fibrillation?

AF is an interruption of the heart's electrical signals. Your heart consists of 4 chambers, namely two upper heart chambers (atria) and 2 lower heart chambers (ventricles).

Normally, the electrical signal starts from pacemaker, which is called with sinus node. This pacemaker is located in the right upper heart chamber (right atrium). It is the electrical signal that creates the heart rate.

As the signal travels through the top of the heart, the atria contract and flow blood to the bottom of the heart. Then this electrical signal will move down to the bottom of the heart causing the ventricles to contract and circulate blood throughout the body.

In atrial fibrillation, the signal is impaired and the heart can't pump blood properly. This causes the heart rate to increase, to 100-175 beats per minute. Though your normal heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute.

Damage or changes to the structure of the heart can cause atrial fibrillation. Other causes of AF are:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Heart attack
• Coronary heart disease
• Heart valve disease

Atrial flutter

Atrial flutter is similar to atrial fibrillation, but the rhythm in your heart is more regular and less messy than the abnormal patterns in AF. Sometimes you may experience atrial flutter that progresses to atrial fibrillation, or vice versa.

As with atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter is usually not life-threatening if treated properly.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for atrial fibrillation?

Some of the risk factors for AF are:

• Age. As you get older, your risk of developing this disease increases.
• History of heart disease. People with heart disease, such as heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, congenital heart failure, coronary heart disease, or a history of heart attack or heart surgery, increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• High blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, especially if it's not controlled with lifestyle changes or medications, this can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation.
• Other chronic conditions. People with certain chronic conditions such as thyroid problems, sleep apnea, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, chronic kidney disease or lung disease are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

Drugs & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for atrial fibrillation?

Some of the treatment options for AF are:

• Improve normal heart rhythm. Also called rhythm control. Rhythm control allows the atrial and ventricles to work together to efficiently pump blood throughout the body.
• Your doctor can give you anti-arrhythmic drugs. These drugs include sotalol, amiodarone, and flecainide.
• Treating other diseases that cause or increase the risk of AF such as hyperthyroidism.

What are the usual tests to diagnose this condition?

The doctor can see certain patterns on an electrocardiogram (EKG), which describes the electrical activity of the heart.

The doctor can check for atrial movements with an echocardiogram (uses ultrasound to examine the heart and takes moving pictures on video). If your atrial fibrillation recurs, your doctor will recommend using an easy-to-carry cardiac record.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat atrial fibrillation?

Some of the lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with atrial fibrillation are

• Eat foods that are nutritious for the heart and adopt a healthy diet low in fat and cholesterol.
• Maintain ideal body weight.
• Reduce stress.
• Exercise as much as you can if you take the medication correctly and symptoms don't recur.
• Take your medication as directed by your doctor.
• Get regular medical examinations to the doctor to monitor the progress of your condition.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.