Top 10 Proven Tips -What is atrial fibrillation? | uxa2.com

Atrial fibrillation, also known as A-fib or AF, is one of the most common types of arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats. Atrial fibrillation causes your heart to beat much faster than normal. Additionally, the upper and lower chambers of the heart do not function properly. When this happens, the lower chambers don’t completely fill or pump enough blood to your lungs and body. This may make you feel tired or dizzy, or you may feel like your heart is pounding, fluttering, pounding, or beating too hard or too fast. You may also experience chest pain. Blood may pool in the heart, which increases the risk of blood clots and may lead to stroke or other complications. Atrial fibrillation can also occur without any symptoms. Untreated atrial fibrillation can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications.

type

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: You may experience brief periods of atrial fibrillation (paroxysms). It may go away without any symptoms, or you may have strong feelings. The activity usually stops within 24 hours, but may last for up to a week. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may occur multiple times and may be repetitive.

You may need treatment, or your symptoms may go away on their own. When this type of atrial fibrillation occurs and is accompanied by a slower than normal heartbeat, it is called tachycardia syndrome.

Persistent atrial fibrillation: Persistent atrial fibrillation is when your heart rhythm is abnormal for more than a week. It may eventually return to a normal rhythm on its own, but treatment may be needed.

long-term persistent atrial fibrillation: Long-term persistent atrial fibrillation refers to an abnormal heart rhythm that persists for more than a year and does not get better.

permanent atrial fibrillation: Sometimes, atrial fibrillation doesn’t get better even if you and your healthcare provider try to restore a normal heart rhythm with medications or other treatments. At this point, your atrial fibrillation is considered permanent.

What are the causes of atrial fibrillation?

When heart tissue or electrical signals are damaged, the heart muscle’s normal pumping of blood can become fast and irregular. Most often, this type of heart damage is caused by other conditions such as high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. However, there are other factors that increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

Normally, the electrical signals that turn on the heart’s pump are initiated in the sinoatrial node, a special area of ​​the right atrium, or the upper right chamber of the heart. This signal causes the right and left atrium to contract. This action pumps blood into the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart. The electrical signal then travels further along the heart, signaling the ventricles to contract. In atrial fibrillation, abnormal electrical signals in the upper chambers interrupt typical processes. Then, the heart’s upper chambers don’t contract at a normal rate.

Changes in heart tissue: Aging, heart disease, infection, genetics or other factors can change heart tissue and prevent heart cells from working together to contract rhythmically. This can occur because of fibrosis, inflammation, thinning or thickening of the heart walls, reduced blood flow to the heart, or a buildup of proteins, cells, or minerals in the heart tissue.

Changes in electrical signals: Often, a “triggered” heartbeat causes atrial fibrillation. The electrical signals from this triggering beat may cause the heart to beat slower or faster than usual. Sometimes, electrical signals initiate abnormal cycles, telling the heart to contract over and over again. This produces a fast, irregular heartbeat that can lead to atrial fibrillation.

Changes in the heart’s electrical signals may be caused by differences in the heart’s structure, premature or too frequent heartbeats, typical heart rate adjustments, patches of heart tissue that conduct signals quickly or slowly, or repeated stimulation of specific areas of the heart.

What increases the risk of atrial fibrillation?

Age, family history and genetics, lifestyle, heart disease or other medical conditions, race, and surgical history can all increase your risk of developing structural and electrical problems that lead to atrial fibrillation. Even if your heart is healthy, a heart rate that is too fast or too slow (such as from exercise or sleep) can trigger atrial fibrillation.

age: The risk of atrial fibrillation increases with age, especially after age 65. Atrial fibrillation is rare in children, but it does occur, especially boys and children who are obese.

Family history and genetics: If someone in your family has atrial fibrillation, you are also at higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Scientists have discovered that some genetic mutations increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. Some of these genes affect fetal organ development or ion channels in heart cells.

Sometimes these genetic patterns are also linked to heart disease. Some genetic factors combined with factors such as age, weight, or gender may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation.

Lifestyle factors: Certain lifestyle choices may increase or decrease the risk of atrial fibrillation.

• Alcohol Heavy drinking, especially binge drinking, increases the risk of atrial fibrillation. Even small amounts of alcohol can trigger atrial fibrillation in some people.
• illegal drugs, Cocaine and other street drugs, for example, may trigger atrial fibrillation or make it worse.
• physical activity, For example, participating in endurance sports or strenuous physical work may put some people at a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation, especially competitive athletes and men. At the same time, moderate physical activity can play a protective role. Good health appears to be associated with a lower risk of atrial fibrillation.
• smoking Many studies have shown an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. The risk appears to be higher the longer you smoke and decreases if you quit smoking. Even in utero, exposure to secondhand smoke increases a child’s risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• Stressful situations, panic attacks, and other types of emotional stress May be associated with a higher risk of atrial fibrillation.

Other medical conditions: Many other medical conditions increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, especially heart problems. Having several medical conditions may increase your risk as you age. Conditions that increase the risk of atrial fibrillation include:

• chronic kidney disease
• conduction disorder
• congenital heart defects
• coronary heart disease
• diabetes
• heart attack
• heart failure
• heart inflammation
• Heart tissue that is too thick or stiff
• heart valve disease
• hypertension
• Hyperthyroidism, overactive thyroid gland
• Lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• obesity
• sarcoidosis
• sleep apnea

Race: In the United States, atrial fibrillation is more common among white Americans than among African Americans, Hispanics, or Asian Americans. Although people of European ancestry are more likely to develop the disease, black and African Americans with atrial fibrillation are more likely to develop serious complications such as stroke, heart failure, or heart disease in which blood flow (and oxygen flow) is reduced.

Operation: You may be at risk for atrial fibrillation in the first days and weeks after heart, lung, or esophageal surgery. Heart surgery to correct congenital heart defects also increases the risk of atrial fibrillation. This risk remains even years after a child’s surgery. This is also a risk if someone has surgery as an adult to correct a lifelong condition.

treat

Your doctor may consider treating atrial fibrillation with medications to slow your heart rate or make your heart rhythm more even.

• beta blockers,Medications such as metoprolol, carvedilol, and atenolol help slow down the rate at which the lower chambers of the heart pump blood throughout the body. Rate control is important because it allows the ventricles enough time to completely fill with blood. With this approach, the abnormal heart rhythm will continue, but you may feel better and have fewer symptoms. Beta blockers are usually taken by mouth, but can be delivered through a tube in emergencies. If the dose is too high, the heart may beat too slowly. These drugs can also worsen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiac arrhythmias. Some people with low blood pressure cannot take beta-blockers because they also lower blood pressure.
• blood thinnersMedications such as edoxaban, dabigatran, warfarin, heparin, and clopidogrel prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of stroke. If you are not at risk for stroke, you may not need to take blood thinners. Blood-thinning medications carry a risk of bleeding. Other side effects include indigestion and heart attacks.
• calcium channel blockersThese include diltiazem and verapamil, which control the rate at which the lower chambers of the heart pump blood throughout the body.
• digitalis or digoxin,Controls the rate at which blood is pumped throughout the body. It should be used with caution as its use may cause other cardiac arrhythmias.
• Other heart rhythm drugsSlows down a heart that beats too fast or changes an abnormal heart rhythm to a normal, stable heart rhythm. Rhythm control is a method recommended for people whose symptoms persist or whose condition does not improve with heart rate-controlling medications. Rhythm control may also be used in people who have recently developed atrial fibrillation or in highly physically active people and athletes. These drugs can be used alone or in combination with electrical cardioversion. When you feel symptoms of atrial fibrillation, your provider may prescribe medications for you to take as needed. Some arrhythmia medications may make the arrhythmia worse. Other side effects include low blood pressure, indigestion, and effects on the liver, lungs, and other organs.

procedure or surgery: Your provider may recommend a surgery, especially if lifestyle changes and medications alone don’t improve your symptoms. Typically, your doctor will consider surgery to treat your atrial fibrillation only if you are having surgery to treat other heart problems.

• electrical cardioversionYour heart rhythm is restored by delivering a low-energy electric shock to the heart. This can be done in an emergency or when medications are ineffective.
• pacemakerReduces atrial fibrillation caused by slow heartbeat. Typically, pacemakers are used to treat atrial fibrillation only when it is diagnosed along with other heart rhythm disorders, such as bradycardia or sick sinus syndrome. If you have pacemaker surgery, you will also need to take blood-thinning medications.
• catheter ablationDestroy the tissue that causes the arrhythmia. Ablation is not always successful and in rare cases can cause serious complications, such as stroke. The risk of a recurrence of atrial fibrillation is highest in the first few weeks after surgery. If this happens, your doctor may repeat the procedure. In some cases, you may have a pacemaker inserted during surgery to ensure that your heart beats normally after the tissue causing the problem is destroyed.
• surgical ablationDestroys damaged heart tissue that produces erroneous electrical signals. Doctors typically perform surgical ablation at the same time as heart valve repair surgery, but in some cases, surgical ablation can be done separately.
• Blocking, closing, or severing the left atrial appendageIf you can’t take blood thinners, they can prevent blood clots from forming in the area and causing a stroke. Your doctor may do this at the same time as the surgical ablation. Completely sealing the attachment can be difficult, and any leakage poses an ongoing risk of clotting.

Source: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/atrial-fibrillation

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