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In a healthy heart, the rate and rhythm is controlled by electrical signals that cause
the heart to contract or squeeze in a coordinated manner. This synchronized heartbeat continuously
circulates blood through the lungs and out to the rest of the body to deliver vital oxygen.
An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heart
and occurs when the heart's electrical signals are abnormal. Atrial fibrillation, also called AFib,
is one of the most common types of arrhythmia and causes the heart to have an irregular rhythm
and often beat rapidly. Atrial fibrillation can be physically exhausting, scary, and
disabling and raises the risk of heart failure, dementia, and stroke. But with proper treatment
these risks can be decreased and people with AFib can live healthy and active lives. It's important
to know your risk for AFib. There are a number of causes and risk factors including abnormalities in
the heart's physical structure from birth defects, valve disease, and other heart disease, older age,
family history, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid, or metabolic imbalances,
diabetes, lung disease, heart surgery-- especially coronary artery bypass and valve surgery,
obesity, viral infections or inflammation, stress, sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease,
and use of alcohol and certain medications. However, a cause for AFib is not always found
and people with otherwise healthy hearts may have the disease. It's also important to
watch for symptoms of AFib and listen to your body if you think something might be wrong.
Some people never have symptoms, while others report irregular pounding or rapid heartbeats
that are sometimes described as the feeling of butterflies or a flopping fish in the chest.
Some people also experience dizziness, fainting, breathlessness, weakness, fatigue,
and reduced ability to exercise. AFib is often classified based on how often it occurs and how it
responds to treatment. Paroxysmal or intermittent AFib is when episodes stop spontaneously but don't
last more than seven days. Persistent AFib is when episodes last longer than seven days.
Long-term persistent AFib lasts continuously for more than a year. Because not everyone experiences
symptoms, it's important for everyone, especially those at higher risk of AFib to have their heart
listened to and their pulse checked regularly. These simple tests can often detect the irregular
heart rhythm of AFib. If your healthcare professional suspects AFib they may confirm
the diagnosis with an electrocardiogram. They may also prescribe the use of a portable device
or even a smartphone application to record your heart rhythm over time. If you've been diagnosed
with AFib a major goal of your treatment will be to prevent heart clots that can lead to strokes.
It's also important to restore and maintain your heart rhythm and control your heart rate.
This can often be done with medications. If your symptoms are new or disruptive,
or if it's an emergency, you may need to have your heart rhythm restored by a cardioversion.
This can be done with oral or intravenous medications or with a controlled electrical
shock to the chest while under sedation. There are a number of medications that can help with
rate and rhythm control. If your AFib can't be managed with medications or other treatments,
a procedure may be necessary. Ablation uses heat cold or laser energy to create scars in the heart
that block abnormal electrical signals and restore your normal heart rhythm. Ablation can
often be done with a catheter inserted through a blood vessel called catheter ablation. If
it can't be done with a catheter, the maze and mini- maze procedures are surgical procedures.
Another critical part of treating AFib is preventing strokes. Because the heart beats
irregularly while in AFib, it doesn't pump out all the blood and affects the way blood flows through
the heart, sometimes allowing clots to form. Those clots can travel from the heart to the brain
and block vital blood flow and oxygen resulting in a stroke that can be disabling or deadly.
Anticoagulants, also called blood thinners, interfere with the body's clotting mechanisms
and reduce stroke risk. There are a number of oral anticoagulants that work in different ways
with different benefits and risks. Because they interfere with clotting, anticoagulants
increase the risk of bleeding, however fatal bleeding while on an anticoagulant is rare and
for most--even those who are older frail and may be at risk of falls--the benefit of preventing an
AFib related stroke outweighs the increased risk of bleeding. If you can't take an anticoagulant
your healthcare professional may recommend a procedure to close a sac or pouch in the left
atrial appendage where most AFib related clots form. This left atrial appendage occlusion, or
closure, can be done with a number of devices and vary as to whether they are placed using catheters
or with surgery. Be a proactive member of your health care team, ask questions, report changes,
and talk with your health care professional about any concerns you have. Don't stop or switch any
of your medications without talking to your health care professional. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by
losing weight, scheduling regular exercise, managing blood pressure, quitting smoking,
reducing alcohol consumption ,and treating sleep apnea can all help manage your AFib.
Getting an AFib diagnosis can be frightening and even confusing but you're not alone and with
proper treatment you can expect to live an active and healthy life. To learn more about stroke risk
reduction for people with AFib watch preventing atrial fibrillation related strokes on YouTube
and visit www.agingresearch.org/AFib. Brought to you by the alliance for aging research
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