Atrial Fibrillation – What is it, and how can it impact your heart

AFib is the most diagnosed heart arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, condition in the United States.

Atrial Fibrillation, or AFib, is a dangerous, chronic, and progressive disease. It leads to a shorter, less pleasing, and often disabling life. It is the most diagnosed heart arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, condition in the United States. In a normal heartbeat, the heart’s four chambers work together to fill and empty blood from the upper chambers to the lower ones. In AFib cases, electrical signals that control the heart can misfire, causing too fast or too slow a heartbeat. As a result, blood pools in the chambers, leading to potential heart problems.

Afib is diagnosed when the arrhythmia associated with this disease is found. This is done by using an Electrocardiogram, or ECG. An ECG is a test that measures the heart’s electrical activity. 15% of patients with AFib will not experience arrhythmia in their lifetime. However, most patients will progress from occasional episodes to a regular or permanent stage of AFib.

What are the symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation?

Many patients feel no symptoms while having an irregular heartbeat caused by Atrial Fibrillation. Yet many suffer tiredness, palpitations, difficulty breathing, hypotension, and/or fainting. Even for those with no symptoms, AFib is a progressive disease that can lead to serious problems.

What are the consequences of the Atrial Fibrillations?

Patients with AFib have two times higher death rate, three to five times higher chance of developing heart failure and five to seven times higher stroke rate. They also have increased rates of cognitive impairment/dementia, and a lower quality of life when compared to those without AFib.

Can we do anything about Atrial Fibrillation?

Yes. We know some of the risk factors for Atrial Fibrillation. Prevention is crucial in managing this disease.

The first means of prevention is managing the risk factors that can cause AFib. For example, managing the following can all positively impact overall health and reduce the chances of developing AFib:

• High blood pressure
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure
• Valvular heart disease
• Reduced physical activity
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Hyperactive thyroid
• Sleep apnea
• Lung disease
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Drug abuse

Secondary prevention involves controlling risk factors that can cause existing AFib to worsen. The longer a heart beats irregularly, it becomes more likely there could be changes in the heart that can cause further episodes of AFib. This could progress into a permanent form of arrhythmia. Antiarrhythmic medications and electrical cardioversion are used to restore the heart’s rhythm. In some cases, a minimally invasive procedure might be needed to stop or slow down the disease’s progression.

Many patients with Atrial Fibrillation require blood thinners to lower the risk of a blood clot. Patients who cannot take blood thinners may benefit from a procedure that can help reduce the risk of blood clots and decrease the risk of stroke.

Since AFib is a complex and chronic disease, its management requires a partnership among healthcare providers, patients, and their families. This teamwork helps ensure that patients’ wants, needs, and preferences are respected. It also makes sure that patients have the education and support they need to make decisions and participate in their care.

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