What You Need To Know About Atrial Fibrillation

By Author: Kaycee Bishop
Total Articles: 24
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Atrial fibrillation or otherwise known as AFIB is the most common irregular heartbeat and often rapid heart rhythm. It is often linked to chest pain, palpitations, fainting and congestive heart failure. With a diagnosis of AFIB, your risk of stroke increases seven times that of the average population, most especially if there are additional risk factors such as high blood pressure. Adults over forty years old have a 1 in 4 chance of developing AFIB or an irregular heartbeat. And the risk increases as you grow older. That is why it is important to know what this is all about and what are the ways to prevent it.

Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat is a result of abnormal electrical impulses in the upper chambers of the heart (atria) and causes the heartbeat to be fast and irregular. This irregularity may be come and go and it may also be continuous. The patterns of AFIB are the following: intermittent, persistent and permanent.

How is atrial fibrillation identified? Clinically, it can be checked when taking a pulse and it can be further confirmed with an ECG ...
... or electrocardiogram. This device will demonstrate the absence of P waves along with an irregular ventricular rate. As it is related to a rapid heart rate, AFIB may sometimes be perceived as palpitations, exercise intolerance or shortness of breath.

There are different causes of AFIB and some of it may not be related to a heart disease. Most younger people experience it due to a number of reasons. This is called lone atrial fibrillation and its causes are the following:

• Hyperthyroidism
• Alcohol intake (holiday heart) – it is when a cardiac arrhythmia is caused by a holiday-related event where alcohol intake is increased and medications are stopped. This condition will subside later on once the triggering behaviour is stopped.
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism - this is also referred to as the clotting of blood in the lungs.
• Caffeine intake – just like alcohol, this may be a cause of AFIB for some susceptible individuals
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For some people, however, this condition is a result of a cardiac condition such as a heart valve disease, enlargement of left ventricle walls, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, sick sinus syndrome, pericarditis, myocarditis and advancing age.

AFIB is a serious condition for some since it may lead to complications such as stroke, heart failure, blood clot formation and serious or life-threatening problems. To know when to call for emergency medical services, this condition must occur with any of the following: chest pain, weakness, severe shortness of breath, fainting or light headedness, very rapid heartbeat and low blood pressure. Though not all heart palpitations are atrial fibrillation, it is advisable to consult a doctor if the rapid heartbeat is continuous and is accompanied by a slow pulse.

To take control of your health, it is advisable to take preventive ways such as life-line screening. This is a painless, non-invasive, advanced ultrasound technology for stroke and other disease prevention in the comfort of your own community. It only takes less than an hour and is performed by highly qualified and skilled technologists and reviewed by a board-certified physician. Within 21 days, you’ll be able to receive a confidential written report of the test. This not only contains screening for atrial fibrillation but for stroke, peripheral arterial disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm screenings as well.