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| Atrial Fibrillation |
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Atrial
fibrillation-
Atrial fibrillation(A-Fib or AF) is the most
common type of heart rhythm disorder, or arrhythmia. It
means, literally, that the atria (the upper chambers of
the heart) are fibrillating (quivering rapidly and chaotically),
rather than beating in their normal, rhythmic pattern.
AF is caused by a problem with the electrical signals
that coordinate the muscles of the atria. When these signals
misfire, the atria respond in an uncontrolled, uncoordinated
manner. This throws off the normal rhythm between the
upper and lower chambers of the heart.
(In atrial flutter, a similar condition, the atria also
beat too quickly and disrupt the normal rhythm, but the
electrical pattern in atrial flutter is more organized
and predictable.) |
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| While AFis not immediately life threatening,
it does make the upper chambers less effective at pumping
blood to the lower chambers of the heart. This effectively
reduces the amount of blood flow to the rest of the body
by about 15%. This can cause stagnant blood to pool in
the nooks and crannies of the atria, which increases the
risk of forming blood clots that could lead to a stroke.
Without treatment, AF can also cause a fast pulse rate
for a prolonged period, which can weaken the ventricular
heart muscle over time, and lead to heart failure. |
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| Symptoms |
| In some people,
AF causes no obvious symptoms. In others, it may
cause uncomfortable symptoms such as: |
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Shortness of breath |
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Palpitations |
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Difficulting exercising |
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Chest discomfort |
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Dizziness or fainting |
| Episodes of AF may
come and go (this is called paroxysmal AF). Over
time, they may last longer and become more persistent,
requiring medication or electrical treatment to
stop them. Permanent AF is less responsive to treatment
and may require more extensive medical intervention
in order to restore a normal rhythm. |
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| Risk factors for
developing AF |
| Although some people
get AF without any apparent cause, people with any
of these risk factors are more likely to develop
AF: |
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Diabetes |
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High blood pressure |
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Coronary artery disease |
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Mitral valve disease |
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Thyroid disease |
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Chronic lung disease |
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Prior open heart surgery |
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Sleep apnea |
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Excessive alcohol or stimulant
use |
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Age over 60 |
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| Diagnosis |
| Because AF is a
disorder of the heart’s electrical system,
it is diagnosed by recording the electrical activity
of your heart, using an eletrocardiogram (ECG, or
EKG). The ECG is painless and requires no incisions
or needles. A technician will attach electrodes
(like small bandages) to your skin. The electrodes
connect to a machine that helps analyze your heart’s
electrical activity. For a longer study, you may
be asked to wear a portable monitor (about the size
of a pager) at home to record your heart’s
rhythm over a period of days. A more invasive electrophysiology
(EP) study may be necessary in some cases to make
a diagnosis and discover the specific type of arrhythmia
that is causing symptoms. |
| [Heart
Rhythm Society Patient Page for Atrial Fibrillation] |
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