A Brief Guide To Atrial Fibrilation
Heart problems are all too prevalent in the United States and in fact constitute one of the most pressing public health concerns in the world at large. One of the most common of these is Atrial fibrilation, which affects an estimated nine million people in the US and Europe. It is characterized by an irregular heart rhythm and is sometimes accompanied by an elevated beat rate.
This irregularity is the main symptom of the condition and can lead to a number of problems including tiredness, shortness of breath and dizziness. These symptoms can be exacerbated by an abnormally fast heartbeat (palpitations), which can reach upwards of one-hundred and forty beats per minute. Some people however have no symptoms and remain unaware that they have the condition.
A healthy heart contracts and relaxes rhythmically, forcing blood into the body and drawing in a fresh supply with each cycle. AF is a disruption in this process whereby the upper chambers of the organ contract in a fast, random manner. The heart cannot relax properly and consequently it's efficiency is impaired.
Although the exact cause of the problem is not properly understood, it stems from a disruption in the heart's electrical signals. When these signals fire in a sudden, random manner, they interfere with the heart's inbuilt pacemaker. This causes the organ to beat too quickly, too slowly, irregularly or a combination of these.
Sometimes the condition comes and goes and is very short-term, ceasing within around forty-eight hours. In other cases it can be more persistent, lasting for a week or more. Other instances are yet more persistent, lasting for a year or longer. Sometimes it can be ongoing and call for more significant interventions.
In all of its manifestations, AF is more common among men than among women. It is also more common among older people, although young people can be affected (usually as a result of having other heart conditions). It can be triggered by other health problems (such as hypothyroidism and lung cancer) as well as poor lifestyle choices such as drinking and smoking excessively.
Although not typically life-threatening, it can be a source of considerable distress and patients can benefit greatly from attention. Primary interventions include specialist drugs, electrical stimulus and in some cases, pacemaker fitment. These interventions, when successful, can provide patients with considerable relief and a welcome boost to their quality of life.
This irregularity is the main symptom of the condition and can lead to a number of problems including tiredness, shortness of breath and dizziness. These symptoms can be exacerbated by an abnormally fast heartbeat (palpitations), which can reach upwards of one-hundred and forty beats per minute. Some people however have no symptoms and remain unaware that they have the condition.
A healthy heart contracts and relaxes rhythmically, forcing blood into the body and drawing in a fresh supply with each cycle. AF is a disruption in this process whereby the upper chambers of the organ contract in a fast, random manner. The heart cannot relax properly and consequently it's efficiency is impaired.
Although the exact cause of the problem is not properly understood, it stems from a disruption in the heart's electrical signals. When these signals fire in a sudden, random manner, they interfere with the heart's inbuilt pacemaker. This causes the organ to beat too quickly, too slowly, irregularly or a combination of these.
Sometimes the condition comes and goes and is very short-term, ceasing within around forty-eight hours. In other cases it can be more persistent, lasting for a week or more. Other instances are yet more persistent, lasting for a year or longer. Sometimes it can be ongoing and call for more significant interventions.
In all of its manifestations, AF is more common among men than among women. It is also more common among older people, although young people can be affected (usually as a result of having other heart conditions). It can be triggered by other health problems (such as hypothyroidism and lung cancer) as well as poor lifestyle choices such as drinking and smoking excessively.
Although not typically life-threatening, it can be a source of considerable distress and patients can benefit greatly from attention. Primary interventions include specialist drugs, electrical stimulus and in some cases, pacemaker fitment. These interventions, when successful, can provide patients with considerable relief and a welcome boost to their quality of life.
About the Author:
Neil P. Hines is passionate about providing intelligent, unbiased and highly relevant medical information for people dealing with a wide range of medical conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. If you are interested in learning more about The Risk Factors of A-fib he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary's Heart and Vascular Center.
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New Unique Article!
Title: A Brief Guide To Atrial Fibrilation
Author: Neil P. Hines
Email: rafael.e.zabala@gmail.com
Keywords: treatment for atrial fibrillation,venticular fibrillation treatment,atrial fibrillation ablation,ablation therapy for a-fib,atrial fibrillation signs and treatment,medical treatment for atrial fibrillation,what is afib,treatments for afib
Word Count: 397
Category: Health & Fitness
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