Atrial Fibrilation - A Brief Overview
Since our heart is the organ that literally keeps us alive, it's no wonder that heart problems are among the most dreaded of health issues. The condition known as atrial fibrilation causes the heart to beat irregularly, and often abnormally fast. This is marked contrast to a normal, healthily functioning heart which will beat at around sixty to one hundred beats per minute when resting, and will have a regular rhythm.
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.
The root cause of the condition is not completely understood, but it involves the heart's electrical impulses. When these impulses fire in an irregular manner, they disrupt the heart's natural pace-making ability. This disruption occurs differently in different patients and explains the discrepancy in how AF can manifest.
In some patients, AF is very short-term and can come and go within a day or two. Other cases can last a week or more, while others can extend to over a year. Still other cases are more or less permanent and call for more significant intervention.
Overall, it is more prevalent in men than women, and in older people than the young (it can certainly affect young people, but this is rare). It is also more likely to be seen in people with existing heart trouble and other conditions such as arterial disease and high blood pressure. Lifestyle can also play a part, with excessive smoking and drinking thought to be triggers for the condition.
Although the condition is not usually life-threatening, it can be distressing and usually benefits from treatment. The main interventions consist of medication, controlled electric shocks or the fitting of a pacemaker. These interventions can often be successful and give patients a much-needed improvement in 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.
The root cause of the condition is not completely understood, but it involves the heart's electrical impulses. When these impulses fire in an irregular manner, they disrupt the heart's natural pace-making ability. This disruption occurs differently in different patients and explains the discrepancy in how AF can manifest.
In some patients, AF is very short-term and can come and go within a day or two. Other cases can last a week or more, while others can extend to over a year. Still other cases are more or less permanent and call for more significant intervention.
Overall, it is more prevalent in men than women, and in older people than the young (it can certainly affect young people, but this is rare). It is also more likely to be seen in people with existing heart trouble and other conditions such as arterial disease and high blood pressure. Lifestyle can also play a part, with excessive smoking and drinking thought to be triggers for the condition.
Although the condition is not usually life-threatening, it can be distressing and usually benefits from treatment. The main interventions consist of medication, controlled electric shocks or the fitting of a pacemaker. These interventions can often be successful and give patients a much-needed improvement in 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 How to Live with A-fib he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary's Heart and Vascular Center.
Comments
Post a Comment