Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a rare irregular heartbeat caused by the irregular firing of electrical impulses, causing the top chambers, commonly referred to as atria, to quiver. It is a condition that occurs due to fast heart rhythms, causing blood clots in the heart (upper levels).
When A-fib occurs, the upper heart chambers beat irregularly differently from the lower chambers (palpitations), resulting in the common symptoms associated with the conditions.
The symptoms may appear or not depending on the individual experiencing the condition. In some people, the conditions do not appear. These symptoms can also be easily confused with other heart-related conditions. However, those who notice the symptoms are likely to feel the following:
The symptoms can also depend on the type of A-fib one is experiencing.
Many heart problems have similar symptoms; however, A-fib is unique due to the fluttering and palpitations. Ignoring any heart condition-related symptom can easily trigger the other. For example. A-fib can easily trigger a heart attack that can damage other parts of the heart, leading to severe conditions such as stroke. This calls for maximum cation, and victims need to report any condition that appears similar to heart attack or A-fib.
There are three main types of A-fib.
Occasional, also known as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The symptoms are not permanent; they come and go lasting for minutes and sometimes hours. The episodes can occur rapidly, forcing the symptoms to extend up to sometimes a week. The symptoms eventually disappear without any medical interventions. However, those with occasional A-fib should seek medical help.
Persistent A-fib: The heartbeats do not resume to steady and may sometimes continue beating vigorously until the person seeks medical intervention. The patient needs to seek cardioversion or necessary treatments to resolve the situation.
Long-standing persistent A-fib: The A-fib occurs continuously and can last longer than 12 months if no medical intervention is administered.
Permanent: This condition requires frequent education to handle to control the heartbeat. This is because the normal heartbeat cannot be restored.
Everybody can experience A-fib; however, certain conditions increase the risks of the diseases. These conditions include:
Age: older people are at more risk of getting A-fib than younger people. They need younger people instant medical attention, even if they experience mild symptoms.
Heart disease: those suffering from heart diseases are at higher risk of A-fib. Conditions such as coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, and a history of heart attack can easily trigger A-fib. Those who have undergone various heart surgeries are also likely to experience adverse effects of the A-fib.
Thyroid disease: Thyroid problems occasionally trigger heart rhythm problems and can lead to A-fib.
Alcohol and drugs: Drugs can trigger A-fib if they interfere with the heart beating pattern.
Other risk factors include those from families with previous heart complications, obesity, and other diseases.
Whenever any symptoms of A-fib appear, you should see a doctor. A-fib may result in other heart-related conditions; hence you need to visit the doctor even if the symptoms are mild or occasional. The medicine administered during the visit can be crucial for preventing the future occurrence of A-fib. The visit to the doctor can also reveal the cause, enabling you to treat the cause rather than being on medication and monitoring.
A-fib can lead to other complications; it can trigger other dangerous heart-related conditions such as heart attack. The main and the most common effect is blood clots. Blood clots are the main cause of stroke. It can cause blood to clot in the atria; when the clots occur in the left atrium, they can travel to the brain leading to an instant stroke.
Those suffering from A-fib also have increased chances of heart failure, high blood pressure, heart failure; suppose the condition occurs frequently and do not take any medical interventions to correct the situation.
A healthy lifestyle reduces the chances of A-fib occurring; hence you need exercise, healthy choices ranging from diet, exercise, avoiding smoking and alcohol. Other measures include managing stress and anger that can lead to adverse heart rhythms that trigger A-fib.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.