How to transform heart care with advanced treatment for atrial fibrillation?
AFib, or atrial fibrillation, is the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm, affecting over 3 million adults every day. It happens when your heart beats too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly. Poor blood flow to the rest of your body can result from atrial fibrillation.
“The most common cardiac rhythm disorder is atrial fibrillation,” says Dr Ranjit Jagtap, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Ram Mangal Heart Foundation. “Atrial Fibrillation can also increase your risk of developing blood clots, having a stroke, having heart failure, or having other problems. You are more likely to have a stroke if your heartbeat is out of sync because blood can pool in parts of your heart and form clots. These blood clots have the potential to travel to the brain, resulting in a stroke. Strokes caused by AFib are more severe and fatal.”
If you have AFib, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Breathing difficulty
- Palpitations and chest pain
The good news is that detecting and treating AFib early can improve your quality of life and help you live longer.
What are risks of causing atrial fibrillation?
Some people can live with atrial fibrillation for years without experiencing any complications. However, atrial fibrillation can lead to further complications:
Because the atria are beating rapidly and irregularly, blood does not flow as quickly through them. This increases the likelihood of clotting. If your heart pump out a clot, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke, or it can travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.
According to Dr Ranjit Jagtap News, people with atrial fibrillation are 5 to 7 times more likely than the general population to have a stroke. Clots can also spread to other parts of the body (kidneys, heart, intestines) and cause additional damage.
Atrial fibrillation can impair the heart’s ability to pump blood. The irregularity may cause the heart to work inefficiently. Furthermore, long-term atrial fibrillation can significantly weaken the heart and eventually lead to heart failure.
Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and even death.
What exactly are the signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
You could have atrial fibrillation without knowing it. If you have symptoms, they could be as follows:
Heart palpitations are characterised by a sudden pounding, fluttering, or racing sensation in the chest.
- Tiredness or a lack of energy
- Dizziness — a feeling of light-headedness or faint
- Chest discomfort leading to pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest.
- Breathing difficulties — Having difficulty breathing during normal activities and even at rest
Treatment and Diagnosis
AFib can be detected using a variety of tests, including a stress test, electrocardiogram, or echocardiogram. These tests aid in the monitoring of your heart’s activity and the detection of any abnormal heart rhythms that may occur.
If you have AFib, your treatment will be determined by the severity of your symptoms as well as the underlying cause. Your treatment may consist of a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and procedures. Moreover, the main goal is to stop abnormal heart rhythms and reduce your chances of having a stroke.
The following are the most used tests to diagnose atrial fibrillation:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
The ECG depicts the electrical impulses travelling through the heart muscle on graph paper. An EKG is a type of electrocardiogram that provides an electrical “snapshot” of the heart.
- Holter monitor
A small external recorder is worn for a short period of time, usually one to three days. Electrodes (sticky patches) that doctors apply to the skin of your chest. Wires connect the electrodes to the monitor. The electrical impulses are continuously recorded and saved in the monitor. Then a physician analyses the data with a computer to determine the heart’s rhythm.
- Portable event monitor
A monitor that is worn for about a month by patients who have less frequent irregular heartbeat episodes and symptoms. Electrodes (sticky patches) that doctors apply to the skin of your chest. Wires connect the electrodes to the monitor. When symptoms occur, the patient presses a button to activate the monitor.
For a few seconds, the device records the electrical activity of the heart. The patient then sends the device’s recorded data to the doctor’s office via telephone line for evaluation. The portable event monitor is extremely helpful in determining which heart rhythm is causing your symptoms.
- Trans telephonic monitor
If you develop symptoms of atrial fibrillation, a strip of your current heart rhythm will transmit to your doctor’s office over the phone, using a monitor with two bracelets.
What is the treatment for atrial fibrillation?
Treatment for atrial fibrillation aims to restore a normal heart rhythm (sinus rhythm), control heart rate, prevent blood clots, and lower the risk of stroke.
There are numerous treatment options for atrial fibrillation, including lifestyle changes, medications, catheter-based procedures, as well as surgery. Your heart rhythm and symptoms will determine the type of treatment that suits you.
According to new research, addressing weight, sleep apnea, and alcohol use can also help patients with AFib control their condition. In fact, studies show that if you are overweight or obese, the number of pounds you lose can influence how much your symptoms improve. The more weight you lose, the less likely you are to experience symptoms of atrial fibrillation.
Furthermore, learn more about atrial fibrillation and its treatment in younger patients with abnormal heart rhythms at Dr Ranjit Jagtap Clinic.
