Atrial Fibrillation Defined
One of the most base cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) case is called Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib or Af). It is a health which manifests the quivering of the atria (two upper chambers of the heart) instead of them contracting in a coordinated rhythm. The simplest way to check this is to take a pulse and observe. A normal heartbeat should have regular intervals, but those with Af, it is otherwise.
Different Af Forms
Initially, all Af patients are categorized under the First Detected Af. Those patients who have had experienced prior undetected episodes and those who have had not are both under this category.
Intermittent Or Paroxysmal Pattern
When an part is detected the first time and it self-terminates in less than a week, then still recurs - it has reached the intermittent or paroxysmal pattern. The said pattern shows that the heart develops Atrial Fibrillation then returns to its normal rhythm spontaneously, usually in less than a day.
Persistent Pattern
There is also the persistent Atrial Fibrillation pattern. It takes place in episodes. However, the arrhythmia does not go back to its traditional rhythm spontaneously. To end the episode, medical medicine is recommended.
Permanent Pattern
The gravest pattern would be permanent. This is when the heart is in Atrial Fibrillation at all times. Having it go back to its rhythm is impossible or is not favorable for medical reasons.
However, there is also what's branded as the Lone Af. It has been used to review Af in individuals without cardiac or pulmonary disease, with low risk for thromboembolism.
Signs And Symptoms
Atrial Fibrillation's symptom is most often related with a rapid heart rate. Irregular heart rates may be apprehended as congestive manifestations of shortness of breath, exercise intolerance and palpitations, which is also called as edema. In most cases, Af can also be detected with symptoms such as symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as diarrhea and weight loss, chest pain or angina, and other symptoms that are base manifestations of lung disease. A patient is also at a higher risk of complications when he or she has a history of stroke, rheumatic fever, heart failure and diabetes.
Causes
Even without an evidence of an basal cardiac disease, it is still very possible for an Atrial Fibrillation to occur. Some causes which are not directly complex with the heart are the following:
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) Hypertension (High blood pressure) Pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) Pneumonia Carbon monoxide poisoning Excessive alcohol and caffeine intake A house history of Af may increase the risk of Af
Diagnosis
A patient who develops Atrial Fibrillation is evaluated by a medical history and corporeal examination. Furthermore, an echocardiogram (cardiac echo) and electrocardiogram (Ecg) are also done. It is the doctor's normal procedure to accumulate information on heart problems or chest pains and check if the known symptoms are being experienced by the patient.
Management
Treating Atrial Fibrillation has a main goal of preventing temporary circulatory instability and stroke. Preventing the former requires a rate or rhythm control while the risk of stroke can be decreased by anticoagulation.
Rate control aims to decrease the rapid heart rate to what is closer to normal - which is 60-100 Bpm (beats per minute), with no effort to revert to a regular rhythm. The main purpose of the rhythm control is to restore the normal heart rhythm straight through cardioversion alongside drugs as maintenance. Meanwhile, anticoagulation can be done straight through aspirin warfarin, dabigatran and heparin. Selecting a formula involves notice of the cost, risk of stroke, risk of falls, compliance, and speed of desired onset of anticoagulation.
