A common, treatable condition
The human heart is a wonder of natural engineering. Its pumping chambers and valves work together to keep blood flowing through to the lungs to be enriched with oxygen, and then continuing outward to the rest of the body. The average adult’s heart beats more than 40 million times a year.
But the heart is much more than just a simple mechanical pump. Its upper and lower chambers must work together so the heart can function at peak efficiency. To accomplish that, the heart has its own electrical control system, with signals flowing from an internal pacemaker along conductive pathways in the heart muscle.
Unfortunately, things can go wrong with the heart’s mechanisms for controlling its speed and rhythm. The result may be an arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat, caused by disturbances in the heart’s electrical activity. Arrhythmia can take many forms, but the most common type is atrial fibrillation. It’s a bit of a tongue-twister, so doctors often just say “afib” (or AF).
If you have afib, the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat very fast. Instead of contracting in a regular pattern, they quiver (or fibrillate—hence the name atrial fibrillation). This throws them ] out of sync with the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart, which do most of the work of keeping blood circulating. As a result, the pumping action of the ventricles is not as effective.
Blood also can stagnate in the quivering atria, promoting the formation of blood clots. A clot that breaks free can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
Afib may occur in brief episodes lasting hours to days, or it may go on continually for months or years. Over time, afib can reduce the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to meet your needs.
By current estimates, approximately 6 million to 10 million Americans have afib. The condition is especially common among older adults. But because afib is so common, doctors have a lot of experience treating it and can offer you many options, including both medications and procedures.
Treatment for afib varies from one person to another. It needs to be customized to your age, your symptoms, and any other health conditions you have. Over time, afib and its symptoms may change, and your treatment may therefore need to change as well.
This report will explain what atrial fibrillation is, how to know if you have it, its causes, and the treatments available. Afib can be a complexhealth condition, so the more you know about it, the better you will be able to work with your doctor. If afib is monitored and treated correctly, you can minimize its symptoms and help prevent serious complications like stroke and heart damage.