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Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat in which the heart beats at a rapid rate. The human heart consists of four areas known as chambers. The top two chambers are the atria, while the bottom two are the ventricles. Atrial fibrillation causes the atria to fibrillate in an offbeat manner. These odd mechanics lead to the irregular, sometimes speedy, heartbeat.

Risk factors for Atrial Fibrillation

People age 60 and above are part of the group most commonly affected by atrial fibrillation, but anyone can have the disorder. There are many instances where the cause of atrial fibrillation is unknown, but it has been documented that your chances of developing it increase if you possess any of the following traits:

• Heart disease due to high cholesterol
• Enlarged heart due to high blood pressure
• Damaged heart valve
• Overactive thyroid gland
• Lung disease
• Alcoholism

Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation

The most common feeling associated with atrial fibrillation is a sensation that your heartbeat is very rapid without anything provoking it. These are called palpitations. Some additional common symptoms include an abnormal pulse, overtiredness, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

On rare occasions, atrial fibrillation may cause a blood clot to form in your heart. If this clot comes loose from the artery wall and enters the blood stream, it can travel to your brain and trigger a stroke. At the other end of the spectrum, some people are completely unaffected by the disorder.

Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Treating atrial fibrillation depends on the severity of your symptoms, whether you have heart disease, or if you've suffered a recent stroke. If your symptoms have just begun, and you are experiencing many of them, your physician may choose to treat you with electrical cardioversion. In this procedure, you take a sedative to stay calm, and you receive an electric shock to tune your pulse back to its natural rhythm.

If you have mild symptoms, you may be prescribed medication to reduce your heart rate. If the symptoms do not subside, your physician may resort to electrical cardioversion.

You could potentially be advised to take a blood-thinner such as heparin, aspirin, or warfarin if you:

• Are going to undergo electrical cardioversion
• Have suffered a stroke
• Are at risk of having a stroke in the future

If you frequently drink alcohol or caffeinated drinks such as coffee, your physician may suggest that you reduce your intake, or avoid both of them altogether, because they can boost your heart rate.