Heart conditions are certainly among the most worrisome maladies, and sadly they are also some of the most common in the developed world. A healthy heart has a regular rhythm, and will beat at approximately 60 to 100 beats a minute when at rest. The presence of atrial fibrilation means that the heart's rhythm becomes irregular. This is sometimes accompanied by its beat pattern becoming abnormally fast (known as palpitations).
This impaired functioning of the heart can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, tiredness, dizziness and chest pains. The palpitations that sometimes accompany AF can be felt as a thumping heart. Some sufferers however have very mild or even no symptoms and are only diagnosed by chance.
A healthy heart contracts and relaxes rhythmically, forcing blood into the body and drawing in a fresh supply with each cycle. AF is a disruption in this process whereby the upper chambers of the organ contract in a fast, random manner. The heart cannot relax properly and consequently it's efficiency is impaired.
Although the exact cause of the problem is not properly understood, it stems from a disruption in the heart's electrical signals. When these signals fire in a sudden, random manner, they interfere with the heart's inbuilt pacemaker. This causes the organ to beat too quickly, too slowly, irregularly or a combination of these.
The condition can vary in its severity and duration from patient to patient. For some, it can be mild and very short-term, ceasing within a day or so. For others, it can last a week or more, and in some cases for a year or longer. Sometimes it is more or less ever-present and requires more substantial intervention.
Overall, it is more prevalent in men than women, and in older people than the young (it can certainly affect young people, but this is rare). It is also more likely to be seen in people with existing heart trouble and other conditions such as arterial disease and high blood pressure. Lifestyle can also play a part, with excessive smoking and drinking thought to be triggers for the condition.
Although not typically life-threatening, it can be a source of considerable distress and patients can benefit greatly from attention. Primary interventions include specialist drugs, electrical stimulus and in some cases, pacemaker fitment. These interventions, when successful, can provide patients with considerable relief and a welcome boost to their quality of life.
This impaired functioning of the heart can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, tiredness, dizziness and chest pains. The palpitations that sometimes accompany AF can be felt as a thumping heart. Some sufferers however have very mild or even no symptoms and are only diagnosed by chance.
A healthy heart contracts and relaxes rhythmically, forcing blood into the body and drawing in a fresh supply with each cycle. AF is a disruption in this process whereby the upper chambers of the organ contract in a fast, random manner. The heart cannot relax properly and consequently it's efficiency is impaired.
Although the exact cause of the problem is not properly understood, it stems from a disruption in the heart's electrical signals. When these signals fire in a sudden, random manner, they interfere with the heart's inbuilt pacemaker. This causes the organ to beat too quickly, too slowly, irregularly or a combination of these.
The condition can vary in its severity and duration from patient to patient. For some, it can be mild and very short-term, ceasing within a day or so. For others, it can last a week or more, and in some cases for a year or longer. Sometimes it is more or less ever-present and requires more substantial intervention.
Overall, it is more prevalent in men than women, and in older people than the young (it can certainly affect young people, but this is rare). It is also more likely to be seen in people with existing heart trouble and other conditions such as arterial disease and high blood pressure. Lifestyle can also play a part, with excessive smoking and drinking thought to be triggers for the condition.
Although not typically life-threatening, it can be a source of considerable distress and patients can benefit greatly from attention. Primary interventions include specialist drugs, electrical stimulus and in some cases, pacemaker fitment. These interventions, when successful, can provide patients with considerable relief and a welcome boost to their quality of life.
About the Author:
Neil P. Hines is passionate about providing intelligent, unbiased and highly relevant medical information for people dealing with a wide range of medical conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. If you are interested in learning more about The Risk Factors of A-fib he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary's Heart and Vascular Center.
