Understanding Atrial Fibrillation

Understanding Atrial Fibrillation What Is Atrial Fibrillation? Normal Heartbeat Condition also known as AFib The most common type of heart arrhythmia A heart arrhythmia is an issue with the rhythm or rate of the heartbeat Atrial Fibrillation AFib affects more than 2.6 million people in the U.S. Occurs when the heart's upper chambers, or atria, contract quickly and irregularly Caused by disorganized electrical signals in the heart Blood is not completely pumped into lower chambers and pools in the atria What Are the Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation? Irregular heartbeat mfrufrle Normal heartbeat is 50-100 beats per minute With AFib, the atria may beat 400-600 times per minute, while the lower chambers may only beat 110-180 times per minute A fluttering or thumping feeling in the chest may result General fatigue or weakness Dizziness Chest pain,which is a sign of a cardiac emergency Shortness of breath What Are the Dangers of Atrial Fibrillation? Stroke AFib sufferers are up to 5 times more likely to have a stroke Heart failure Chronic fatigue Inconsistent blood supply throughout body Other heart problems What Are the Treatments for Atrial Fibrillation? Medications Often the most helpful form of treatment, but can have side effects May help prevent blood clots or control heart rate and rhythm Non-surgical procedures Electrical cardioversion uses an electrical shock to reset the heart's rhythm Ablation scars the areas of the heart where extra electrical activity is occurring Surgical procedures A pacemaker may be implanted to control heart rhythm with electrical signals Open-heart maze surgery may be performed to stop disorganized electrical signals Provided by: www.social.northsidehospital.com HCA Tampa Bay Heart Institute NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL Sources www.nhibinih.gow/health/health-topics/topics/af/ www.emedicinehealth.com/atrial fibrillation/article_em.htmfatrial_fibrillation www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arhythmia/AboutArtythmia/What-are-the-Symptoms-of-Atrial-Fitrilation-AFib-or-AF_UCM_423777_Article.jsp www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arhythmia/AboutArtythmia/Why-Atrial-Fibrillation-AF-or-AFib-Matters_UCM_423776_Artide jsp www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arthythmia/AboutArtythmia/Atrial-Fibrillation-Medications_UCM_423781_Artikle jsp www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arthythrmia/AboutArtythmia/Non-sungical-Procedares-for-Atrial-Fibrilation-AFib-or-AF_UCM_423782_Articlejsp www.heartorg/HEARTORG/Conditions/Artythmia/AboutArtythmia/Surgical-Procedures-for-Atrial-Fibrillatikn-AFib-or-AF_UCM_423783_Articke.jsp