Your heart can race when you see someone you love. It beats even faster when running a race. Or it can race out of control during atrial fibrillation.
Publish 28 January 2021
You Have Felt AFib
Have you ever run so fast that you run out of breath? At that time, your body was so worked up that you could hear your heart beating in your ears! The same goes for when you are in eye contact with a very special loved one. Your heart starts thumping in your chest as if it would jump right out at any second.
These instances give you an idea of how it feels like to have an Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). But beware—there is nothing lovey-dovey or exciting about it! Unlike running or encounters with a loved one, where your heart skips a beat or starts beating very fast, AFib is something you should take seriously. It can compromise your health or cause serious harm.
Let us learn more about these ‘irregular, life-shaking’ heartbeats that could soon turn into something very serious if left untreated.
What Is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial Fibrillation or ‘AFib’ for short is an irregular type of heartbeat or ‘cardiac arrhythmia.’ It occurs due to any disruption or disturbance in the smooth flow of blood across the heart chambers. It is one of the most common heart arrhythmias in cardiology.
AFib can itself be life-threatening, or it may also indicate that the person experiencing it is at risk of experiencing a stroke or the development of blood clots in the future. Not every AFib is lethal, some are common, non-harming ones.
There is increasing concern over AFib occurring in people over 65 years of age who already suffer from other heart-related conditions. When it happens in younger people, it is usually monitored with at-home care. But it is still serious so don’t ignore it.
Symptoms and Signs of AFib
Cardiology can be a very confusing field. This is because so many heart-related conditions present with the same set of signs and symptoms. Thus, they need further exploration to reach the root cause.
Enlisted below are some of the specific signs and symptoms that a person with AFib develops:
- Chest Pain: Depending on your condition, they may be severe stabbing-type pains or mild, but constant ones.
- Palpitations: This is when you feel as if your heart is ‘racing’ and beating much faster than normal.
- Dizziness: Experiencing something new can wear you out. A person might feel lightheaded or dizzy, which makes him want to sit down for a while.
- Confusion: One thing leads to the other and the person might faint or feel confused. He might become disoriented or lack the sense that tells him where he is.
- Intolerance: Patients suffering from AFib usually develop a ‘lack of stamina.’
Diagnosis and Treatment
The diagnosis of AFib is the same as any other disease in cardiology: through the 12-lead ECG. Sometimes, the pulse rate also increases. However, this is not a specific marker for diagnosing AFib. Only an ECG can diagnose or confirm suspicion of AFib.
A person with an AFib diagnosis gets an individual treatment plan. When intensive care is necessary, the patient receives immediate hospitalization.
Doctors can manage patients with mild to moderate AFib using medicines such as Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Sodium, and Potassium Channel Blockers, etc. This helps normalize their heart rate and rhythm.
Whether risk factors are mild or moderate, patients need constant monitoring to assess any developing or deteriorating conditions.
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To support the writing of useful articles about cardiology, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about cardiology. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.
You can support the writing of useful articles about cardiology by sponsoring specific articles or remitting a small donation.
Co-author Anique Ali, MD has a keen interest in medical bioinformatics.
