Since our heart is the organ that literally keeps us alive, it's no wonder that heart problems are among the most dreaded of health issues. The condition known as atrial fibrilation causes the heart to beat irregularly, and often abnormally fast. This is marked contrast to a normal, healthily functioning heart which will beat at around sixty to one hundred beats per minute when resting, and will have a regular rhythm.
This heartbeat irregularity is its chief characteristic and it can cause several symptoms, including shortness of breath, dizziness and tiredness. The palpitations that can accompany this can take the heartbeat to over 140 beats a minute. However, some sufferers have little or nothing in the way of symptoms and can be unaware that their heart is functioning improperly.
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.
In some patients, AF is very short-term and can come and go within a day or two. Other cases can last a week or more, while others can extend to over a year. Still other cases are more or less permanent and call for more significant 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 heartbeat irregularity is its chief characteristic and it can cause several symptoms, including shortness of breath, dizziness and tiredness. The palpitations that can accompany this can take the heartbeat to over 140 beats a minute. However, some sufferers have little or nothing in the way of symptoms and can be unaware that their heart is functioning improperly.
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.
In some patients, AF is very short-term and can come and go within a day or two. Other cases can last a week or more, while others can extend to over a year. Still other cases are more or less permanent and call for more significant 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 How to Live with A-fib he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary's Heart and Vascular Center.
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