Heart problems are all too prevalent in the United States and in fact constitute one of the most pressing public health concerns in the world at large. One of the most common of these is Atrial fibrilation, which affects an estimated nine million people in the US and Europe. It is characterized by an irregular heart rhythm and is sometimes accompanied by an elevated beat rate.
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.
In a normally functioning heart, its muscular walls contract and relax in a mechanism known as systole and diastole. This process forces the blood out of the heart and into the body, then draws fresh blood in again. When AF occurs, the upper chambers of the heart (known as the atria) contract quickly and randomly, preventing the organ from relaxing properly between contractions. This impacts the heart's overall efficiency and thus its capacity to supply the body with blood.
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.
All varieties of the condition are more common in men than women, and are more common the older people get (although it can occur at any age). It is also more common in people with other conditions such as high blood pressure, arterial disease or a separate heart condition. Certain lifestyle factors are also thought to be triggers for the condition, heavy drinking and smoking being chief among them.
Although AF is not normally life-threatening it does increase the risk of stroke. This risk varies from patient to patient and can be calculated by a doctor. Interventions for the condition range from drugs (such as beta-blockers to slow down the heart rate) to pace-maker fitment. Modern interventions mean that many patients can expect a significant improvement in their symptoms, and in 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.
In a normally functioning heart, its muscular walls contract and relax in a mechanism known as systole and diastole. This process forces the blood out of the heart and into the body, then draws fresh blood in again. When AF occurs, the upper chambers of the heart (known as the atria) contract quickly and randomly, preventing the organ from relaxing properly between contractions. This impacts the heart's overall efficiency and thus its capacity to supply the body with blood.
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.
All varieties of the condition are more common in men than women, and are more common the older people get (although it can occur at any age). It is also more common in people with other conditions such as high blood pressure, arterial disease or a separate heart condition. Certain lifestyle factors are also thought to be triggers for the condition, heavy drinking and smoking being chief among them.
Although AF is not normally life-threatening it does increase the risk of stroke. This risk varies from patient to patient and can be calculated by a doctor. Interventions for the condition range from drugs (such as beta-blockers to slow down the heart rate) to pace-maker fitment. Modern interventions mean that many patients can expect a significant improvement in their symptoms, and in 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 Atrial Fibrillation he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary's Heart and Vascular Center.
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