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 irregularity is the main symptom of the condition and can lead to a number of problems including tiredness, shortness of breath and dizziness. These symptoms can be exacerbated by an abnormally fast heartbeat (palpitations), which can reach upwards of one-hundred and forty beats per minute. Some people however have no symptoms and remain unaware that they have the condition.
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.
The root cause of the condition is not completely understood, but it involves the heart's electrical impulses. When these impulses fire in an irregular manner, they disrupt the heart's natural pace-making ability. This disruption occurs differently in different patients and explains the discrepancy in how AF can manifest.
Sometimes the condition comes and goes and is very short-term, ceasing within around forty-eight hours. In other cases it can be more persistent, lasting for a week or more. Other instances are yet more persistent, lasting for a year or longer. Sometimes it can be ongoing and call for more significant interventions.
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 irregularity is the main symptom of the condition and can lead to a number of problems including tiredness, shortness of breath and dizziness. These symptoms can be exacerbated by an abnormally fast heartbeat (palpitations), which can reach upwards of one-hundred and forty beats per minute. Some people however have no symptoms and remain unaware that they have the condition.
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.
The root cause of the condition is not completely understood, but it involves the heart's electrical impulses. When these impulses fire in an irregular manner, they disrupt the heart's natural pace-making ability. This disruption occurs differently in different patients and explains the discrepancy in how AF can manifest.
Sometimes the condition comes and goes and is very short-term, ceasing within around forty-eight hours. In other cases it can be more persistent, lasting for a week or more. Other instances are yet more persistent, lasting for a year or longer. Sometimes it can be ongoing and call for more significant interventions.
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 Treatment Options for Atrial Fibrillation he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary's Heart and Vascular Center.
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