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 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.
The muscular walls of a normally operating heart contract and relax in an even, rhythmic process (known as systole and diastole). Blood is forced from the heart and out into the body, then drawn in again to repeat the process. In AF, the atria of the heart (its upper chambers) contract too suddenly and rapidly, interfering with the heart's operation and its capacity to provide the body with blood efficiently.
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.
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.
In all of its manifestations, AF is more common among men than among women. It is also more common among older people, although young people can be affected (usually as a result of having other heart conditions). It can be triggered by other health problems (such as hypothyroidism and lung cancer) as well as poor lifestyle choices such as drinking and smoking excessively.
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 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.
The muscular walls of a normally operating heart contract and relax in an even, rhythmic process (known as systole and diastole). Blood is forced from the heart and out into the body, then drawn in again to repeat the process. In AF, the atria of the heart (its upper chambers) contract too suddenly and rapidly, interfering with the heart's operation and its capacity to provide the body with blood efficiently.
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.
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.
In all of its manifestations, AF is more common among men than among women. It is also more common among older people, although young people can be affected (usually as a result of having other heart conditions). It can be triggered by other health problems (such as hypothyroidism and lung cancer) as well as poor lifestyle choices such as drinking and smoking excessively.
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 Atrial Fibrillation he recommends that you visit his friends at St. Mary's Heart and Vascular Center.
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