Atrial Fibrillation
Get more information about Atrial Fibrillation
What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation, or AF, is a common heart condition in which the upper part of the heart (the atria) beats irregularly and much too fast because it receives extra, "abnormal" electrical signals. This causes it to quiver (or fibrillate) and affects the heart's ability to efficiently pump blood to the body. That means you may not be getting enough blood to your brain and other organs.
While AF is rarely painful, it can produce an uncomfortable sensation in the chest. The decreased pumping power of the heart can also cause dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath and fatigue. Some patients, however, have no sensation at all that their heart is fibrillating.
How Common is AF?
A new study by the Mayo Clinic now estimates that over 5 million Americans have AF. That's more than double previous estimates. And the odds of developing AF increase with age - it's estimated that nearly 4% of people over age 60 and 9% of those over 80 have AF.
What Causes AF?
It is unlikely that your doctor can pin-point just one cause of your AF, but there are certain "risk factors" that increase the likelihood of developing AF.
These Include:
A previous heart attack, congestive heart failure, leaky valves, artery disease, or inflammation near the heart.
High blood pressure or diabetes
Thyroid, lung, or nerve conditions
High levels of caffeine or alcohol use
Why Should AF Be Treated?
Most people with AF have symptoms that are severe enough to cause them to seek treatment. However, even if you do not have symptoms, you should still treat your AF because it can have several serious consequences. Over time, AF can cause the heart to lose its ability to work effectively, leading to heart damage that can be irreversible. This is why people with untreated AF are twice as likely to die than someone with a normal heart rhythm.
You also need to know that when the heart pumps inefficiently due to AF, some blood stays in the heart where it forms a pool that can thicken and become a blood clot. If part of the clot breaks loose, it could cause a stroke. In fact, untreated AF increases your risk of a stroke by five times.
How Is AF Treated?
There is no single treatment strategy that has been shown to be effective for all patients with AF. The choice of treatment depends upon the severity of your symptoms, the likelihood that you will respond to a particular treatment, and consideration of the risks vs. benefits of treatment. Your doctor can discuss your specific issues with you.
There are a number of possible alternative treatments and variations of treatments. These commonly offered options represent the 3 goals of AF treatment:
Reduce your stroke risk
Manage or control your AF
Try to cure your AF
Potential Cures for AF
Because successfully managing AF can be difficult, your doctor will probably discuss your options for trying to cure your AF. The 3 "ablation" procedures offer your best chance of doing so. They offer varying degrees of success and the type of AF you have can affect which options are available to you.
As with any procedure dealing with the heart, they also have varying degrees of risk involved. Your doctor can help you understand what they are and how your overall health and age affect these risks. The 3 "ablation" procedures are:
Catheter Ablation
Open-Chest Surgical Ablation
Minimally-Invasive Surgical Ablation
At Lubbock Heart Surgery it's our goal to make sure you understand why AF should be treated and how our specialized physicians can help. Please contact us either by phone or through our website and we will be more than happy to visit with you.
|
