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 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.
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.
The condition can vary in its severity and duration from patient to patient. For some, it can be mild and very short-term, ceasing within a day or so. For others, it can last a week or more, and in some cases for a year or longer. Sometimes it is more or less ever-present and requires more substantial 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 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.
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.
The condition can vary in its severity and duration from patient to patient. For some, it can be mild and very short-term, ceasing within a day or so. For others, it can last a week or more, and in some cases for a year or longer. Sometimes it is more or less ever-present and requires more substantial 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 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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