Atrial fibrillation .. its causes, symptoms and life threat
The German Cardiology Association has indicated that atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia disease, and it is the main cause of strokes, heart failure or any other heart-related complications. Here are some facts about atrial fibrillation.
What is meant by atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation refers to an irregular and rapid heartbeat, and the heart rate may reach 160 beats per minute, and these disturbances in heart rate occur due to faulty electrical stimuli due in most cases to the pulmonary veins, which flow to the left atrium of the heart.
Because of the irregular heartbeat, the auricle trembles rapidly and inconsistently, and the German Cardiology Association explained that the risk arises here from the possibility of blood clots that arise within the heart, and may be transferred to other parts of the body, and may lead to obstruction of blood flow.
Professor Thomas Voigtlander, a cardiologist in Frankfurt, Germany, warned that atrial fibrillation is a serious heart rhythm disorder, and the problem is that it may occur without any symptoms. Untreated or untreated poses a life-threatening risk that may lead to heart failure or stroke.
Symptoms of atrial fibrillation are dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, poor ability to exercise and chest pain, in addition to increased sweating, anxiety and loss of consciousness. If such symptoms appear, a specialist should be consulted immediately.
The German Cardiology Association explained that the figures indicate that the risk increases with age, as studies have shown that the incidence of atrial fibrillation is less than 1% in people under 50 years of age, but it is 9 to 16% in people who They are over 80 years old, and high blood pressure is one of the main risk factors, as three out of five people with atrial fibrillation also suffer from high blood pressure.
The German doctors added that a person who suffers from atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure or any other diseases such as heart failure, diabetes or obstructive pulmonary disease, has an increased risk of stroke, and therefore must measure the heart rate regularly.
In general, German doctors advised elderly people and patients with high blood pressure to monitor the heart rate by measuring the pulse regularly, so that a possible arrhythmia can be recognized early.
German doctors explained that atrial fibrillation does not pose a threat to the patient's life immediately, and should not be confused with ventricular fibrillation, which leads to cardiac arrest within a few seconds, however one must take atrial fibrillation seriously and seek treatment, because it causes Increased risk of stroke or heart failure.
It is all about preventing other health risks and addressing the causes of atrial fibrillation. Doctors here can prescribe anticoagulants to reduce the risk of stroke, and there are several options for treating arrhythmias, such as relying on medication or surgery.
If atrial fibrillation is rare and does not last for a long time, it may be better to treat other possible diseases that cause it, such as high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or coronary artery disease, and it is also important to follow a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly and follow A balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and quitting smoking.
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atrial fibrillation,
Cardiovascular disease