Do you experience a quivering or irregular heartbeat? You might be suffering from atrial fibrillation, leading to blood clots in the heart; clots break off and clog in the arteries and the brain. It may cause heart failure, stroke, and other heart-related complications. You should visit an Upper East Side atrial fibrillation expert who can effectively deal with the condition. The specialist will educate you on the atrial fibrillation symptoms and how to manage the condition; read to learn more.
Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation
Most people with atrial fibrillation don’t notice any symptoms. However, you may notice a fast heartbeat rate or hyper palpitation, dizziness, chest pains, shortness of breath, fatigue, reduced ability to exercise, and general body weakness.
How Atrial Fibrillation Manifests
· Paroxysmal or occasional
With paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, the symptoms come and go, they can last for a few minutes, and symptoms might go away independently without medication. Sometimes episodes might occur for as long as a week.
· Persistent atrial fibrillation
With this condition, the heart rhythm doesn’t go back to normal on its own; treatment with medication may be used to restore the normal heart rhythm.
· Long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation
This type of atrial fibrillation could last as long as one year, and it needs serious medical attention.
· Permanent atrial fibrillation
With this condition, regular heart rhythm cannot be restored, and the patient uses medication to control the heart rate and prevent blood clots. You can visit a medical professional on the first signs of atrial fibrillation; some of its signs, such as chest pains, can indicate an even more serious cardiovascular disease.
Causes of Atrial Fibrillation
· Congenital heart defects (that you’re born with)
· Excessive use of stimulants includes alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, nicotine, etc.
· Coronary artery disease
· Heart valve problems
· Physical stress
· Sleep pane
· Sick sinus syndrome
Atrial Fibrillation Treatment
The goal of the treatment is to reset the heart rhythm, control the palpitation rate and prevent blood clotting. You can use Beta-blockers which help reduce the palpitation rate during exercise or opt for digoxin which controls heartbeat rates during rest. Calcium channel blockers also control heartbeat rate but should be avoided by people with underlying medical conditions.
Some patients can use blood thinners which prevent the formation of blood clots. Anti-arrhythmic medicine is able to control and creates a normal heart rhythm. Cardiovascular therapy might be done in extreme cases; surgeries and other procedures are the last options when the illness persists to almost fatal levels.
Prevention Methods for Atrial Fibrillation
· Exercising regularly leads to a healthy physique and a normal heart rhythm.
· Limiting alcohol intake, alcohol as a stimulant can trigger high heartbeat rates, and even moderate alcohol intake can trigger atrial fibrillation in other people.
· Eating a heart-healthy diet, diets low in salt, solid fats and high in fruits and vegetables alleviates atrial fibrillation
· Watching your body weight, being overweight generally increases the chance of getting a heart disease
· Frequent check-ups on health conditions such as blood pressure and many more that can trigger heart diseases
Heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation can lead to health complications; thus, it would manage and treat the condition. You may exercise, limit alcohol, watch your body weight and incorporate medications to deal with atrial fibrillation. Good luck finding the right management tips to ease the symptoms associated with atrial fibrillation.