Atrial Fibrillation (Af or Afib) is a condition where the top chambers of the heart (atria) would tremble in an irregular manner, often leading to heart failure, blood clot or other related conditions.
Changes during Afib
It is a known fact that the heart contracts and expands during a regular beat. During Afib, the heart’s upper chamber would beat irregularly (tremble). Blood clots form and usually breaks off, eventually entering the bloodstream. It can travel to arteries in the brain, causing a stroke.
Heart arrhythmia is found among at least 15-20 per cent of people. The only reason why patients with this condition are supported with blood thinners is due to the sole risk of clots. Most people are unaware of the serious after-effects of this condition. If left untreated, the possibility of heart failure and consequent death increases drastically.
Symptoms of Afib
There are cases where certain people having this disease would not show any signs of symptoms about the same until a physical examination. Other symptoms may include:
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Fatigue in general
- Heartbeat being and rapid and irregular
- Chest thumping
- Anxiety and breath shortening
- Confusion or faintness
- Sweating
Are there different types of Afib?
The medical practitioners have classified the Afib problems in the following names:
Long-standing: This is when the irregular pattern of the heart continues consistently and extends to above 12 months.
Permanent: This occurs when the condition continues for an indefinite period and where the patient and doctor have decided to stop more treatments to bring back the real rhythm.
Paroxysmal: This happens when the normal rhythm of the heart returns back by itself with intervention within 7 starting days.
Persistent: This condition exists where the improper rhythm would continue or persist above 7 days and requires some type of treatment to come back to a normal rhythm.
Nonvalvular: This condition is not initiated by a heart valve issue.
In the due course, paroxysmal fibrillation might turn into a more frequent one and last longer resulting in a permanent Afib.
From the above discussion, you would have realized as to how important it is for the patients who are suspicious of having a disorder like this one to undergo a physical checkup so that the disease could be spotted early on and stop the condition from worsening.
Read More: Human Heart
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