Atrial Fibrillation Signs and Symptoms

[rangerrebew]

Atrial Fibrillation Signs and Symptoms

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Atrial fibrillation (AF) usually causes the ventricles to contract faster than normal. When this happens, the ventricles don't have enough time to fill completely with blood to pump to the lungs and body. This inefficient pumping can cause signs and symptoms, such as:

    Palpitations (a strong feeling of a fast heartbeat or a "thumping" in the chest)
    Shortness of breath
    Weakness or difficulty exercising
    Chest pain
    Dizziness or fainting
    Fatigue (tiredness)
    Confusion

Complications

AF has two major complications - stroke and heart failure. Heart attack is another, rarer complication.

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Atrial-Fibrillation-Signs-and-Symptoms.aspx

[rangerrebew]

Atrial Fibrillation Prevention

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You may be able to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) by leading a healthy lifestyle and taking steps to lower your risk for heart disease. These steps include:

    Not smoking
    Following a heart healthy diet that is low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol and that includes a variety of grains, fruits, and vegetables daily
    Getting regular physical activity
    Maintaining a healthy weight


If you have heart disease or risk factors, you should work with your doctor to control your condition and lower your risk of complications, such as AF. In addition to following the healthy lifestyle steps above, which also can help control heart disease, your doctor may advise you to to take one or more of the following steps:

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Atrial-Fibrillation-Prevention.aspx

[rangerrebew]

Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

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Treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) depends on how severe or frequent the symptoms are and whether you already have heart disease. General treatment options include medicines, medical procedures, and lifestyle changes.

Treatment of AF is designed to:

    Prevent blood clots from forming, and thereby reduce the risk for stroke.
    Control how many times a minute the ventricles contract. This is called rate control. Rate control is important because it allows the ventricles enough time to completely fill with blood. With this approach, the irregular heart rhythm continues, but the person feels better and has fewer symptoms.
    Restore the heart to a normal rhythm. This is called rhythm control. Rhythm control allows the atria and ventricles to work together again to efficiently pump blood to the body.
    Treat any underlying disorder that's causing or raising the risk of AF-for example, hyperthyroidism.

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Atrial-Fibrillation-Treatment.aspx

[rangerrebew]

Atrial Fibrillation Facts

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    Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one type of arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is a problem with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat.
    A disorder in the heart’s electrical system causes AF and other types of arrhythmia.
    AF occurs when rapid, disorganized electrical signals in the atria cause them to fibrillate (contract in a very fast and irregular way). When this happens, the heart’s upper and lower chambers don’t work together as they should.

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Atrial-fibrillation-Facts.aspx

[godblessRonaldReagan]

I recently spent 3 days in the hospital with Afib - nothing to play around with! fortunately, it's easily controlled with meds.