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Atrial fibrillation also referred to as AFib or AF is basically a condition in which heartbeat of a person becomes irregular or quivering and this can cause conditions such as blood clots, heart failure, stroke, and other heart-linked complications. In general, heart of a person contracts and then relaxes to ensure regular beat. But when a person suffers from atrial fibrillation, atria which are the upper chambers of heart beat in irregular pattern instead of beating regularly to pump the blood into lower hear chambers known as ventricles.
If during atrial fibrillation a clot happens to enter the bloodstream, it can lodge in an artery which leads to brain, and this can cause stroke.
Atrial fibrillation is of different types:
Occasional - This kind of atrial fibrillation is also referred to as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. In this the symptoms of the problem come and go; they last for a span of just few minutes to even hours and then stop on their own.
Persistent - In this kind of atrial fibrillation, the heart rhythm does not go back to normal on its own. The person has to be given electrical shock or some medications to restore heart’s rhythm.
Long-standing persistent - This kind of atrial fibrillation is nonstop as it extends to a span of 12 months.
Permanent - In this kind of atrial fibrillation, normal heart rhythm cannot be restored. You will have to take medications to control heart rate.
Atrial fibrillation occurs when:
The risk of acquiring atrial fibrillation increases if:
Some people with atrial fibrillation will demonstrate no symptoms at all. Those who show symptoms may experience issues such as:
The doctor is able to diagnose atrial fibrillation in few simple steps. Your doctor may recommend several tests including an electrocardiogram or ECG and echocardiogram, along with blood and stress tests and chest X-ray for the correct diagnosis and subsequent prescription of treatment. However, the treatment significantly depends on how long you had atrial fibrillation and how troublesome your symptoms are. In some rare cases, the doctor may also suggest invasive treatments using surgery and catheters.
Atrial fibrillation can lead to the following complications in some cases:
Stroke - In atrial fibrillation, in case a blood clot dislodges from the heart and travels to the brain, it can lead to stroke.
Heart failure - If not controlled in time, atrial fibrillation can weaken heart and cause heart failure.
Blood thinners are usually given to patients with atrial fibrillation to reduce chances of stroke and damage to other organs of the body. Treatments for atrial fibrillation include different medications and other interventions which help to alter electrical system of the heart. Medical procedures such as cardioversion and catheter ablation are also used by a lot of doctors.
A blood clot in the leg is the clump of blood that has transformed from the liquid form to some semisolid or gel-like state.
This condition is named after the famous anatomist Charles Bell who was the first to connect these symptoms to facial nerve involvement. Bell’s palsy is a neurological disease that affects the nerves controlling the facial muscles.
Coronavirus (CoV) is a type of large family virus that causes illness ranging from the common cold to more life-threatening and severe diseases such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)-CoV and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)-CoV. nCov i.e.
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Shitanshu Kumar