Your Heart, Out of Rhythm: A-Fib Simplified

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Rhyse Ortal

Overview

Atrial fibrillation, or A-Fib, is a dangerous type of arrhythmia, but less than its counterpart V-Fib. This arrhythmia affects the upper chambers of the heart, the atria. It is the most common type with about five million Americans estimated to have it. A-Fib most commonly leads to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, or other heart complications.

Causes/Symptoms, Remedies & Precautions

Those experiencing A-Fib have symptoms of chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and/or palpitations which gives a sensation of your heart racing. Whenever there is an experience of these symptoms, it is important to contact emergency medical services to ensure complications do not form into more serious health risks.

A-Fib can be caused by numerous things such as a congenital heart defect, coronary artery disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, etc. Heart surgery can also cause A-Fib due to post-operative strain or stress. Lifestyle habits such as excessive alcohol or caffeine use, smoking,  illegal drug use, and even extreme exercise can cause A-Fib. 

Those at a higher risk for A-Fib are typically older males, older than 50. Those who have a history of alcohol use, high blood pressure, obesity, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea are also at high risk.

Common treatments to prevent A-Fib can be as simple as a healthy lifestyle. For those with more symptomatic or severe cases of A-fib, more preventative treatments such as medications and even surgeries are required to manage A-Fib.

Other Facts & Interesting News

There are four stages to A-fib: at risk, pre-AFib, A-Fib, and permanent A-Fib.  At risk and pre-AFib are the most preventable stages, mainly taking precautions and methods to prevent it. A-Fib and permanent A-Fib are complete opposites, A-Fib being treatable and permanent A-Fib being untreatable. Permanent A-Fib, unfortunately, cannot be treated like A-Fib can, but there can be ways to lessen the symptoms through managing other health conditions.

Sources I Used & Where to Learn More

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