Jane Brody reports for The New York Times on “A-fib” or “atrial fibrillation,” a relatively common heart condition that many people do not realize they have. If you get tired walking uphill or otherwise feel breathless, you could have A-fib, which causes an abnormality in your heart rhythm.
What is A-fib? It is a condition in which the upper chambers or atria of your heart do not beat in sync with the lower chambers or ventricles. The ventricles circulate blood through your body. If the upper and lower heart chambers are out of sync, then the lower chambers might not be able to pump all the blood your body needs.
What are the symptoms of A-fib? Your heart might beat irregularly and quickly for several minutes. Or, you might feel shortness of breath and dizziness from an activity that normally would not cause these symptoms. Some people feel these symptoms on occasion. Others experience them regularly. You should speak to a doctor if you have these symptoms, even if they disappear soon after you experience them.
What can trigger A-fib? Coffee and alcohol are two triggers.
How common is A-fib? Fairly common. You have a one in five chance of getting A-fib during your lifetime. About 3 million Americans have this condition. And, the number is on the rise. People with diabetes and high blood pressure are more likely to have it, as are people who are seriously overweight.
Will I know if I have A-fib? You might not. But, it’s important you do. With timely and appropriate treatment, you can extend your life. Without treatment, you increase your risk of having a stroke significantly. You also increase your risk of heart failure. And, it could lead to dementia because of lack of blood in your brain.
Is A-fib a condition that can kill me? Yes. The evidence suggests that more than 150,000 people die of A-fib each year, either directly or indirectly.
How do I get tested for A-fib? Talk to your doctor. The doctor can test for it in a number of ways, often through a heart monitor. The doctor might also do an EKG or have you take a treadmill test.
Can A-fib be cured? Most people are prescribed treatment. Beta blockers and calcium blockers help to keep your heart beating regularly. You might also get an anticoagulant so that your blood doesn’t clot. Sometimes the doctor will do an electrical cardioversion, which uses paddles to the chest to shock your heart back to a standard beat.
Sometimes people receive ablation, an alternative to drug treatment, by which a catheter passes through a vein into your upper heart chamber in order to burn or freeze cells that are causing your heart to beat rapidly and irregularly. Ablation treatment has been found to be quite effective, although it generally takes several weeks to work. In the interim your heart can beat out of sync.
Warning: Sometimes prescription drugs stop working and you might need a change of treatment. So, if you have A-fib, you should be sure to see your doctor regularly.
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