Atrial Fibrillation Treatment in India (AF)

AF

Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal and irregular heartbeat that increases the risk of strokes, heart attack or complications related to the heart. During atrial fibrillation, the electrical pulses arise from different places in the upper chamber of your heart in a disorganized way causing the atria to twitch causing an irregular heartbeat. It is a major cause of stroke and it can be detected by checking the pulses on your wrist. In most of the cases, atrial fibrillation includes heart palpitation, breathlessness, and weakness.

There can be instances when atrial fibrillation may come and go or it may develop in you that doesn’t go away easily, for that you would be requiring a treatment. Atrial fibrillation is not a life-threatening disease but it becomes a serious medical condition that requires emergency treatment. It is categorized in occasional, persistent, long-standing persistent and permanent.

One of the major concerns with atrial fibrillation is that the blood clots start developing in the upper chamber of the heart. These blood clots may circulate to other organs and lead to the blocking of blood flow.

Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation

There are people who either have no symptoms or they are not aware of it unless these are detected while undergoing a physical examination. Those who have symptoms of it may experience:

• Irregular or abnormal heartbeat
• Weakness
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Fatigue
• Tiredness
• Breathlessness
• Pain in chest

Causes of Atrial Fibrillation

• High blood pressure
• Heart attack
• Coronary artery disease
• Abnormal heart valves
• Congenital
• Metabolic imbalance
• Sick sinus syndrome
• Lung diseases
• Viral infections

Risk Factors Associated With It

• Age
• Heart diseases or any other chronic conditions
• Consumption of alcohol
• Obesity
• Family history

Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Holter monitor – A small portable device that you carry in your pocket or worn as a belt, records 24 hours activity of your heart.
• Event recorder – A portable device is used to monitor your heart’s activity for several weeks or a few months.
• Echocardiograms
• Blood tests
• Stress test
• Chest X-ray

Treatment

The treatment of atrial fibrillation is done to control the abnormal or irregular heartbeats or to prevent the blood clotting.

Controlling the abnormal or irregular heartbeats: Cardioversion is performed to reset your heart’s rhythm and it can be performed in two ways, electrical cardioversion and cardioversion with drugs. The doctor may recommend catheter and surgical procedures such as catheter ablation, maze procedure, atrioventricular node ablation depending on your condition.

Prevention from the blood clotting: The doctor may prescribe you the consumption of blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants) or left atrial appendage closure.

Healthy Life and Home Remedies to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation

• Inclusion of heart-healthy food in your diet
• Regular exercises
• Stop smoking
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Control high blood pressure
• Control your cholesterol levels
• Avoid alcohol consumption
• Maintain the follow-up care