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Atrial Fibrillation, also known as AF or AFib, refers to an irregular heartbeat. It is caused due to abnormal electrical discharges occurring in the atria (topmost chambers of the heart). The atria is unable to pump blood into the ventricles at the required rate, causing the heart to beat rapidly. AFib can lead to heart failure, blood clots, and other serious health issues if left untreated.
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Atrial Fibrillation: Afib-Induced Changes
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- When a heartbeat occurs, the heart contracts and expands.
- If it reaches the brain's arteries, it can cause a stroke.
- The prevalence of heart arrhythmia in the general population is at least 15%.
- It is only because of the potential of blood clots that patients with this ailment are given blood thinners as support.
- The devastating consequences of this illness are mostly unknown to the general public.
Afib: Signs and Symptoms
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Some persons with atrial fibrillation may not display any symptoms at all until a physical examination is performed. These are some other possible signs and symptoms of Afib:
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- As a whole, exhaustion
- fast and irregular beats of the heart
- Sweating profusely
- Anxiety and shortness of breath.
- Confidence or lightheadedness
- Sweating
Atrial Fibrillation: Types
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There are several types of atrioventricular tachycardia. An atrial fibrillation type is determined by the results of many investigations and tests. The following are some of them:
Long-Standing: Atrial Fibrillation where there is consistently irregular heartbeat continuing over a period of 12 months.
Permanent: Atrial Fibrillation persisting for an indefinite period. Patients and doctors decide to halt the treatment to restore the patient's natural rhythm.
Paroxysmal: Within seven days of starting treatment, the heart's natural rhythm returns to normal.
Persistent: In this case, irregular heartbeats persist for more than seven days, necessitating additional treatment to return the heartbeat to a normal rhythm.
Nonvalvular: It's a result of aberrant cardiac valve abnormalities that cause this type of Afib.
Electrical System of Heart in a Normal State
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In the human heart, the two upper chambers are known as atria, and the two lower chambers are known as ventricles.
- The right ventricle (upper right)
- The atrium on the left (upper left)
- The ventricle on the right (lower right)
- The left atrium (lower left)
Blood flowing to the human heart has low oxygen levels and high carbon dioxide levels. Blood first enters the right atrium and moves down to the adjacent right ventricle. As it enters the right ventricle, the right atrium contracts, boosting blood flow. Intake of oxygen and expulsion of CO2 occurs as the right ventricle contracts. The blood enters the left atrium and then down to the ventricle. This action pumps blood into the ventricle. The left ventricle pumps blood to all parts of the body.
When the ventricles contract, the heartbeat occurs. It is the primary role of the ventricle to ensure that the body receives adequate blood to carry out its usual functions. The pace of contraction of the heart, known as the heartbeat, affects the amount of blood pumped out of the body. The heart pumps more blood as it beats faster.
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Atrial Fibrillation: Causes
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- Atrial fibrillation is caused by irregular heartbeats.
- Electrical discharges are not created by SA nodes when the heart beats irregularly, hence they originate elsewhere in the atria.
- It is because of this anomaly in electrical discharge that may reach 350 discharges per minute from time to time.
- The atria contracts ineffectively as a result.
- Instead of pumping blood to the ventricle as it should, the atria begin twitching, making it less efficient.
- The aberrant discharge from the AV nodes subsequently travels to the ventricles, causing erratic contractions.
- As a result, the amount of blood being pumped out of the ventricles suddenly decreases.
- The primary cause of this is the rapidity with which they contract and the absence of regular atrial contraction.
Things to Remember
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- A-fib is a heart rhythm disorder. It affects people over 65 and can create symptoms or not. Blood pooling in the heart can cause a clot to go to the brain, resulting in a stroke.
- Afib can be prevented by changing your lifestyle. Healthy eating habits, reasonable weight, and regular exercise are among the top heart-healthy habits.
- The goal of treatment is to restore normal cardiac rhythm and avoid problems. A doctor may prescribe cardiac medicines and anticoagulants to prevent clots. They may suggest surgery in some cases.
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Sample Questions
Ques.What diet causes Atrial Fibrillation, and how does it occur? (3 marks)
Answer: Foods high in saturated and trans fats, as these diets all raise the risk of atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm problems. Butter, red meat, and other popular food ingredients can trigger AFib. All of these problems necessitate that we all consume a properly balanced diet to maintain normal bodily functions.
Ques.Atrial Fibrillation is caused by a wide range of conditions. What are they? (3 marks)
Answer. Atrial fibrillation can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Idiopathic structural and functional abnormalities of the heart
- Insufficiency of nitric oxide
- A heart attack.
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Ques. Atrial fibrillation is a condition that can be prevented by avoiding or limiting the use of certain foods? (2 marks)
Answer: Foods that should be avoided include:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Grapefruit
- Drinking Cranberry Juice
- Asparagus
Ques. Atrial Fibrillation is brought on by a variety of factors? Name them. (4 marks)
Ans. Atrial fibrillation has been linked to valvular heart diseases and ventricular hypertrophy. An irregular heartbeat can be caused by hyperthyroidism, alcoholism, and autonomic nervous system diseases. Hypertension is the most common complication of atrial fibrillation. Some people get AFib for no apparent reason at all. This is a "solitary" AFib. This type of AFib can be brought on by an infection or injury to the atrium. The pulmonary veins supply some of the blood.
Ques. Is it true that Atrial fibrillation may never completely disappear? (2 marks)
Ans. An atrial fibrillation type that can be treated. Electrodes can be attached to the tips of catheters that can be inserted into the heart. The problem-causing area can be eradicated using radiofrequency or, more recently, ultrasonic energy. The success rate has been reported to reach up to 80%.
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Ques. Has anyone tried working out with this condition and found it safe to do so? (2 marks)
Ans. Exercise with atrial fibrillation is not recommended unless you are already experiencing cardiac trouble. Professional athletes are not exempt from the ailment, which affects some of them from time to time. It is possible to return to normal physical activity in many cases if the condition is well-managed.
Ques. Is there a standard treatment for drug use regarding atrial fibrillation? (3 marks)
Ans. The use of medications to treat atrial fibrillation can take a variety of forms:
- Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly.
- Maintaining a regular heartbeat using medication.
- Medications to prevent atrial fibrillation-related blood clots.
Ques. Is tarantula spider venom an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation? (3 marks)
Ans. Yes, the usage of tarantula spider venom has merit. A study published in the journal Nature on January 4th 2021, volume 409, page 35, reveals how atrial fibrillation responds to this toxin. There is now no treatment for this condition. In a different method than any other medicine created to date, it operates by stretching the heart's stretch channels. Research into the underlying causes of atrial fibrillation and possible treatments could be aided by this if it is successful.
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Ques. Does atrial fibrillation begin with a stroke? (4 marks)
Ans. Yes.
- Atrial fibrillation may be little more than a new, irritating palpitation for some people.
- Atrial fibrillation is more likely to cause a stroke if you are older and have more risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, than if you are on a blood thinner.
- A person over the age of 65 has a 17 percent chance of suffering a stroke each year if they have a number of risk factors.
- This condition, atrial fibrillation, is one of the possible causes of a stroke in which the cause cannot be pinpointed.
Ques. Has the use of Digitalis to treat irregular heartbeats been discontinued? (2 marks)
Ans. In the treatment ofatrial fibrillation, digitalis is most commonly used. The aged, less active, and those who can't take beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers may benefit from this treatment. Those with kidney difficulties should avoid taking high doses because of the risk of toxicity.
Ques. Is there a possibility that OTC medications can cause irregular heartbeats? (2 marks)
Ans. The irregular pulse caused by several over-the-counter medicines can be linked to atrial fibrillation. They're the ones that have adrenaline analogues in them. Adrenalin is a hormone that raises blood pressure and heart rate.
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Ques. Is tachycardia the same as atrial fibrillation in terms of symptoms? (3 marks)
Ans An irregular heartbeat is known as atrial fibrillation. The term "tachycardia" refers to a rapid heartbeat. Tachycardia comes in a variety of types. Tachycardia is not just supraventricular, but there are many other types of it.
- ventricular tachycardia in the supraventricular region
- Shocking heart rate
- A rapid heartbeat in the lungs.
Ques. What is the treatment for atrial fibrillation? (5 marks)
Ans. Atrial Fibrillation can be treated by:
- Atrial fibrillation is a dangerous ailment that we've talked about today.
- There are numerous various ways in which this common medical ailment can manifest itself and how it can be linked to other conditions.
- Therapies for atrial fibrillation, some of which have been shown to be effective, are being studied further.
- Any treatment for atrial fibrillation must be tailored to each patient's specific needs.
- It is expected that in the next five to ten years, atrial fibrillation cures will become more prevalent and probably less risky than they are today.
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