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Lower Bucks
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JULES VUOTTO
by Shahzad Ahmed
That feeling when your heart flutters, misses a beat, speeds up or slows down can be alarming. Though these palpitations are often harmless, they can signal severe malfunctions in the heart’s muscles and nerves.
The most common type of irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, is atrial fibrillation—AFib for short. At least 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib, which is expected to grow as the population's average age rises. Untreated AFib significantly increases both risks of heart-related death and risk of stroke.
What is AFib?
When the heart beats, it squeezes and pushes blood through each of its four chambers. With AFib, the heart's top two chambers quiver instead of beating regularly. This means the heart can’t pump well, leaving some blood sitting. And when blood is stationary, clots form. Blood flowing through the heart can sweep clots out into the circulatory system, where they can cause blockages that lead to complications such as stroke.
Analyzing symptoms
The first step in assessing an arrhythmia is a thorough patient history. Doctors look for clues: When do symptoms occur? Are they associated with specific activities? Do lifestyle factors contribute? Will weight loss help? For instance, sleep apnea, associated with obesity, can cause arrhythmia, including AFib. Stress and medications also can play roles.
Several tests are used to diagnose AFib. An electrocardiogram (ECG) records electrical signals moving through the heart and can show irregularities. Patients may be asked to wear a portable ECG device called a Holter monitor for 24 hours or longer to evaluate further how the heart works. An event recorder is a portable device that monitors heart activity over extended periods—weeks to months. Patients activate the device when they experience symptoms, and doctors can review the heart’s rhythm when symptoms occur.
Resetting rhythm
Treatment for AFib aims to regulate the heartbeat and prevent clots from forming. Suppose an underlying condition causes the AFib, which will be treated first. The heart’s regular (sinus) rhythm be re-established using medication, an electrical shock, or a combination of the two.
A minimally invasive procedure can ablate or destroy the tissues that trigger or maintain the disruptive rhythms if those treatments don't work. This stops the arrhythmia at its source.
Blood thinners are prescribed to help prevent blood clots. Because AFib can occur without symptoms, many patients continue these medications even after reestablishing normal heart rhythm.
With active monitoring, AFib patients can reduce their risk of complications.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
The symptoms below have many possible causes—atrial fibrillation (AFib) is just one of them. Consult your physician if you experience:
• Fluttering or thumping in the chest
• Heart palpitation—periods of especially rapid, intense heartbeat
• Confusion
• Dizziness, lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Loss of ability to exercise
• Shortness of breath
Whether you are coping with AFib or other cardiac conditions, Shahzad Ahmed, MD, FACC, FSCAI, RPVI, board certified cardiologist is ready to help you find the answers you are looking for and a treatment plan that’s right for you. To nake an appointment with Dr. Shahzad at BMC Cardiology, located at Lower Bucks Hospital Practice, call 215-785-5100.