A good sign that your heart is functioning well is if it is able to maintain a normal beating pattern. In some people though, this is not the case. They have what medical professionals call as Atrial Fibrillation.
What Is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial Fibrillation takes place when the electrical activity that typically comes only from the Sino-Atrial Node starts coming from other parts of the atria. These electrical activities cause the heart to beat at a rapid and irregular rate. Because of this, the amount of blood pumped by the heart is reduced which, in turn, would mean lesser amount of oxygen being sent to the different organs.
Although Atrial Fibrillation is currently gaining understanding, there are still some things that common people are not familiar with when it comes to the said condition:
- EKG is not always the answer.
Most people believe that EKG can detect atrial fibrillation. This is not always the case, though. Keep in mind that palpitations can stabilize every now and then, and might not be capture by a single instance of EKG. The best way to monitor atrial fibrillation is to monitor the heart over a long period of time.
- Atrial Fibrillation can be caused by a number of medical conditions.
Most medical professionals would tell you that very little is know about what causes atrial fibrillation; however, certain medical conditions could lead to or increase the risk for atrial fibrillation. This would include heart valve diseases, thyroid diseases, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.
- You can still live a normal life even if you have atrial fibrillation.
The best way to deal with atrial fibrillation is to make sure that you keep away from some its known triggers. This would include caffeine and alcohol, as well as other stimulants. It is also a good idea to make sure that you exercise on a regular basis. You might also need to stay away from over-the-counter medications and should follow religiously any medical appointments that you have with your doctor. As cliched as it may sound, proper diet and exercise can help keep your atrial fibrillation from flaring up. Keep in mind though, that there is no one cure-all solution for atrial fibrillation.
- There is a way to deal with Atrial Fibrillation.
While Atrial Fibrillation itself has no cure and very few ways of direct prevention, medical professionals are able to deal with it by working on the various factors that can increase the likelihood of suffering from atrial fibrillation. I some cases, though, medical professionals might make use of ablation in order to prevent atrial fibrillation. In an ablation, the parts of the heart that have shown to be the triggers of atrial fibrillation are cauterized.
Living a full life even when you have atrial fibrillation can also be made possible if you have an AED on hand. An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, can be used by anyone in order to help jumpstart and regulate the beating pattern of the heart, especially in the case of stroke or sudden cardiac arrest.
