atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a very common heart rhythm disorder which is characterised by an irregular pulse. In a normal heart rhythm; an impulse travels from the top two chambers of the heart (the atria), then down through the middle of the heart then on through the bottom chambers (the ventricles), this equates to one normal heart beat.
In atrial fibrillation, there are multiple impulses occurring in the atria, the atria fibrillate rather than contract and the messages to the bottom of the heart can often be very rapid and in some cases very slow. This can cause palpitations (an awareness of ones heart beat), dizziness, breathlessness, fatigue, or chest pain. However, in many cases individuals maybe unaware they are in atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is the major cause of stroke because blood should be nice and turbulent in the atria when contracting normally can begin to clot when the atria are fibrillating. If a clot dislodges it can travel around the body and to the brain, causing a stroke. It is therefore very important for each of us to know if we have atrial fibrillation as we should seek medical advice and it may be necessary to be prescribed drugs to thin the blood (anticoagulants) to prevent the risk of stroke. Atrial fibrillation can also cause the heart pump to be inefficient (heart failure).
Atrial fibrillation may be persistent or come and go (paroxysmal). It can be caused by several factors such as high blood pressure, being overweight, infections, excessive alcohol intake, heart valve disorders, and heart disease.
Checking your pulse is the easies way to detect if you have an irregular heart rhythm. Your pulse should feel regular, a bit like a clock ticking, if you notice your pulse is skipping beats or feels irregular then it is important you seek medical advice and have an ECG to determine your heart rhythm. You may require medications to control your heart rate and in some cases procedures called cardioversion or ablation.
In the event of any chest pain, acute breathlessness, or fainting, you should dial 999 and seek immediate medical help.
For more information and advice on atrial fibrillation go to: Arrhythmia Alliance at https://heartrhythmalliance.org/