by UAMS Community Health & Research
February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on the health of one of our most complex organs. The heartbeat is often called “the rhythm of life,” but sometimes it can beat irregularly, a condition called arrhythmia. The most common type of irregular heartbeat is called atrial fibrillation, or A-fib.
The heart has four chambers, two on top and two on the bottom. In a normal heartbeat, the upper and lower chambers beat synchronously, top (the atria) before the bottom (ventricles). When someone has A-fib, the upper and lower chambers are out of sync, causing the heart to beat too quickly or unevenly. Some people with A-fib don’t have any symptoms and are unaware they have the condition. But most will feel that their heartbeat is irregular or may describe feeling a fluttering or pounding heartbeat. Other symptoms may include lightheadedness, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath or chest pain.
A-fib is not usually life-threatening or considered serious in those who are otherwise healthy. However, it can be dangerous if you have conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or other heart diseases. A-fib also can make you five times more likely to suffer a stroke. However, stroke in A-fib is usually preventable, and doctors will usually advise a blood-thinning medication (an anticoagulant) or a catheter-delivered plug into one of the atria if blood-thinning medication would be unsafe.
A-fib itself can be treated either with medications to slow the heart down, medication to restore normal heart rhythm (antiarrhythmic drugs) or catheter ablation – a form of minimally invasive surgery where the electrical short circuits in the atria are cauterized. This will usually either make A-fib go away completely, or at least make it occur much less often.
A-fib is not entirely preventable, but you can lower your risk of developing other heart diseases and stroke by controlling your blood pressure, managing conditions like diabetes and creating a few healthy habits. Some things you can do to improve your heart health include:
- Avoiding smoking
- Exercising regularly
- Eating a balanced diet
- Drinking less alcohol
- Managing your stress
Because an irregular heartbeat can be easy to miss, it is important to see your doctor for a yearly checkup. Irregular heartbeats can be controlled with medication or other treatments. Visit healthynwa.org for more information on how to find, pay for, and use health care in your area.