Atrial Fibrillation
The most common type of arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (pronounced A-tree-uhl fih-bruh-LAY-shun) causes an irregular heartbeat that can increase your risk for stroke and heart failure.
Atrial fibrillation, or AF, results from faulty signals that are produced by our hearts electrical system. The faulty signals cause the upper portion of the heart, called the atria, to fibrillate, which means to contract rapidly and irregularly. When this happens, you may feel weak, dizzy and tired.
AF upsets the rhythm between the atria and the lower parts of the heart, called the ventricles. The irregular heartbeat can cause blood to gather in the atria, making us more susceptible to having a stroke. Furthermore, AF can cause the ventricles to not fill properly, which causes heart failure when the heart can't pump enough blood to meet our bodys demands.
Recently Answered
- Q What is atrial fibrillation (AF)?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyAtrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heartbeat in which the upper chambers of the heart, called the atria, quiver instead of contracting normally. Watch this animation to learn more about AF, most common cardiac arrhythmia. Full Answer
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- Q What are the goals of atrial fibrillation treatment?
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The main goal of treating your parent's atrial fibrillation depends on several factors. The doctor will assess your parent's health and check for co-occurring conditions such as thyroid disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes. lung... Full Answer
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- Q Why is the DASH diet helpful in preventing atrial fibrillation?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineRemember learning about the transitive property in math class? We don’t either. It comes into play in the answer to your question. The DASH diet has been clinically proven to lower elevated blood pressure. High blood pressure raises your risk for... Full Answer
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- Q How will I know if hyperthyroidism is causing my atrial fibrillation?
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If you have atrial fibrillation, your doctor may check to see if you have hyperthyroidism, one of the risk factors. Hyperthyroidism may be detected during a routine physical exam. Your doctor may manually feel the enlargement of your thyroid gland or... Full Answer
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- Q What can I ask my parent's doctor about atrial fibrillation?
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If your parent has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, you will want to learn all you can about this condition. Here are some questions you can ask your parent's doctor when you go to their appointment: What is atrial fibrillation? Is this a... Full Answer
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- Q What causes chronic atrial fibrillation?
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Various types of heart disease are often the causes of chronic atrial fibrillation. However, the disorder can occur in people even when there is no history of heart trouble. Other causes include alcohol abuse, metabolism problems, sleep apnea, and lung... Full Answer
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- Q How is atrial fibrillation (AF) treated?
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There are different ways doctors treat atrial fibrillation. The standard treatment is a combination of medications, including anti-coagulants (such as Coumadin) to prevent blood clots; medications to slow the heart rate (beta blockers, calcium channel... Full Answer
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- Q What is an alternative to taking blood thinners for atrial fibrillation?
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A potential option for people with atrial fibrillation who do not want to take blood thinners is a minimally invasive surgery that blocks the heart’s left atrial appendage, where blood is most likely to stagnate and clot. Two devices are... Full Answer
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- Q What is the Watchman?
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A potential option for people with atrial fibrillation who do not want to take blood thinners is a minimally invasive surgery that blocks the heart’s left atrial appendage, where blood is most likely to stagnate and clot. One device used for... Full Answer
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- Q What is a Lariat?
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A potential option for people with atrial fibrillation who do not want to take blood thinners is a minimally invasive surgery that blocks the heart’sleft atrial appendage, where blood is most likely to stagnate and clot. One device used for... Full Answer
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