
Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation Can Help You Avoid a Crisis

Your heart is vital to your health. A healthy heart beats at a regular rate and rhythm. However, arrhythmias happen when something causes it to beat irregularly or at a fast or slow rate.
Atrial fibrillation is one of the many arrhythmias that affect the heart. According to the CDC, AFib is the most treated arrhythmia. Still, most people don't know they have it or experience symptoms.
Without treatment, AFib has serious consequences, including a stroke. That’s why it's essential to seek help if you think you may have an arrhythmia.
At the Cardiovascular Institute of America, Muthu Velusamy, MD, FACC, ABVM provides diagnostic studies and treatment for heart problems like AFib.
What is atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is a type of heart arrhythmia that occurs when the heart's electrical system malfunctions. The issue with the electrical impulses causes the atria (top chambers) to beat irregularly.
The result is a fast and highly irregular atrial beat that doesn't allow the chambers to fill appropriately, meaning less oxygenated blood gets to the body. The irregular atrial contractions also affect the ventricles, causing an overall irregular heartbeat.
Different types of AFib affect the heart, including persistent AFib, paroxysmal, permanent, and long-term persistent. The type of AFib you have depends on how long the episodes last.
Symptoms to watch for
Not everyone living with AFib has symptoms, which makes it difficult to detect. Detecting AFib usually happens when the ventricles begin to beat faster than usual, causing symptoms like:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Angina, or chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Heart palpitations
These symptoms may persist or happen suddenly and then resolve for a period. It's essential to report your symptoms to our team right away to avoid serious health complications from untreated AFib.
Complications of AFib
Living with AFib means you're at risk for various health complications. Your heart doesn't beat correctly, meaning the rest of your body isn't getting the oxygenated blood it needs.
When the atria and ventricles don't work together because of AFib, blood can collect in the heart's chambers, putting you at risk for various complications, including:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Bleeding in the brain
- Heart failure
- Cardiac arrest
Knowing and understanding the warning signs of AFib helps you avoid serious heart problems. Talking to our team of cardiac specialists about your risks and concerns allows us to formulate a plan to treat AFib and keep your heart healthy.
Early detection is key
The first step in detecting AFib is knowing your risk. You're at an increased risk if someone in your family has AFib or if you're over the age of 65. Other vital risk factors that increase the risk of AFib include:
- Sleep apnea
- Heart failure
- Obesity
- Chronic kidney disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary artery disease
- Tobacco or alcohol use
Knowing your risk factors can save your life. Older adults with a family history of AFib should contact us. The earlier you know about AFib, the quicker you can get treatment and prevent a stroke or other severe issues.
Available AFib treatments
Treatments for AFib reduce the risk of health complications. The goal of treatment is to reduce the risk of stroke, keep your heart rate regular, and manage your heart rhythm.
Your symptoms determine the treatment approach. Some common medications include:
- Metoprolol
- Digoxin
- Diltiazem
- Verapamil
- Amiodarone
- Procainamide
- Sotalol
Warfarin is another medication that thins the blood to reduce the risk of blood clots and a stroke or heart attack. Medications are usually successful at managing AFib, but they don't always work.
You may need a cardioversion or a permanent pacemaker to keep your heart beating regularly.
Call Cardiovascular Institute of America today to book an appointment at the one of our three convenient Florida locations.
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