Wellness
Afib causes, treatment and tips for you
Mar
One out of every ten people suffers from atrial fibrillation which is also known as AFib. The condition can be caused by different ailments and poses a great risk to your health. Given its complicated nature, most people don’t understand how dangerous it can be. In this blog post, we discuss the Afib causes, its treatment and how you can prevent it.
What is AFib?
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular and rapid heart rate that increases your risk of heart failure, strokes and other heart related complications. The condition occurs when the heart’s two upper chambers beat irregularly and chaotically – not in harmony with two lower chambers of the heart. Episodes of afib may come and go, or you might develop one that doesn’t go away and requires urgent treatment. Some of AFib symptoms include:
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
Keep a close eye on what your heart is doing with SonoHealth’s EKGraph tool. Take a proactive measure to manage your Atrial Fibrillation today!
What causes AFib
In a normal set up, your heart contracts and relaxes to a regular beat. But when suffering from AFib, the upper chambers of your heart beat irregularly instead of effectively moving blood into the ventricles. Afib can be caused by different factors, age is one of them. The elderly are more vulnerable than the young. Other contributing factors include excessive drinking, smoking, hereditary factors among others. There are several different factors that can cause AFib. Such as age, older people have higher rates of AFib, excessive drinkers are also at a higher risk, and even hereditary factors can play a big part in if you will develop AFib.
What are Treatments for AFib?
AFib treatments include medicine to control the heart rate and bring down the risk of stroke and other necessary procedures like cardioversion that restores normal heart rhythm.
Additionally, you may also be treated by a GP or our heart specialists. We have cardiologists that specialized in the management of abnormalities of the heart rhythm. We will give you a treatment plan and work closely with you, advising you on which is the most suitable and appropriate treatment for your condition. Before making that decision, however, the following factors will be taken into consideration:
- Your overall health
- Your age
- The type of AFib condition you have
- Your symptoms
Tips to manage AFib
Diet can play a large part in managing AFib, this is because a healthy diet can be great for your cardiovascular health in both the short and long term. Other measures include managing high blood pressure, avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol, avoiding smoking and controlling cholesterol.
What Can I do to Monitor My AFib?
You can have your AFib monitored at a doctors office, but you also can at home with a portable EKG Monitor. The EKG monitor gives accurate results and alerts you when the situation is getting serious. Its portability also means you can monitor your AFib from the comfort of your home without necessarily visiting a doctor.
Afib FAQs
What does an EKG look like with AFib?
Some individuals with AFib will exhibit fibrillatory waves on the EKG. The waves are an indication that the atria is pulsing out of time. Fibrillatory waves can be in the shape of a P, and this makes the rhythm look like sinus.
What is a dangerous heart rate with AFib?
AFib is an irregular and oftentimes a rapid heart rate that occurs when the upper chambers of the heart experience chaotic electrical signals. This results to a fast and irregular heartbeat rate. The heart rate in AFib might range from 100 to 175 beats a minute.
Can stress cause atrial fibrillation?
Yes, stress can contribute to heart rhythm disorders such as AFib. Studies suggest that stress and mental health issues can cause your AFib symptoms to worsen. High stress levels can be very catastrophic in an AFib patient.
