THE ESSENTIAL
- Atrial (or atrial) fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to accelerate and beat irregularly, according to L’Assurance Maladie.
- It concerns 1% of the general population, but especially the elderly population (more than 10% of those over 80).
“Atrial fibrillation is a health problem, but it can be treated and controlled”according to the cardiologist Paul Dorian. And indeed, this arrhythmia, which results from a disturbance of the electrical signals of the heart and which puts you at risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke, can be reduced by controlling blood pressure, diabetes and the rate of blood cholesterol. But adopting a few healthy lifestyle habits also helps maintain a good quality of life.
Certain behaviors increase the risk of atrial fibrillation
To stay healthy, it is advisable not to smoke: “Smoking contributes to the build-up of plaque in the arteries, increases the risk of blood clots, reduces the oxygen supply in the blood, which makes the heart work unnecessarily. In fact, smokers are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, and even die.”, indicates the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Reducing alcohol consumption is also essential. In fact, excessive consumption can raise blood pressure and contribute to the development of heart disease and stroke. “To limit the risks to your health during your lifetime, it is recommended to consume no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 2 standard drinks per day and have days in the week without consumption“, noted Public Health France.
Finally, we must reduce the stress that is bad for heart health : Sudden and intense stress can increase the short-term risk of heart attack. Chronic stress, which is defined as being exposed to a stressor for a long period of time (months or even years), can also increase the risk of heart disease.
Physical activity and a healthy diet prevent heart problems
Staying active is especially beneficial for heart health. In fact, maintaining physical activity restores the health of the heart muscle, can help to live longer and reduce up to 50% risk of dying from heart disease.
Maintain a healthy weight is also essential: “Theobese people are four times more likely to have diabetes, more than three times more likely to have high blood pressure, and more than twice to have heart disease than those of a healthy weight”, recalls the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The measurement of waist circumference and the calculation of body mass index (BMI) make it possible to assess the health risk associated with obesity. In men, we are at risk when the waist circumference exceeds 94 cm and in women, it is 88 cm. To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. From 25, the risk exists.
Food also has a major impact. The system of government Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), which consists of consuming lots of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products and few foods containing saturated fatty acids, is particularly recommended since it allows rreduce the risk of having heart disease by 10%, following a study.