2023-09-20 22:00:00
How atrial fibrillation develops and can be recognized and treated is what the next information evening in the “Health in Conversation” series at the Marienhospital (MHO) of the Niels Stensen Clinics will be regarding. Prof. Dr. Peter Milberg, PD Dr. Dirk Dechering and PD Dr. Simon Kochhäuser, who heads the cardiac catheterization laboratory for electrophysiology (EPU) of the MHO’s cardiology department, explains the causes, symptoms and treatment options for atrial fibrillation and answers questions from guests and Internet participants. The event will take place on Wednesday, September 27th, 6 p.m., in the NOZ media center, Breiter Gang 10-16, and will be broadcast simultaneously on the Internet at the address www.noz.de/vorhofflimmern. As always, entry is free and the live stream can also be switched on freely. ffn editor Moritz Zachow moderates the conversation. Questions to the doctors can be sent in advance by email to [email protected].
As Milberg, Dechering and Kochhäuser explain, atrial fibrillation is caused by uncontrolled electrical impulses in the cardiac conduction system. The atria and ventricles become out of sync and although the heart usually beats too fast, its performance decreases and less blood is pumped through the body. Because the atria become more difficult to empty, there is a risk of blood clots forming, which, if flushed into the brain, can trigger strokes. If the fibrillation occurs more frequently or lasts for a long time, it can permanently damage the heart and lead to secondary diseases such as heart failure. As it progresses, it can also occur permanently.
According to the specialists in internal medicine and cardiology, it happens that younger people are affected by atrial fibrillation, such as competitive athletes or due to excessive alcohol consumption (holiday heart syndrome), but as a rule older people aged 65 and over suffer from it and are at risk increases with the number of years of life. As they explain, atrial fibrillation can be triggered by previous illnesses of the heart or other organs, such as high blood pressure, heart valve defects, heart attacks and also heart failure. In addition, there is an increased risk due to hyperthyroidism, snoring or nocturnal breathing arrests and diabetes mellitus and, in general, obesity, smoking and frequent alcohol consumption promote the occurrence.
from left: Prof. Dr. Peter Milberg, PD Dr. Simon Kochhäuser and PD Dr. Dirk Dechering provides information regarding the treatment options for atrial fibrillation. Photo: Niels Stensen Clinics
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According to the MHO specialists, atrial fibrillation often becomes noticeable through symptoms such as sudden feeling of weakness, racing heart, irregular heartbeat, heart pain, shortness of breath and anxiety. However, as they emphasize, such signs do not have to occur in all cases. In their experience, regarding 20 percent of those diagnosed with atrial fibrillation have not felt any symptoms. As they report, around two million people are already known to be sick in Germany. Due to the increasing age, a significant increase is to be expected in the near future.
According to the doctors, a detailed medical examination with a long-term ECG is necessary for a reliable diagnosis, although signs can be noticed by measuring your pulse regularly (or constantly using a smartwatch). There is no cure for atrial fibrillation, but if it is detected, there are good treatment strategies that can alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of secondary diseases such as strokes. In addition to therapies with medication, according to their information, in many cases a minimally invasive procedure is possible, the so-called catheter ablation, in which a tiny part of the conductor tracks in the left atrium is destroyed using electricity, heat or cold, so that there are no or few false impulses followingwards can pass on more.
That evening in the NOZ media center, the doctors will comprehensively address the illness and all questions on the subject. In the three-part lecture, PD Dr. Dirk Dechering deals with causes and prevention, Prof. Dr. Peter Milberg talks regarding catheter ablation and drug therapies and PD Dr. Simon Kochhäuser explains the anticoagulant medications that are prescribed in treatments to prevent strokes.
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