Understanding Atrial Fibrillation: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

2023-07-27 19:00:00

Instead of regular, coordinated heartbeats, the heart beats in irregular, unpredictable patterns.

Dr. Juan Felipe Betancourt, internist, cardiologist and electrophysiologist, president of the Colombian College of Electrophysiology. Photo: Medicine and Public Health Magazine

It may be associated with problems in the electrical system of the heart and can cause the formation of clots blood in it.

Exclusively for the Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Dr. Juan Felipe Betancourt, internist, cardiologist and electrophysiologist, president of the Colombian College of Electrophysiology, explained “that fibrillation auricular is an arrhythmia in which the heart it loses its regular heartbeat and begins to have a disordered heartbeat, an irregular heartbeat. However, with all that fibrillation entails auricular, we must always keep in mind that it is much more than a network. deprivation auricular frames a complex disease as a chronic disease and that is how we should learn to accept it.¨

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warning signs

¨Signs such as rapid heart rate, fluttering sensation in the heart, tiredness and fatigue, tightness in the chest, palpitations, pain and pressure in the chest. dizziness or fainting.¨ explained Dr. Juan Felipe Betancourt.

In some cases, fibrillation auricular it can be asymptomatic and is only discovered when a routine medical examination is performed or when a serious complication occurs, such as a stroke. The risk that these patients have over those who are already diagnosed is that its prevalence increases with age. Approximately 10% of people over the age of 80 are affected by this condition and are at risk of developing associated complications.

There is a possibility that it forms clots inside of the heart and those clots that are formed within heart, can be sent to any systemic organ through the arterial circulation. It has a preponderance because it goes to the cerebral circulation, which is something disabling and very, very close, but it can also go to other organs. It can cause acute ischemia of the arms, legs, kidneys, and intestines, configuring a disease that can be almost immortal. ¨ indicated Dr. Juan Felipe Betancourt.

It is important to note that symptoms can vary from person to person and some patients may experience mild or intermittent symptoms while others may experience more severe and persistent symptoms. If any of these symptoms are experienced, it is important to seek medical attention to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.

Causes and risk factors

The most common causes include diseases of the heart, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism. Other underlying conditions that may contribute to the development of this arrhythmia are excessive obesity or long-term use of certain common medications to treat chronic heart or lung problems.

¨To the extent that there will be more and more people aging and with associated comorbidities, therefore, it is a very prevalent arrhythmia within the world population and it is spoken in people over 40, but that can multiply in older people of 70.¨ explained Dr. Juan Felipe Betancourt Rodríguez.

In addition, other factors related to lifestyle are also considered important factors for its development; for example: consuming alcohol in excess and not getting adequate rest at night.

Festive Heart Syndrome

It is an important risk factor for the development of fibrillation auricular in young people. It is a term used to describe fibrillation auricular induced by alcohol, the most frequent symptoms include strong and accelerated palpitations, dizziness, sweating among others. At the holidays, many cases of cardiovascular disease are related to excessive alcohol consumption.

Prevention can include avoid excessive alcohol consumption, maintaining a diet healthyengaging in regular physical activity, monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol, and avoid tobacco.

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