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Palpitations, chest pain and discomfort, and a fast, irregular heartbeat may indicate atrial fibrillation. This most common arrhythmia occurs mainly after the age of 65. The statistics are not optimistic. As many as 23% of Polish seniors suffer from atrial fibrillation, the consequence of which may be, among others, stroke, embolism and heart failure. How is this disorder recognized? Can they be effectively controlled and treated?
What is atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is a type of heart rhythm disturbance in which the heart’s atriums contract very quickly and irregularly. It is considered the most common heart rhythm disturbance. In Poland, about 600-700 thousand people suffer from them. people. it occurs more often in men than in women. In most cases, it is a consequence of other chronic diseases that damage the heart muscle, including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and valve defects. Statistics show that it is men who care less about their health and, above all, less often about a proper diet and physical activity. The seizure itself may also appear as a result of electrolyte disturbances (including mainly potassium and magnesium) and in the course of hyperthyroidism, which in turn occurs more often in women.
What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
Being aware of the common symptoms of atrial fibrillation can save your health and life. A quick diagnosis of this arrhythmia allows for the immediate implementation of appropriate treatment. Symptoms that should inspire you are:
- Heart palpitations, also known as palpitations.
- Dizziness.
- Fainting.
- Fast and irregular heartbeat.
- Sweating a lot.
- Nausea.
- Decline in physical performance.
- Feeling short of breath.
- Chest pain and discomfort.
- Fatigue.
The risk of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age. The appearance of typical symptoms is the final alarm signal for the patient, and ignoring the problem may end tragically. Therefore, it is important to observe your well-being every day and even write it down in a special notebook. Also, the elderly’s relatives should be aware of what manifests itself in atrial fibrillation and what it can lead to.
Don’t underestimate atrial fibrillation
A complication of atrial fibrillation may be transient cerebral ischemia, blockages of the peripheral, splenic and mesenteric arteries, heart failure, and most of all stroke. The latter, being a consequence of atrial fibrillation, is distinguished by an extremely difficult course and often leads to disability. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke by up to five times.
So how does a stroke happen? Due to incomplete, or more precisely irregular, atrial contractions, only a small amount of blood flows further into the ventricles. Eventually, some of the blood remaining in the atria can turn into a clot. When it enters the bloodstream and then the brain, the arteries are blocked. This in turn causes a stroke that can be fatal and fatal.
Famous Youtubers – Mikołaj Kolasiński and Marcin Czekała – undertook stories about this difficult topic. Doctors by education who in an accessible way familiarize their viewers with the most important issues in the field of medicine. In one of their films, they discuss atrial fibrillation and stroke. What prompted them to address this very problem?
We took up the topic of atrial fibrillation because it is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, the serious complication of which is a stroke, which … we can prevent in time! Atrial fibrillation is a “cunning” disease and can be difficult to detect, and can occur sporadically without the patient even seeing it – or feeling it. Hence, it is so important to talk about fibrillation and to make patients at risk (the elderly, heart patients, hypertension, thyroid diseases) aware of the need to test for fibrillation. If a doctor detects atrial fibrillation in time, it can be effective in preventing a stroke by treating the patient with anticoagulant treatment. As a result, the risk of a blood clot forming in the patient’s heart that could cause a stroke is drastically reduced. You have to talk about it! – comments the drug. Mikołaj Kolasiński.
Prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation and its complications can be prevented. Patients diagnosed with this most common heart disorder are taking anticoagulants, which are substances that prevent blood clots from forming.
In the prevention of atrial fibrillation, it is also important to introduce minor lifestyle modifications. Therefore, it is worth remembering a few basic rules.
- Stay physically active. Do not give up your daily walks, yoga, cycling, swimming or other forms of exercise.
- Maintain a healthy diet rich in vitamins, fiber, minerals and other nutrients.
- Give up smoking and other stimulants.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
More information on atrial fibrillation and stroke can be found on the educational campaign website www.stopudarom.pl