Atrial Fibrillation - Dubai Cardiology Clinic

Atrial Fibrillation

It is one of the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia which can increase your risk to get stroke, heart failure, and other heart problems.

You feel your heart beat too fast and irregular which make you concern about this funny rhythm and as a result of left ventricular filling deficiency, the blood supply for the body declines.

Atrial Fibrillation either be:

1. Asymptomatic you have atrial fibrillation and do ‘not feel in trouble.
2. Symptomatic which include:

• Faintness or light headedness,
• Weakness,
• Shortness of breath,
• Chest pain due to coronary insufficiency,
• Reduce ability to exercise.

Read : Stroke prevention with Atrial Fibrillation

Risk factors for Atrial fibrillation

• Age advance age people are more susceptible to get AF.
• Heart diseases: valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, after heart surgery and heart attack.
• Hypertension.
• Other chronic condition: hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, lung disease,
• Alcohol consumption binge drinking,
• Obesity,
• Some medication as cold and cough medication,
• Stimulant like caffeine, tobacco, alcohol.
  
  Different types of atrial fibrillation

  There are three main types:

• Lone atrial fibrillation there is no definite cause for it, usually comes episodically, come and go lasting few minutes to few hours and the complication is rare.
• Persistent atrial fibrillation which does not come to normal rhythm by itself it needs conversion either medically or electrically.
• Long standing or permanent atrial fibrillation which last more than 12 months.

Atrial fibrillation itself usually is not life-threatening, but it is serious medical condition that sometimes needs emergency treatment.

The diagnosis depends on the auscultation of the hear the doctor hear fast and irregular heart beat, confirmed by ECG which complete irregularity of the rhythm and saw teeth appearance.

Complications of atrial fibrillation

• Stroke clot dislodge in cerebral artery and cause cerebrovascular accident,block peripheral artery in leg, arm or abdomen and cause severe ischemia and pain in the affected area. Though blood thinner get lower your risk from this embolic event.

• Heart failure especially if AF uncontrolled so it weakens the heart and lead to heart failure.

Treatment for atrial fibrillation

Yes, there are 3 options:

1. Medical treatment to convert the rhythm or control the rate by Digoxin – amiodarone – beta blocker as metoprolol – bisolol
2. Electrical cardioversion to restore the sinus rhythm.
3. Electrical ablation via electrophysiologic study in Cath lab which is sophisticated procedure and the success rate about 70-80%.

Prevention of atrial fibrillation

 The most important thing is healthy life style:

• Eat healthy food friendly with the heart like fish, vegetables, fruit, oats, tomato, aspergillus, nuts (almond, walnuts).
• Increase physical activity.
• Avoid smoking.
• Reduce alcohol consumption and caffeine.
• Reduce stress, intense stress or anger is arrhythmogenic.
• Using over-the-counter medication with caution like cold and cough medication which can trigger rapid heartbeat.

Is there a specific treatment for atrial fibrillation?

Yes, there are 3 options:

1. Medical treatment to convert the rhythm or control the rate by Digoxin – amiodarone – beta blocker as metoprolol – bisolol …
2. Electrical cardioversion to restore the sinus rhythm.
3. Electrical ablation via electrophysiologic study in Cath lab which is sophisticated procedure and the success rate about 70-80%.

Any way for prevention of atrial fibrillation?

 The most important thing is healthy life style:

• Eat healthy food friendly with the heart like fish, vegetables, fruit, oat, tomato, aspergillus, nuts (almond, walnuts)..
• Increase physical activity,
• Avoid smoking,
• Reduce alcohol consumption and caffeine,
• Reduce stress, intense stress or anger is arrhythmogenic,
• Using over-the-counter medication with caution like cold and cough medication which can trigger rapid heartbeat.

Dubai Cardiology clinic at Dr Rami Hamed Center provides you one of the best cardiologist in dubai for treating hypertension, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, holter monitoring, stress test, chest pain and echocardiography .