- Florence Nightingale
Your heart starts racing and you feel like it may jump out of your chest. You are nauseated, sweaty, and short of breath. Could it be that Cupid has struck you with his arrow or are you having a medical emergency? You decide to seek medical attention and once in the emergency room an electrocardiogram is done. The electrocardiogram reveals not a broken heart but an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation.
A broad range of physical symptoms may be associated with atrial fibrillation. Some people have absolutely no awareness of being in atrial fibrillation, while others know precisely the moment their heart goes out of rhythm. Many patients describe their heart as “fluttering” or “flipping.” This may be accompanied by shortness of breath, profuse sweating, chest pain, dizziness, passing out, exercise intolerance and extreme fatigue.
Others describe anxiety and a feeling of impending doom. This may be continuous (persistent or permanent) or alternating between periods of a normal heart rhythm (paroxysmal).
Atrial fibrillation is most often caused by changes in the heart that occur as a result of heart disease, valve disease, obesity or high blood pressure. Other cases of atrial fibrillation are secondary to medical problems such as thyroid disease, obstructive sleep apnea or chronic lung disease. Atrial fibrillation may also be caused by excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption or illegal drug abuse.
Patients with atrial fibrillation are at a significantly increased chance of stroke n about two to seven times the regular population. When blood is not adequately pumped out of the ventricles, it may pool and clot. If a blood clot leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain a stroke results. About 15 percent of strokes occur as a result of atrial fibrillation. For this reason aggressive treatment of atrial fibrillation is recommended.
Treatments range from medications to surgical intervention. If treated appropriately, you can live a long and healthy life with atrial fibrillation. Multiple research trials are currently being conducted to continue improving our care of the patient with atrial fibrillation. Please do not hesitate to contact your physician if you experience any of the mentioned symptoms. But remember, not all hearts that flutter are broken n you may just be in love.
Do you have health-related questions you would like to ask our nurses? Please e-mail them to info@saintpatrick.org. Remember, we cannot give individual diagnoses or advice.
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