Atrial fibrillation is a kind of arrhythmia that is often encountered in clinical practice. It is called the cardiovascular epidemic in the 21st century. According to statistics, about 20% of people in the world may have atrial fibrillation in their lifetime. The older they are, the higher the prevalence and incidence rate of atrial fibrillation are. In recent years, the incidence rate of atrial fibrillation has increased year by year. Some patients were found to have atrial fibrillation only after stroke. Although there are many patients with atrial fibrillation, due to the lack of sufficient knowledge and understanding of atrial fibrillation among most people, the attention to this disease is not high and has not been taken seriously. Early detection and treatment of atrial fibrillation can have vastly different therapeutic effects and prognosis. Today, I will talk to you about the topic of "atrial fibrillation".
1、 What is atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation, also known as atrial fibrillation, is one of the most common arrhythmias. Simply put, it refers to the irregular beating of the atrium (mainly the left atrium), which causes the myocardium in various parts of the atrium to "act independently" and contract randomly. It can reach up to 350-600 beats per minute without any regularity, affecting the normal beating of the entire heart. When atrial fibrillation occurs, the ventricular rhythm is absolutely irregular and can reach up to 100-160 beats per minute at the fastest. Atrial fibrillation can occur intermittently or have a chronic course.
2、 Who are the high-risk groups for atrial fibrillation?
Old age, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, obesity, smoking, alcoholism, coronary heart disease/myocardial infarction, and family history of atrial fibrillation. If you belong to the above groups of people who are prone to atrial fibrillation, you should observe yourself for any signs of atrial fibrillation and go to the hospital for further examination if necessary!
3、 What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
The clinical manifestations of atrial fibrillation are diverse. Most patients have symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, fatigue, dizziness, and weakness, while some patients have no obvious symptoms, and some are even discovered when serious complications such as stroke and heart failure occur. The symptoms of atrial fibrillation patients are related to various factors such as ventricular rate at the time of onset, cardiac function, accompanying diseases, duration of atrial fibrillation, and patient sensitivity to perceived symptoms.
4、 What are the hazards of atrial fibrillation?
The biggest hazards of atrial fibrillation mainly include the following two aspects. Firstly, rapid ventricular rate can cause cardiomyopathy and heart failure, among others; Secondly, atrial fibrillation can trigger stroke. Stroke caused by atrial fibrillation has several characteristics, such as acute onset, high incidence rate, high disability rate, high mortality rate and high recurrence rate. Once stroke occurs, it will seriously affect the quality of life of patients, and will bring great economic burden to individuals and families, and even endanger the lives of patients.
5、 How to detect and diagnose atrial fibrillation?
The diagnosis of atrial fibrillation is generally based on the patient's medical history, symptoms, physical examination, and electrocardiogram examination. Firstly, it is possible to understand whether the patient's clinical manifestations include palpitations, chest tightness, and other symptoms. Secondly, physical examination can be conducted to determine whether the patient has characteristic manifestations such as absolute arrhythmia, uneven heart sounds, and short pulse. At the same time, it is also necessary to combine electrocardiogram examination for clarification. If it is a diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, it should be based on the electrocardiogram at the time of onset or 24-hour dynamic electrocardiogram examination. If the patient is diagnosed with atrial fibrillation for the first time, further evaluation of the patient is needed, including determining the cause of atrial fibrillation, identifying the type of atrial fibrillation, and searching for factors related to atrial fibrillation outside of the heart.
6、 There are various treatment methods for atrial fibrillation, including drug therapy, electric cardioversion, radiofrequency ablation, surgical intervention, etc. The specific treatment method should be determined by professional doctors based on the patient's disease course, severity, and needs before selecting the treatment method.
7、 How to prevent the onset of atrial fibrillation through a healthy lifestyle?
1. Actively treat the primary disease, such as the three high diseases. 2. After the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, it is important to seek medical attention promptly to avoid delaying the condition and treatment. 3. Proactively relieve psychological pressure and maintain a happy mood. 4. Moderate and regular exercise, avoid overexertion, and control weight within the normal range. 5. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption. 6. Abandon unhealthy lifestyle habits. Stay away from the influence of bad habits such as irregular sleep patterns, imbalanced diet, staying up late, prolonged sitting, and sulking.
For atrial fibrillation, we advocate early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. If you suffer from atrial fibrillation, you must go to a specialized hospital for treatment. That's all for today's sharing. I hope that through my sharing, everyone can have a clearer understanding of atrial fibrillation and stay healthy and away from it!