September is National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month
Your heartbeat can be thought of as the natural rhythm of life. It keeps pace with everything you do, speeding up when you’re active or excited, then slowing down when you’re calm and relaxed. But sometimes the rhythm goes wrong and your heart beats in an irregular way, which is known as arrhythmia. The most common kind of irregular heartbeat is atrial fibrillation, often called AFib. If atrial fibrillation is undetected and untreated, you could be a heartbeat away from serious heart complications. September is National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, which is focused on bringing greater awareness to this all-too-common condition. So, discover the details, the risks, the signs, and the possible treatment options for AFib to keep your finger on the pulse of the health of your heart.
Get to the heart of atrial fibrillation
The familiar rhythm of your heart is something you rarely think about until that rhythm goes awry. This is the case with atrial fibrillation, which is a common heart condition where your heart beats in an irregular way. The heart usually contracts to a regular rhythm. With AFib, the heart contracts irregularly and blood isn’t able to flow through the heart as it should. As a result, blood can pool in the area, which can result in blood clots, strokes, and even heart failure. Being diagnosed with AFib can be very frightening, but don’t panic because you’re not alone. Today, around six million people are living with AFib in the United States, with more than 12 million expected to have it by 2030.
Keep pace with your risk of AFib
Anyone can get AFib, but your risk rises with age. And having a history of medical problems or an unhealthy lifestyle only increases your risk even more. People with one or more of the following health conditions usually have a higher risk for developing AFib. These conditions include:
- Being over age 50
- Having high blood pressure
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Heart failure
- Sleep apnea
- High levels of stress
- Family history
- European descent
- Moderate to heavy alcohol use
- Smoking
An irregular pattern of AFib symptoms
Signs of atrial fibrillation are as irregular as an AFib heart rhythm itself. For some, it can feel like your heart is thumping and jumping, pounding and pressing against your chest whenever you move or breathe. For others, there may be no symptoms at all, and the condition is only detected during a physical examination. If you experience any AFib symptoms, contact your SignatureMD-affiliated doctor right away. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Heart palpitations feeling like your heart is throbbing, fluttering, or racing
- Chest pain
- Extreme fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
Treating and beating atrial fibrillation
Luckily, there are several ways to bring your heart back into rhythm if you’re diagnosed with AFib. The first step is to get a diagnosis by scheduling a physical examination. This is why it’s vital to get regular physical exams and tell your SignatureMD-affiliated doctor if you notice any symptoms as soon as possible. Your examination may include an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart rate and rhythm. Since episodes of AFib might come and go, a single ECG may not be enough to detect any problems. If this is the case, you may need to wear a special ECG monitor that listens to your heart’s rhythm for an extended span of time. After being diagnosed with AFib, the goals of treatment are restoring a normal heart rhythm, managing your heart rate, and preventing a stroke. These can be accomplished with a combination of medication, medical procedures, and lifestyle changes, including:
- AFib medications to manage your heart rate
- Blood-thinning medicines to reduce the risk of blood clots and strokes
- Non-surgical procedures
- Surgery
- Eating a healthy diet
- Getting regular exercise
- Limiting alcohol
- Avoiding smoking
- Reducing stress
It’s time to take your health to heart
September is National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month. The month is devoted to making everyone more familiar with this life-threatening condition. So, share this vital insight and information about atrial fibrillation to help anyone with AFib enjoy the rhythm of life again.
Since an episode of AFib can happen in a heartbeat, it’s never too late to put your heart into keeping yours healthy.