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A miraculous transformation of acute atrial fibrillation: How does it occur?
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) characterized by rapid and irregular beating of the atria. This condition usually starts out as just a short period of abnormal heartbeats that become longer or more persistent over time. Symptoms may start as mild palpitations, which may progress to persistent atrial fibrillation as the disease progresses. In the process, the heart's upper chambers (atria) are disturbed unnecessarily, which can lead to a host of health problems.
Acute atrial fibrillation is often accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations, fainting, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
The occurrence of atrial fibrillation is associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases, especially hypertension and heart valve disease. These diseases lead to changes in the structure of the heart, which in turn promote the occurrence of atrial fibrillation. Globally, the incidence of atrial fibrillation is increasing year by year, especially among the elderly. According to the latest data, more than 33 million patients worldwide are affected by this disease, which forces us to face the huge challenges brought by atrial fibrillation.
Causes and Risk Factors of Atrial Fibrillation
The occurrence of atrial fibrillation can be traced back to a variety of factors, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, heart failure, etc. In addition, lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), have also been shown to be a contributing factor to atrial fibrillation.
The onset of atrial fibrillation is closely related to various physical conditions, especially in the elderly.
In addition to physiological conditions, lifestyle also has a significant impact on atrial fibrillation. Obesity, lack of exercise and excessive drinking are the main risk factors. Research shows that maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as reducing alcohol consumption and increasing exercise, can effectively reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation. It is important to note that not all cases of atrial fibrillation are associated with the above risk factors, and approximately half of patients do not show identifiable risk factors.
Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation
Symptoms of atrial fibrillation vary, but are usually related to a rapid heart rate. The patient may feel the heart beating too fast, irregularly, or skipping beats. In addition, atrial fibrillation may also lead to decreased exercise tolerance or chest pain, and may even cause loss of consciousness.
Loss of consciousness is sometimes caused by a lack of oxygen and blood supply to the brain.
Many patients are not initially aware that they have atrial fibrillation; it is usually discovered during a routine checkup or electrocardiogram. This suggests that the asymptomatic nature of atrial fibrillation makes it particularly difficult to diagnose early. Early identification of the disease is crucial because it is associated with an increased risk of serious complications such as stroke and heart failure.
Diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation
Medical professionals may suspect atrial fibrillation by palpating the pulse and confirm the diagnosis through interpretation of an electrocardiogram (ECG). The electrocardiogram typically shows irregularly spaced QRS complexes and absent P waves. For some people, medications are used to control heart rate or regulate heart rhythm. Electrical cardioversion is often needed in emergency situations.
Long-term control of atrial fibrillation, including medical and possible surgical intervention, can significantly improve patients' quality of life.
For patients at higher risk of stroke, experts generally recommend the use of anticoagulants to reduce the probability of stroke. While the use of these anticoagulants helps reduce the risk of stroke, it also increases the chance of major bleeding, making the balance of treatment critical.
Future Outlook for Atrial Fibrillation
As technology advances, treatments for atrial fibrillation are also evolving. Treatments in the future may become increasingly personalized, relying more on the patient's genes and lifestyle to provide the best treatment plan. In-depth research on the causes, risk factors, and therapeutic effects of atrial fibrillation will be an important step in addressing this increasingly serious global public health problem in the future.
Atrial fibrillation is becoming one of the world's biggest cardiovascular challenges, which makes us wonder how we can more effectively manage and prevent this disease?
