What you need to know for national AFib month
By Jodie Bessinger, RN, MSN, Novant Health Heart Failure Clinic

Want to learn more? To learn more about the Novant Health Heart Failure Clinic, call: 704-384-8888

Did you know in the last year more than 5.1 million Americans were affected by atrial fibrillation? Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a condition where the heart beats in a rapid and irregular rhythm. This irregular rhythm affects blood flow to the lungs and body and results in more than 350,000 hospitalizations a year. In honor of national AFib month, here are three things you should know about AFib:

1. AFib may be caused by a variety of factors: While heart disease, a heart attack and heart failure can contribute to AFib, there are multiple health issues that may also lead to an irregular heartbeat:
   • High blood pressure
   • Sleep apnea
   • Diabetes
   • Obesity
   
   
2. AFib affects quality of life: Although AFib itself isn't usually life-threatening, it is a serious medical condition that sometimes requires emergency treatment and can lead to further health complications. Those suffering from AFib may experience:
   • Heart palpitations or fluttering in the chest
   • Chest pain
   • Shortness of breath
   • Fatigue
   • Anxiety
   • Dizziness and faintness
   
   
3. People with AFib are five to seven times more likely to suffer a stroke: Normally, the heart pumps in a well-timed fashion — the two upper chambers (atria) contract first, followed by the two lower chambers (ventricles); however, when AFib occurs and the heart pumps in an irregular rhythm, blood may pool in the heart. This pooling increases the risk of a blood clot forming and traveling to the brain, causing a stroke.

There are many different treatments available for AFib:

• Medication
• Catheter ablation — an electrical current is sent into the heart via a catheter
• Cardioversion — an electrical shock is sent to your heart via electrodes placed on the chest

While these options are effective for controlling or fixing an irregular heartbeat, it is important to treat not just AFib, but the factors that caused it. For instance, controlling hypertension, managing diabetes, and diagnosing and treating sleep apnea can be just as effective at restoring a normal heart rhythm as interventional procedures.

For more information on AFib, or to learn more about the Novant Health Heart Failure Clinic, call 704-384-8888.