Subscribe
Atrial fibrillation
Is atrial fibrillation without symptoms dangerous?
Atrial fibrillation without symptoms is still dangerous. Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmic disease among the elderly and can cause the following issues: First, it can induce heart failure. Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of acute heart failure, especially in the elderly, who may suffer from acute heart failure due to an episode of atrial fibrillation, particularly those with structural heart disease, making them more prone to developing heart failure. Second, it can lead to thromboembolic complications. Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of thromboembolic complications. These complications are unrelated to whether the atrial fibrillation is symptomatic or not. When atrial fibrillation persists, it significantly increases the chances of forming atrial thrombi. If a thrombus dislodges, it can lead to the occurrence of thromboembolic events, such as a stroke.
What causes atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation most commonly occurs in patients with organic heart disease, such as rheumatic heart disease, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathy, constrictive pericarditis, and chronic pulmonary heart disease, etc. It can also be seen in diseases of other systems such as hyperthyroidism, etc. In addition, as age increases, the incidence of atrial fibrillation also increases. Some causes of atrial fibrillation are unknown and may be triggered by emotional stress, physical activity, or heavy drinking. For atrial fibrillation, once an episode occurs, it is important to actively administer appropriate medications to control it, to avoid the adverse consequences of persistent atrial fibrillation.
Can atrial fibrillation cause chest pain?
During an episode of atrial fibrillation, it is possible for symptoms such as chest pain to occur. Common symptoms of atrial fibrillation include palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. However, during a flare-up of atrial fibrillation, if the heart rate significantly increases, it can lead to chest pain symptoms. This is because when atrial fibrillation occurs and the heart rate significantly increases, it results in a marked shortening of the ventricular diastolic filling period. This reduces the blood volume during the diastolic filling period, further affecting the heart's pumping during the systole, leading to myocardial ischemia and causing symptoms similar to those of angina pectoris.
Can elderly people with atrial fibrillation take calcium tablets?
Elderly patients with atrial fibrillation can take calcium supplements if their condition requires it, such as those with osteoporosis. Generally, taking calcium supplements does not affect atrial fibrillation nor does it impact the effectiveness of the medications treating atrial fibrillation. However, calcium supplements themselves do not have an effect on atrial fibrillation and cannot reduce the occurrences of atrial fibrillation episodes. When atrial fibrillation occurs repeatedly, it is necessary to take anticoagulant medications under the guidance of a doctor, such as warfarin or the newer oral anticoagulant medication rivaroxaban, to prevent the formation of blood clots and avoid complications caused by clots from atrial fibrillation. Additionally, if the heart rate is fast, it is appropriate to take medications that control heart rate to improve symptoms.
Can hormones be used for atrial fibrillation?
Patients with atrial fibrillation can use steroids, but in principle, it is best not to use them. This is because the use of steroids can cause excitement of the sympathetic nerves, leading to an increased heart rate, which in turn can trigger an episode of atrial fibrillation and cause uncomfortable heart symptoms, such as palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. Of course, atrial fibrillation is not a contraindication for the use of steroids. If the condition requires it, such as during an asthma attack or certain immunological diseases, steroids can be used. When using steroids, it is important to strengthen observation and inform the patient to seek timely medical attention at a hospital if symptoms of an atrial fibrillation episode, such as palpitations or chest tightness, occur.
The difference between premature beats and atrial fibrillation
Premature beats refer to the early discharge of the heart's impulses. Premature beats can be divided into atrial premature beats, ventricular premature beats, and junctional premature beats. Atrial premature beats occur when the impulse is prematurely emitted from the atrium; ventricular premature beats occur when the impulse is prematurely emitted from the ventricles; junctional premature beats occur when the impulse is prematurely emitted from the atrioventricular junction. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by the atria losing their normal pattern of contraction and relaxation, replaced by irregular quivering. Both premature beats and atrial fibrillation are common arrhythmias that can be identified on an electrocardiogram.
What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
The most common symptoms of atrial fibrillation episodes are chest tightness, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue. When atrial fibrillation causes a significant decrease in cardiac output, it can also lead to insufficient cerebral blood supply, causing symptoms such as dizziness and blackouts. Occasionally, it may also cause fainting in patients. When coronary artery blood supply is insufficient, it can also trigger angina attacks. Moreover, if atrial fibrillation leads to heart failure, it can cause significant respiratory difficulty. Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia clinically. The treatment of atrial fibrillation should be based on the specific situation, choosing either cardioversion or controlling the ventricular rate. Cardioversion can be achieved through medication or radiofrequency ablation surgery, while controlling the ventricular rate can be managed with β-blockers, amiodarone, digoxin, and other drugs. In treating atrial fibrillation with ventricular rate control, patients need to take anticoagulants long-term to prevent the occurrence of peripheral arterial embolism. (Please follow medical advice regarding medications.)
How to diagnose atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation, abbreviated as AF, refers to rapid and irregular beating of the atrial chambers of the heart. How should one be examined after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation? Generally, the examination for atrial fibrillation involves the following aspects: First, blood tests, such as thyroid function tests, to see if there is hyperthyroidism causing the atrial fibrillation. Second, echocardiography. This test can reveal whether there are any heart valve diseases or myocardial diseases that might lead to atrial fibrillation. Third, electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitor. Both ECG and Holter monitoring are effective and non-invasive tests that confirm the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.
Can a normal heart rate have atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation includes paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and persistent atrial fibrillation. Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may have a normal heart rate during non-attack periods. In contrast, those with persistent atrial fibrillation continuously experience atrial fibrillation rates, presenting with irregular heart sounds of varying intensity. A normal electrocardiogram displays P waves, QRS complexes, and T waves. However, patients with atrial fibrillation either do not exhibit P waves or show irregularly sized, serrated P waves resembling dog teeth, suggesting atrial fibrillation. Therefore, although atrial fibrillation is associated with arrhythmias, individuals with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may have a normal heart rate but experience repeated palpitations, chest tightness, discomfort in the precordial region, and fatigue. Therefore, patients who frequently experience palpitations should undergo a 24-hour Holter monitor test or consider esophageal electrophysiological examinations to rule out arrhythmic disorders, such as atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia. Hence, a normal heart rate does not exclude the presence of atrial fibrillation in individuals with corresponding symptoms.
What medicine is used for atrial fibrillation?
The current medications for atrial fibrillation mainly include three types: the first type controls the ventricular rate, which ensures the basic function of the patient's heart and minimizes the cardiac dysfunction caused by atrial fibrillation. This includes drugs such as receptor blockers and calcium channel antagonists, digoxin, amiodarone, and others. The second type of drugs are those used for cardioversion. The third type of drugs are those used to prevent embolism, which are anticoagulants. Currently, the main drugs include warfarin, new anticoagulants such as dabigatran and rivaroxaban, and intravenous medications like low molecular weight heparin calcium and nadroparin.