What Are the Main Types and Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation?
Condition when there is irregular or quivering in the heart beat, is called atrial fibrillation. It is also called AFib or AF. This condition can lead to blood clots, stroke in heart, heart failure and many more heart related complications. It can also be considered as one of common symptoms of abnormal heartbeat or heart rhythm. One of the main reasons behind this is abnormal electrical discharges (signals). One who is suffering from atrial fibrillation, then in them there is reduction in the ability of the atria to pump blood into the ventricles, which force the heart to beat too rapidly. As per recent study 2.7 million American people are suffering from AFib along with that in the U.S every year they are diagnosed with one-half million cases and people invest crores to get recovery from this disease.
Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation
Person who is atrial fibrillation shows various different symptoms. Some of the common symptoms are discussed below.
A. Palpitations
B. Dizziness
C. Fainting
D. Weakness
E. Fatigue
F. Shortness of breath
G. Chest pain
H. Some people have no signs or symptoms.
I. Some of major Complications of atrial fibrillation include: heart failure and stroke.
Types of Atrial Fibrillation
On the basis of different research and studies, atrial fibrillation are classified into different types. Some of them are discussed below:
A. Long-Standing:
Under this atrial fibrillation, there is continuation of irregular pattern of heart beat for more than 12 month.
B. Permanent:
Under this condition doctors stop their treatment to bring back the real rhythm.
C. Paroxysmal:
Under this condition the normal rhythm of the heart returns back by itself with intervention within 7 starting days.
D. Persistent:
Under this condition, there is abnormality in heart beat and this continues for more than 7 days and in this condition more treatment is needed for bringing heartbeat to normal rhythm.
E. Nonvalvular:
This condition occurs due to abnormal heart valve issues.
Functioning of Normal Heart and its Electrical System Working
Human heart is divided into four chambers: the upper two chambers are atria and the lower two chambers are the ventricles.
A) the right atrium (upper right)
B) the left atrium (upper left)
C) the right ventricle (lower right)
D) the left ventricle (lower left)
Blood which is coming to the human heart contains low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide. Further there is flow of this blood into the right atrium and then down into the adjacent right ventricle. After entering into the right ventricle, there occurs contraction of the right atrium which pumps additional blood into the right ventricle. This leads to contraction of the right ventricle, which pumps blood to the lungs and in this condition blood takes up oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide. Further there is flow of blood from the lungs to the left atrium, and then down into the adjacent left ventricle. As contraction in the left atrium pumps an extra amount of blood into the left ventricle. Again there is contraction of the left ventricle , which pumps the blood to the aortic artery and then to all body parts or organs with the help of the vascular system.
Reason behind our beating heart is the contraction of the ventricles. The main function of the ventricle to deliver enough blood to the body for their regular and normal functioning. And the blood which is pumped out is dependent on various factors like: rate of contraction of the heart which is called as heart beat. The more the heart beat, the more blood will be pumped out.
Reason behind Atrial Fibrillation
Major factors which work behind atrial fibrillation is abnormal heart beat. As during irregular heart beat electrical discharges are not generated by SA nodes, this of that they are coming from other parts of the atria. As due to this abnormality in electrical discharge and some time this may exceed 350 discharge per minute. Which further causes ineffective contractions of the atria. We can also say that instead of beating, the atria starts quivering, which reduces the ability of the atria to pump blood to the ventricle.
This abnormality in discharge further passes to AV nodes and then to ventricles, which lead to irregular contraction of ventricles. The average contraction of the ventricle becomes 150/minute which is very less than that of atria. And even after a lot of effort the ventricle is not able to contract 350/minute. Thus under this condition there is a sudden decrease in the amount of blood being pumped out by the ventricles. And the main reason behind this is their rapid contraction process and lack of normal atrial contraction.
FAQs on Atrial Fibrillation: Key Facts, Causes, and Treatment
1. What is Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) in the context of human biology?
Atrial Fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, is a type of heart arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat. It occurs when the heart's two upper chambers, the atria, beat chaotically and out of sync with the two lower chambers, the ventricles. This is caused by disorganized electrical signals originating in the atria, disrupting the normal rhythm set by the heart's natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node.
2. What are the most common symptoms a person might experience with Atrial Fibrillation?
The symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation can vary but often include:
A sensation of a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat, known as palpitations.
Shortness of breath and general fatigue.
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
Chest pain or pressure.
Reduced ability to perform physical exercise.
3. What are the primary underlying causes and risk factors for developing Atrial Fibrillation?
The primary cause is damage to the heart's electrical system. Key risk factors that can lead to this include high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary artery disease, previous heart attacks, and abnormalities in the heart's structure, such as valve problems. Other contributing factors are obesity, diabetes, and a family history of the condition.
4. How is Atrial Fibrillation different from a normal heart rhythm or a simple fast heartbeat (tachycardia)?
A normal heart rhythm (sinus rhythm) is regular, with electrical signals originating from the SA node, typically resulting in a resting heart rate of 60-100 beats per minute. Tachycardia is a regular but fast rhythm. In contrast, Atrial Fibrillation is both fast and irregular. The key difference is the chaotic and uncoordinated contraction of the atria, which leads to an inefficient and erratic pumping of blood to the ventricles.
5. Why is preventing blood clots a major goal in treating Atrial Fibrillation?
This is a critical goal because the chaotic beating of the atria prevents them from emptying blood completely into the ventricles. This allows blood to become stagnant or pool in the atria, significantly increasing the risk of forming blood clots. If a clot breaks free, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Therefore, a primary objective of AFib management is to reduce this life-threatening risk.
6. What are the main objectives when treating a patient with Atrial Fibrillation?
The treatment for Atrial Fibrillation focuses on three main goals:
Rate Control: Slowing down a heart rate that is too fast to allow the ventricles to fill with blood properly.
Rhythm Control: Restoring and maintaining the heart's normal sinus rhythm.
Stroke Prevention: Using anticoagulant medications (blood thinners) to prevent the formation of blood clots.
7. What lifestyle and dietary habits can contribute to the risk of Atrial Fibrillation?
Certain lifestyle factors can increase the risk of AFib. These include excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine, which can act as triggers. A diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, which are major risk factors. Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and managing stress are important for reducing the overall risk.
8. Can conditions outside of the heart cause Atrial Fibrillation?
Yes, Atrial Fibrillation is not always caused by a direct heart problem. Certain non-cardiac conditions can trigger it. Important examples include an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), severe infections like pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), and chronic lung diseases. This highlights how different body systems are interconnected.
9. Is it possible to cure Atrial Fibrillation completely?
While treatments like catheter ablation can be very effective and may eliminate AFib for long periods, it is often considered a chronic condition that requires ongoing management rather than a one-time cure. The underlying conditions that caused AFib, like high blood pressure, often persist. Therefore, the focus is typically on long-term management of symptoms and reduction of stroke risk.
