Atrial or atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder. But it can go unnoticed for a long time and lead, in the most serious consequences, to the occurrence of a stroke.
Palpitation, shortness of breath… There atrial fibrillation also called atrial fibrillation or “AF” is the most common heart rhythm disorder. According to High Authority of Healthit would concern 1% of the French population And increases with age. Thus, nearly 70% of patients with atrial fibrillation have over 75 years old.
What is the definition of atrial fibrillation?
When we speak of “atrial fibrillation” (AF) it is to designate thecardiac arrhythmia due to atrial fibrillation (ACFA). This is a heart rhythm disorder which results in a succession of rapid and disorderly heart contractions in the auricles (auricles). Concretely heartbeats are irregular and often rapid. THE Headsets are the two parts that are located in the upper part of the heart and which receive the blood that they must convey to the ventricles (in the lower part). In atrial fibrillation, the atria contract abnormally, which results in a pulse disorder, that is to say a arrhythmia. “It’s a common heart disease and which can go unnoticed for a long time but whose the most serious consequences are the occurrence of a stroke can leave lifelong scars”says Dr. Marc Druet, general practitioner.
What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is manifested by:
- of the palpitations occurring for a few hours or permanently,
- a feeling of oppressed chest
- of the difficulty breathing
- of the fatigue,
- of the shortness of breath,
- discomfort
- anxiety or even syncope.
More rarely, it is possible to observe pulmonary edema or stroke.
What causes atrial fibrillation?
Atrial or atrial fibrillation can occur in isolation at the patients with coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or congenital heart disease. It can also be caused by non-cardiac factors : hyperthyroidism, obesity, chronic lung diseasestaking bronchodilator drugs, excessive consumption of alcohol or narcotics, Sleep Apnea…
The diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia due to atrial fibrillation is considered when the doctor takes the patient’s pulse and that this one is fast and irregular. There atrial fibrillation can also be “paroxysmal” that’s to say non-permanent and occur by “crises”. Making the diagnosis under these conditions is not easy. I’essential examination to be carried out is the electrocardiogram (ECG) which makes it possible to highlight the anarchic contraction of the auricle. Sometimes, especially in paroxysmal AF, it is necessary wear a Holter-ECG which will record the heart rate over 24 hours.
What are the treatments for atrial fibrillation?
To treat cardiac arrhythmia due to atrial fibrillation, it is necessary to “on the one hand to fight against the formation of clots by taking daily either anticoagulants named vitamin K antagonists or New anti coagulants oral (NACO)” explains the general practitioner. On the other hand, regulate heart rate either via theuse of drugs to slow the rate of heart contractions, or by making it possible to inactivate the “sick” part of the auricle. This can be done with medication, but more often under general anesthesia by sending an electrical impulse to the heart using a defibrillator: this is the cardioversion.
Thanks to Dr Marc Druet, general practitioner.
Source: Atrial fibrillation care pathway guide, HAS, 2014.