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How can you tell if your heart is out of rhythm as in atrial fibrilation?
Sometimes an individual can feel their heart is not beating properly - they may feel faint or have an odd sensation in their chest. However, a heart arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation can only be diagnosed through a EKG.
Atrial fibrillation/flutter?
DefinitionAtrial fibrillation/flutter is a heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia). It usually involves a rapid heart rate that is not regular.Alternative NamesAuricular fibrillation; A-fibCauses, incidence, and risk factorsArrhythmias are caused by problems with the heart's normal electrical conduction system.Normally, the four chambers of the heart (two atria and two ventricles) contract (squeeze) in an orderly way. When this happens, your heart is able to pump the blood your body needs without working any harder than it needs to.The electrial impulse that signals your heart to contract begins in the sinoatrial node (also called the sinus node or SA node). This node is your heart's natural pacemaker.The signal leaves the SA node and travels through the two upper chambers (atria).Then the signal passes through another node (the AV node), and finally, through the lower chambers (ventricles).In atrial fibrillation, the electrical impulse of the heart is not regular. The atria are contracting very quickly and not in a regular pattern. This makes the ventricles beat abnormally, leading to an irregular (and usually fast) pulse. As a result, the heart may be working harder and may no longer be able to pump enough blood.In atrial flutter, the ventricles may beat very fast, but in a regular pattern.If the atrial fibrillation/flutter is part of a condition called sick sinus syndrome, the sinus node may not work properly. The heart rate may alternate between slow and fast. As a result, there may not be enough blood to meet the needs of the body.Atrial fibrillation can affect both men and women. It becomes more common with increasing age.Causes of atrial fibrillation include:Alcohol use (especially binge drinking)Congestive heart failureCoronary artery disease (especially after a heart attack or coronary artery bypasssurgery)Heart surgeryHigh blood pressure (hypertension)Hypertrophic cardiomyopathyMedicationsOveractive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)PericarditisValvular heart disease (especially mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation)SymptomsYou may not be aware that your heart is not beating in a normal pattern, especially if it has been occurring for some time.Symptoms may include:Pulse that feels rapid, racing, pounding, fluttering, or too slowPulse that feels regular or irregularSensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)Shortness of breathConfusionDizziness, light-headednessFaintingFatigueNote: Symptoms may begin or stop suddenly. This is because atrial fibrillation may stop or start on its own.Signs and testsThe health care provider may hear a fast heartbeat while listening to the heart with a stethoscope. The pulse may feel rapid, irregular, or both. The normal heart rate is 60 - 100, but in atrial fibrillation/flutter the heart rate may be 100 - 175. Blood pressure may be normal or low.An ECG shows atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Continuous ambulatory cardiac monitoring -- Holter monitor (24 hour test) -- may be necessary because the condition often occurs at some times but not others (sporadic).Tests to find underlying heart diseases may include:Coronary angiographyEchocardiogramElectrophysiologic study (EPS)Exercise treadmill ECGNuclear imaging testsTreatmentIn certain cases, atrial fibrillation may need emergency treatment to get the heart back into normal rhythm. This treatment may involve electrical cardioversion or intravenous (IV) drugs such as dofetilide, amiodarone, or ibutilide. Drugs are typically needed to keep the pulse from being too fast.Daily medications taken by mouth are used in two different ways:To slow the irregular heartbeat. These medications may include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digitalis.To keep atrial fibrillation from coming back. These medications may work well in many people, but they can have serious side effects. Many patients may go back to atrial fibrillation even while taking these medications.Blood thinners, such as heparin and warfarin (Coumadin) reduce the risk of a blood clot traveling in the body (such as a stroke). Because these drugs increase the chance of bleeding, not everyone will use them. Antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin or clopidogrel may also be prescribed. Your doctor will consider your age and other medical problems to decide which drug is best.A procedure called radiofrequency ablation can be used to destroy areas in your heart that may be causing your heart rhythm problems. Cardiac ablation procedures are done in a hospital laboratory by specially trained staff. Reasons why ablation may be done include:When medicines are not controlling the symptoms, or are causing side effectsWhen the condition will become dangerous if not treatedAs a possible cure for some patients with atrial flutterSome patients may need the radiofrequency ablation done directly on an area of the heart called the AV junction. Ablation of the AV junction leads to complete heart block. This condition needs to be treated with a permanent pacemaker.Expectations (prognosis)The disorder is usually controllable with treatment. Many people with atrial fibrillation do very well.Atrial fibrillation tends to become a chronic condition, however. It may come back even wtih treatment.ComplicationsFainting (syncope), if atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter cause the pulse to be too quick or slowHeart failureStroke, if clots break off and travel to the brain (drugs that thin the blood such as heparin and warfarin can reduce the risk)Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have symptoms of atrial fibrillation or flutter.PreventionFollow the health care provider's recommendations for treating underlying disorders. Avoid binge drinking.ReferencesLafuente-Lafuente C, Mahe I, Extramiana F. Management of atrial fibrillation. BMJ. 2009;b5216.Dobrev D, Nattel S. New antiarrhythmic drugs for treatment of atrial fibrillation. Lancet. 2010;375:1212-1223.Crandall MA, Bradley DJ, Packer DL, Asirvatham SJ. Contemporary management of atrial fibrillation: update on anticoagulation and invasive management strategies. Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84:643-662.Fuster V, Ryden LE, Cannom DS, Crijns HJ, Curtis AB, Ellenbogen KA, et al. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines; European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines; European Heart Rhythm Association; Heart Rhythm Society. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2006;114:e257-e354.Noheria A, Kumar A, Wylie JV Jr., Josephson ME. Catheter ablation vs. antiarrhythmic drug therapy for atrial fibrillation: a systematic review. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:581-586.
Is atrial fibrillation just your heart missing beats or what exactly does it involve?
It is a diagnosis given to patients who's hearts either beat too fast or too slow. It will feel like your heart is fluttering in your chest. It may also feel like your heart is racing too fast.
Can you conduct cardiac exercises while your heart rhythum is under atrial flutter?
I am a cardiac patient who has has open heart surgery in May 2006 and Pulmonary Vein Isolation Ablation in Jul 2008. My heart at the present time is in Atrial Flutter. I do poorly under the arrythmia. My question is can I safely exercise my heart on the treadmill or a weight training program while in the flutter. I feel tired almost immediately after starting the exercises which makes me suffer with chest discomfort. The only arrthmic drug that the doctors have prescribed is 200 mg a day of amiodarone. I used to take 400 mg a day and that kept me in sinus rhythum. Is it safe to exercise at the gym under this arrhymia. Thank you
What causes an erratic pulse rate?
causes of irregular pulse : Regularly irregular pulse : 1 sinus bradycardia 2 sinus tachycardia 3 paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia Irregularly irregular pulse: 1 atrial fibrillation 2 atrial flutter 3 ventricular premature beats 4 heart block 5 pacemaker dysfunction
What care should be taken if one is suffering from atrial fibrillation?
If a person is suffering from AF, proper care should be given to help them overcome any symptoms that may occur. Checking their blood pressure, monitoring their pulse, and asking a person how they feel can all be good ways to handle a person with AF.
What does it feel like to be floating?
There are several things these symptoms could represent, including atrial fibrillation or episodes of ventricular tachycardia. These could be symptoms of cardiac ischemia or an effect of a medication you are taking. I would recommend seeing your doctor for further evaluation.
Can you feel your stomach flutter when your 3 months pregnant?
If you can't tell for yourself, a pregnancy test can.
Why does your heart flutter when you yawn?
It should not "flutter" perhaps you just feel the tightening in your chest. It does increase thoracic pressure which your heart may be reacting to. If you are worried see a doctor and ask for a heart monitor that will record your heart when you yawn.
What does the root word palpit mean?
The root word "palpit" means to throb or pulsate with a rapid heartbeat. It is often used in medical terminology related to heart palpitations.
What is palpertations on left side of chest?
"palpitations" are any feeling (as in to palpate) , or anything you can feel. in this case if you are having fluttering feelings in your chest... it could be atrial fibrillation or any number of other heart arrhythmias or it could be nothing. Get it checked out by a Dr. if it occurs every day it will be easy to capture on an overnight heart monitor... if it only happens every few days etc, a 30 day event monitor would be more appropriate.
Heart Diseases and Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation doesn't necessarily produce any symptoms. Patients can be suffering from this irregular heartbeat condition and never know they have it. But there are some common symptoms that people will notice and when they do, they have a very important reason to visit their primary care physicians. One symptom is for patients to suddenly begin to experience a very fast heartbeat without having performed any particularly heavy exercise. They may also feel tired and as if they lack their normal amount of energy. These patients may also feel as if they are lightheaded or dizzy. They may have uncomfortable feelings within the chest area such as pressure, tightness or pain and may have difficulty breathing. The above symptoms can be related to other medical maladies but if the patient has other heart conditions, they may be associated with atrial fibrillation. Some of these conditions are hypertension, a hardening of the arteries, heart valve disease, a recent operation on the heart, have some form of lung disease, have heart failure, have been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, have congenital heart disease or a blood clot in the lungs. If patients have any of these conditions and have experienced the symptoms listed above, they will want to inform their doctors about it. People who have the above conditions can prevent the extra occurrence of atrial fibrillation if they begin to follow a healthy diet. The first thing they can do is increase the amount of fruits and vegetables they consume. They must be sure to eat foods low in salt such as whole grains and eat more foods that are high in fiber. They must not eat foods that are high in saturated fat such as fried chicken, cakes, pies, cookies, pretzels and potato chips. Eating healthier foods actively decrease people's blood pressure. It will be an impetus to lowering the patients' cholesterol. If patients keep their healthy habits going, it will also help them maintain their weight and they will be able to better control their diabetes if they have it. It just puts people in a healthier state altogether. Making the changes in their diets will help people with other heart issues to prevent the development of atrial fibrillation, but those who don't currently have these issues don't have to wait until they do to become healthier. Eating a heart healthy diet can help people avoid these heart problems in the first place, and they lower their chances of also contracting diabetes, having strokes or suffering heart attacks.
