Atrial Fibrillation
Does your heart ever skip a beat? We're not talking about the figurative, love story type of skipping. We're talking about the fast-beating, heart-pounding, skipping heartbeat. These palpitations could be a sign of an irregular heartbeat known as an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias occur when the heart's electrical signals malfunction, causing the heart to beat too slow, too fast or irregularly.
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
The most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AFib). During AFib, the electrical signals in the upper chamber of your heart (the atria) fail to coordinate pumping blood through to the lower part of the heart (the ventricles). When the timing of the contractions between these two parts is out of sync, your blood does not move well throughout your body. If blood pools inside your heart, blood clots can form and potentially cause a heart attack or stroke.
Symptoms of AFib
- Heart palpitations (fluttering, racing or flip-flopping sensation)
- Awareness of your heart beating, especially in an irregular or rapid fashion
- Chest pain, pressure or discomfort
- Fatigue or weakness
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Shortness of breath
AFib is more common in adults, and your risk for an arrhythmia increases if you're over the age of 65.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care
If you suddenly or frequently experience your heart noticeably skipping beats along with any of the other symptoms listed above, seek urgent medical care. If you are experiencing a rapid heartbeat, chest pain or signs of a medical emergency, call 911.
When to Talk with a Doctor
While it is important to know the symptoms of AFib, not all people experience symptoms. Sometimes, AFib is diagnosed through testing conducted during an annual wellness exam, well before a patient feels the "flutters." Discuss heart health with your doctor during your next wellness visit, and report any sensation that feels like an abnormal heartbeat.
Make sure you're taking your heart health seriously. Schedule an appointment today to talk to a doctor about AFib. If you don't have a physician, Woodland Heights Medical Center can help you find the right doctor, right now.
Alternative Treatment
Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is a procedure to keep harmful blood clots from the LAA from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke.
People with atrial fibrillation have a five times greater risk of stroke. Atrial fibrillation can cause blood to pool and form clots in the LAA. For patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, the LAA is believed to be the source of the majority of stroke-causing blood clots. If a clot forms in the LAA, it can increase one's risk of having a stroke. Blood clots can break loose and travel in the blood stream to the brain, lungs and other parts of the body.
In select patients, physicians may determine that an alternative to blood thinners, most often an LAAC implant, is needed to reduce AF stroke risk. LAAC is an implant-based alternative to blood thinners, and, like blood-thinning medications, does not cure AF or completely prevent the risk of stroke.
For more information about the implantable device, call (936) 637-8524.