Atrial Fibrillation Treatment in Delhi, India

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a type of arrhythmia, causing an irregular and often rapid heartbeat. This condition can lead to blood clots in the heart and raises the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other serious heart-related issues.

Atrial Fibrillation Causes

Atrial fibrillation has no known exact cause, but it has been linked to several diseases, including:

• Heart valve abnormalities, particularly the mitral valve
• Cardiomyopathy - A disease of the heart muscle.
• Ischemia - A condition in which blood flow to the heart is reduced.
• Hypertension
• Hypertrophy - An enlarged heart chamber
• Surgery on the heart (open-heart surgery)
• Pulmonary embolism - A blood clot in a pulmonary blood artery.
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a disorder in which the amount of oxygen in the blood decreases.
• Hyperthyroidism - An overactive thyroid gland.
• Pericarditis - A condition in which the pericardium-the sac-like covering around the heart becomes inflamed.
• Infections caused by viruses, such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS), Covid-19, and others.
• Lifestyle causes - This can include drinking too much alcohol, smoking, drinking too much caffeine, taking specific prescriptions like diet pills or cold meds, etc.

Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms

• Heart palpitations (a racing or pounding feeling in your chest).
• Reduced ability to exercise due to weakness, lack of energy, or feeling overtired
• Lightheadedness or faintness.
• Shortness of breath - having trouble breathing throughout everyday activities and even at rest.
• Discomfort in the chest—a sensation of pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest.

Stages of Atrial Fibrillation

Different stages/types of atrial fibrillation are-

• Occasional atrial fibrillation - In it, atrial fibrillation occurs from time to time. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is another name for it, and it can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. The signs and symptoms may fade away on their own.
• Persistent atrial fibrillation - Atrial fibrillation that persists. The heart rhythm does not return to normal on its own. To restore and maintain a normal cardiac rhythm, the person may require cardioversion or pharmaceutical treatment.
• Long-standing persistent - It persists for a long time. It is ongoing and lasts for more than a year.
• Permanent - The abnormal heartbeat cannot be corrected in this type of atrial fibrillation. Medications are required to keep the heart rate under control and prevent blood clots.

Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis

The most commonly used tests to diagnose atrial fibrillation are:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
• Echocardiogram
• Electrophysiology (EP) studies
• Holter monitors
• Stress test
• Chest X-ray

Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

Your doctor will choose the best treatment for you based on the kind and severity of your arrhythmia. The following are examples of treatments:

Medications

Specific medications to help you calm down your heart rate. Heart rhythm drugs (also known as chemical cardioversion) reduce electrical signals to return your heartbeat into a normal sinus rhythm and help prevent stroke.

Electrical cardioversion

An electric current shocks the heart into a regular sinus rhythm.

Catheter ablation

In Catheter ablation, a thin metal-tipped wire catheter is threaded through a vein in the leg and the heart. The electricity is sent through these small wires to kill the little patches of heart tissue that cause atrial fibrillation.

Pacemaker

A pacemaker is a tiny device inserted beneath the skin beneath the collarbone. It is used to treat irregular heartbeats.

Biventricular pacemaker

Biventricular pacemaker is a novel pacemaker that coordinates the contractions of both ventricles of the heart and improves pumping ability.

Risk Factors of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is more likely to develop if you have any of the following risk factors:

• Hypertension - Long-term, uncontrolled high blood pressure can raise the chance of atrial fibrillation or fibrillation.
• Heart diseases - such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, heart muscle disease, and heart infection are underlying heart disorders. Prior heart attack, past heart surgery, Wolf-white Parkinson's syndrome, etc.
• Family history of atrial fibrillation - If you have a relative with this problem, you are more likely to get it.
• Sleep apnea, or sleep disorder, is a condition in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly.
• Other chronic illnesses - People with diabetes, asthma, thyroid disease, and other chronic conditions also risk developing atrial fibrillation.

Possible Complications of Atrial Fibrillation

The most serious side effect of AF is an increased risk of stroke. AF causes turbulent blood flow in the heart chambers. A tiny blood clot can form in the heart chamber due to this. Other consequences include heart failure, heart muscle weakness (dilated cardiomyopathy), angina or chest pain intensifying, etc.

Atrial Fibrillation Preventions

Primary Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation

Basic preventive strategies that can help prevent atrial fibrillation (or A-fib) are -

• Give up smoking
• Eat a diet rich in plant-based foods, fruits, and vegetables, and low in saturated fats.
• Physically active & maintaining a healthy weight. If you are obese or overweight, try to keep a normal weight. Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine
• Blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels should all be kept at a safe level.
• Increase your physical activity by exercising every day.

Secondary Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation

A preventative therapy used to prevent the re-occurrence of the Atrial fibrillation includes -

• Take your prescriptions regularly, and make sure you follow the surgeon's medication and dietary recommendations.
• Keep a symptom diary. Write down any quivering episodes you have and the time and other symptoms you are experiencing.
• Recognize Triggering Variables. Make a list of potential triggering factors for an irregular heartbeat, such as stress, caffeine, and alcohol. It is possible to avoid these triggers if you are aware of them.

Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation

The prevalence of AF in the general population rises with age, from 0.12–0.16 per cent in those under 49 years old to 1.7–4.0 per cent in those 60–70 years old and as high as 13.5–17.8 per cent in those over 80 years old. AF incidence and prevalence are larger among men and women who are older at the time of AF diagnosis. They have a larger risk for AF-associated adverse outcomes such as morality and stroke. Based on findings from epidemiological research, males with a higher BMI appear to have a higher risk of AF.

Natural Progression of Atrial Fibrillation

Although atrial fibrillation is rarely fatal initially, it does reduce the efficiency with which your heart pumps blood. This can result in a blood clot forming in your heart. A stroke could occur if the clot breaks loose. Atrial fibrillation can cause a fast heartbeat if left untreated. The duration and frequency of AF paroxysms generally increase over time, and many patients eventually develop permanent AF.

Pathophysiology of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is classified as “typical” or “atypical” depending on the location of the short circuit (the pathway that allows the electrical signal to move too fast around the heart)

• The right atrium is where typical atrial fibrillation occurs.
• Atrial fibrillation that originates in the left atrium is known as a typical atrial fibrillation.

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