Call to action on Atrial Fibrillation

Submitted by Kelly Galler on Thu, 2010-04-22 12:32

I recently learned about a program whose purpose is to improve awareness, understanding and management of an electrical heart condition called Atrial Fibrillation.

AF Stat™: A Call to Action for Atrial Fibrillation, is a collaboration of healthcare leaders and organizations working to improve the health and well-being of people affected by atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Here are some highlights of information regarding atrial fibrillation from their website: www.afstat.com Please feel free to click on this link to get more detailed information.

Atrial fibrillation (also known as AFib or AF) is a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart beat in an uncoordinated and disorganized fashion, resulting in a very irregular and fast rhythm. Approximately 2.5 million Americans have afib.

Types of afib:

Paroxysmal AFib – begins suddenly and then stop on their own. Symptoms can be mild or severe and last for seconds, minutes, hours, or days.
Persistent AFib - continues until it’s stopped with treatment
Permanent AFib - normal heart rhythm can’t be restored with the usual treatments.

Symptoms may include:

Tiredness or fatigue
Feeling of overall weakness
Palpitations (rapid, irregular, “flopping” movement or pounding sensation in the chest/neck)
Irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Difficulty breathing
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Chest pain or discomfort
Heart failure

There is an increased risk of mortality when you have afib and it also increases your risk of having a stroke. A physical exam and EKG are the best ways to have this condition diagnosed. So if you are having concerns, please see your provider right away.

Possible Treatments: