Violations of the normal functioning of cardiac activity is an urgent problem throughout the world. Most often they develop in old age, but can also occur in young people and children. As is known from statistics, pathologies of the cardiovascular system are one of the main causes of death. Therefore, doctors around the world are looking for new methods of preventing such diseases. It is also important to help slow down the development of the disease and maintain the compensation of the condition for as long as possible.
In recent years, to detect cardiac pathologies, a screening study is carried out on the entire adult population, regardless of age. On an outpatient basis, each patient performs electrocardiography (ECG) with a frequency of 1 time per year in the absence of complaints. If heart disease is detected, a person is registered, and all studies are carried out more often, treatment is prescribed. Often, patients have atrial fibrillation on the ECG. A synonym for this condition is atrial fibrillation.
What is atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation - one ECGof the most common types of arrhythmias. According to statistics, it occurs in 1-2% of the population. To a greater extent, this rhythm disturbance affects people aged 40 and older. Sometimes atrial fibrillation is asymptomatic, and the patient does not know about the presence of pathology. In some cases, atrial fibrillation is so pronounced that urgent hospitalization of the patient and urgent measures are required. The course of the pathology depends on its form and the general condition of the patient. Atrial fibrillation (fibrillation) occurs due to increased excitability of the atrial tissue. As a result, chaotic pathological contractions appear. Most often, atrial fibrillation is combined with other cardiac pathologies.
Normal ECG: description and interpretation
Electrocardiography is the main method for diagnosing heart disease. It is performed with suspicion of ischemia, myocardial infarction, various arrhythmias and other cardiac pathologies. The ECG method is based on recording potentials from the surface of the heart. Thanks to the assessment of electrical activity, one can judge the state of various parts of the myocardium. A normal ECG is observed in he althy people. In addition, there are a number of pathologies that are not detected by electrocardiography. Nevertheless, the majority of diseases are recorded on the ECG. A doctor of any speci alty can describe the results of this examination, however, it is recommended that cardiologists perform the decoding.
ECG is a horizontal line with teeth and intervals. Exist12 leads, from the surface of which electrical impulses are received. The p wave on the ECG is responsible for atrial excitation. After it, a small P-Q interval is recorded. It characterizes the excitation coverage of the interatrial septum. Next is the QRS complex. It is characterized by electrical excitation of the ventricles. It is followed by the relaxation time of the heart muscle - repolarization. It consists of the ST interval and the T wave. Normally, each ECG element should have a certain width (time) and height (amplitude). Changes in at least one indicator in lead 1 indicate pathology.
What does atrial fibrillation look like on an ECG?
Atrial fibrillation is a pathological condition in which extraordinary chaotic excitations of the myocardium occur. In this case, a violation of the normal rhythm occurs. Atrial fibrillation on the ECG is characterized by a change in the P waves, f-waves appear instead (they are located between the QRS complexes in large numbers), while the normal P wave should be 1 before each excitation of the ventricles. In addition, with fibrillation, a violation of the normal rhythm of the heart is observed. This is reflected on the ECG by the fact that the distances between R-R in one lead are not the same in width (time).
Distinguishing fibrillation from atrial flutter
In addition to fibrillation, there is such a rhythm disturbance as atrial flutter. On the ECG, these 2 pathologies differ from each other. Atrial flutter (AF) is a pathological condition in which there is a significant increase inheart rate (200-400 beats per minute). It usually occurs in the form of sudden attacks - paroxysms. TP is characterized by sudden development and independent termination. It refers to the varieties of supraventricular tachycardia. With the development of an attack, the patient needs to provide emergency care. Atrial flutter on the ECG differs from fibrillation in that pathological excitations have a higher frequency and amplitude (F-waves). In this case, the heart rhythm remains correct. The distances between R-R are the same.
Atrial fibrillation symptoms
There are 3 forms of atrial fibrillation. They differ in heart rate. Highlight:
- Tachysystolic form. Heart rate is over 90 beats per minute.
- Normosystolic form. Heart rate fluctuates between 60 and 90 beats per minute.
- Bradisystolic form. Occurs less frequently than others. Heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute.
Signs of atrial fibrillation depend on how impaired ventricular function is. With paroxysm of atrial fibrillation, there is a sudden increase in heart rate, palpitations, trembling and increased sweating, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness. With severe tachycardia, loss of consciousness, the development of stroke, myocardial infarction are possible. A large number of people have a normosystolic form of atrial fibrillation. Clinical symptoms are most often absent.
Atrial fibrillation treatment
Although often asymptomatic, atrial fibrillation increases the risk of blood clots and myocardial infarction. Therefore, with atrial fibrillation, antiplatelet agents are prescribed. Among them are the preparations "Aspirin-cardio", "Tromboass". To correct the heart rate during tachycardia, antiarrhythmic drugs are prescribed. Most often these are medicines "Coronal", "Metoprolol", "Amiodarone". For persistent atrial fibrillation, surgical treatment is recommended.
