Atrial fibrillation or atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder. According to available statistics, approximately 1% of the population suffers from such a violation.
In a normal state, a nerve impulse rises rhythmically in the atria and they contract at a frequency of 60-90 beats per minute. With atrial fibrillation, many different impulses randomly appear in them, and the frequency of contractions is approximately 300-700 per minute. This disrupts the blood circulation process.
Features of the disease
Atrial fibrillation is a disturbance in the electrical conduction system of the heart muscle. The heart is a hollow muscle, consisting of 4 separate cavities. At its core, it is a pump that provides microcirculation of blood in the body and maintains blood pressure. To do this, it contracts rhythmically. Normal heart rate should fluctuate between 60-100 beats per minute.
Unlike other organs, the heart canwork without external control, since the sinus node generates impulses that provoke a contraction of the heart muscle. In the absence of such a command, the muscle fibers of the heart contract in a chaotic manner and completely out of sync. As a result, the efficiency of heart contractions decreases sharply and the pulse rate rises to 160-180 per minute. A similar pathological condition is called atrial fibrillation.
Main types of diseases
There are 3 different forms of atrial fibrillation, which are determined depending on the duration of the arrhythmia, namely:
- paroxysmal;
- constant;
- chronic.
The chronic form persists for a long time and is the main symptom of various pathologies of the heart muscle. The paroxysmal form of atrial fibrillation is characterized by the fact that arrhythmia is formed quite suddenly in a completely he althy person. It also goes away on its own without outside intervention for a maximum of a week. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation usually lasts 24-48 hours, but may last only a few minutes.
Persistent or persistent arrhythmia lasts mostly for a week and does not go away spontaneously. A permanent form of atrial fibrillation often requires specialized treatment. If spontaneous recovery of the heart rate does not resolve after 48 hours or more, medical therapy is required.
Causes of occurrence
The causes of atrial fibrillation can be the mostvarious. Among the predisposing factors, it is necessary to highlight such as:
- cardiosclerosis;
- heart attack and angina pectoris;
- rheumatism;
- heart defects;
- hypertension;
- myocarditis;
- cardiomyopathy.
Among the main factors provoking the occurrence of pathology, there may be idiopathic causes. This group includes all situations where it is not possible to determine the root cause that provokes the occurrence of such a problem. Problems can be triggered by certain medications, as well as stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and drug use.
Among the main causes are non-cardiac diseases, in particular, such as:
- thyroid disease;
- obesity;
- diabetes;
- respiratory diseases;
- hernia of the esophagus.
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation often develops in people who have had an acute form of heart attack. Among the main causes, sclerosis of the heart muscle can also be distinguished. In some cases, the pathology may be associated with pathologies in many other organs.
Main symptoms
Depending on the classification of atrial fibrillation, the symptoms can be very different. In the chronic form of the disorder, the disease can be completely asymptomatic. If signs are present, then they depend largely on the rate of contraction of the ventricle. If the contractions are up to 120 beats per minute, then the disease is asymptomatic, and morehigh rates provoke various kinds of signs, but they are not necessarily present all together. Among the main signs, one can distinguish such as:
- increased heart rate;
- severe weakness and fatigue;
- shortness of breath;
- uneven and rapid pulse;
- angina;
- cold sweat;
- sudden loss of consciousness;
- dizziness;
- heart failure.
When a persistent form occurs, the symptoms are not sufficiently pronounced. In this case, there may be signs associated with a violation of cardiac activity.
Tachysystolic form is characterized by rapid contraction of the ventricles. Most often, such a violation manifests itself in the form of a sensation of interruptions in the work of the heart. Symptoms largely depend on the underlying cause that provoked heart rhythm disturbances. With ischemia, there may be shortness of breath.
Other signs include feeling fearful and sweating. The duration of attacks can be from several hours to several weeks or more. Complaints disappear when sinus rhythm returns to normal.
If fibrillation is very often repeated, then such a pathology acquires a chronic course. Others rarely have seizures. They can be provoked by various kinds of external and internal factors, in particular, such as disruption of the functioning of the intestine, stress, alcohol abuse, a sharp change in climatic conditions.
In especially severe cases, there is a sudden loss of consciousness andfainting. During the next attack, the person blushes very much. Seizures continue for several minutes. With the constant flow of atrial fibrillation, a person stops making any complaints, and he does not even feel worse.
Such a cardiac pathology can become one of the main causes of very dangerous complications and even cardiac arrest is possible, which is why, when the first signs of a violation occur, it is imperative to carry out diagnostics and subsequent treatment.
Diagnostics
You need to know not only what the causes and signs of the pathology may be, it is important to understand how atrial fibrillation is diagnosed. The main diagnostic method is electrocardiography. It makes it possible to assess the state of individual chambers of the heart and the work of the entire organ as a whole. Other diagnostic methods include:
- patient survey;
- physical examination;
- daily monitoring;
- registration of physical activity in real time;
- echocardiography;
- carrying out various kinds of functional tests with load;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- CT scan.
In some cases, a transesophageal examination is performed. The flow of fibrillation can be detected already during the assessment of the pulse. It becomes disordered. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe a study of the vascular system. For thiscoronary angiography is indicated. Laboratory techniques include blood testing.
Providing treatment
Treatment of atrial fibrillation is predominantly medical. With the course of a permanent form of arrhythmia, medications must be taken throughout life. This allows you to maintain a normal rhythm and heart function.
Treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is carried out by conservative methods. In some cases, therapy is carried out in stages. Initial preparation is required. For fibrillation lasting less than 2 days, heparin-based drugs are used. If the attack continues for more than 2 days, the drug "Warfarin Nycomed" is used. The drug is prescribed before and after the normalization of the heart rate.
It is worth noting that all medications have strict indications and contraindications, which is why only a doctor who selects the dosage should prescribe them. The attack is recommended to stop in the first 2 days. Restoring the correct heart rhythm can be electrical. In this case, a discharge is passed through a person. Such treatment is carried out only in case of failure of drug therapy.
In the chronic form of atrial fibrillation, treatment is carried out with the use of anticoagulants, calcium channel blockers, cardiac glycosides, adrenoblockers. In severe cases, radical treatment is required. The most effective is RF isolation. In some casesablation is performed. With complete heart block, patients are shown the installation of a pacemaker. Catheter surgeries are being successfully carried out.
Drug therapy
Treatment of atrial fibrillation involves the use of drug therapy. Antiarrhythmic therapy is carried out, in particular, such as Amiodarone or Propafenone. If it is not possible to restore a normal heart rhythm, then it is necessary to carry out atrial fibrillation to the normoform. For this, calcium antagonists, beta-blockers, cardiac glycosides and many other drugs are used.
Beta-blockers are prescribed to control the functioning of the heart muscle and blood pressure. They help to increase life expectancy in the presence of heart failure. Among the contraindications for the use of these drugs, it is necessary to highlight the presence of bronchial asthma.
To reduce the risk of blood clots, blood thinners are prescribed. In particular, they may prescribe direct anticoagulants, such as Fraxiparin, Heparin, Fondaparinux, and indirect anticoagulants, in particular, such as Warfarin.
In the presence of atrial fibrillation, the doctor's recommendations must be followed very strictly, since various kinds of violations can provoke dangerous complications. The complex of therapy implies the normalization of metabolic processes. For this, funds are prescribed that improve metabolic processes and nutrition in the heart muscle. These drugs have a cardioprotective effect.
Folk techniques
There ismany different traditional medicines for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, however, they can be used only after consulting a doctor. Alternative methods can only be used in combination with drug therapy. A fairly good result can be obtained by using hawthorn with motherwort and wild rose. Take the finished product 3 times a day before meals.
Yarrow is good for the heart. To do this, you need to carefully grind the plant, pour it into a glass bottle and pour alcohol. Close the container tightly and leave in a cool place to infuse for a week. You need to take it three times a day. Lemon will help in the treatment. To do this, grind the peel of two fruits and mix in equal proportions with honey. Refrigerate and leave to infuse, then take the medicine daily at bedtime.
Grapefruit can be used as a healing agent. To do this, combine the juice of half of this fruit with 15 ml of olive oil. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and take immediately. For treatment, you can mix equal amounts of figs, raisins, walnuts and honey. You need to take the resulting remedy twice a day. Very good help for the heart infusion of calendula, which must be taken daily.
Features of food
In addition to the use of medications and folk methods, it is imperative to organize proper nutrition. A competent, balanced diet is not only a good prevention of arrhythmia, but also a very provenway to prevent the progression of the disease. Microelements such as potassium, magnesium, calcium must be present in the diet, since without these substances the heart muscle cannot function normally.
People with fibrillation are advised to consume food in small portions, at least 5 times a day. In addition, it is advisable to minimize fluid intake and eat only warm food. It is recommended to eat as many fresh berries, vegetables and fruits as possible. It is strictly forbidden to consume fatty meat, eggs, caffeinated drinks, fatty, s alty, fried, spicy foods.
Possible Complications
Patients with atrial fibrillation need to be very attentive to their he alth, as they are at risk of developing a heart attack and stroke. The mechanism of damage is characterized by the fact that during the course of atrial fibrillation it is impossible to fully reduce them, which is why blood stagnates in the parietal space and blood clots form.
If such a blood clot enters the aorta and other smaller arteries with blood flow, then thromboembolism occurs. The cessation of blood supply provokes the development of a heart attack of this organ. The most common complications are:
- thromboembolism and stroke;
- heart failure;
- cardiogenic shock;
- dilated cardiomyopathy.
Atrial flutter and fibrillation can exacerbate signs of circulatory failure,up to asthma attacks and pulmonary edema. In some cases, fibrillation can lead to a cardiogenic condition and cardiac arrest.
Forecast and prevention
Patients with attacks of fibrillation are much more likely to die from diseases of the cardiovascular system than people without similar pathology. If vascular thrombosis occurs, the prognosis worsens significantly. Properly selected medication and the installation of a pacemaker can significantly improve the quality of life and increase the duration.
The risks of developing fibrillation can be significantly reduced if the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system is carried out in a timely manner, lead a he althy lifestyle, and exercise sufficient physical activity. In addition, be sure to control your weight and eat right.
