Atrial fibrillation is commonly known as irregular heartbeat which can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other similar heart complications. In general it is not life threatening. But due to lack of attention or timely treatment, the above-mentioned complications may have to be faced. Therefore it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately. It is mostly found in people above 65 years of age, although it can affect people of any age group.


What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?


  • rapid heartbeat
  • shortness of breath
  • weakness
  • weakening of stamina
  • Dizziness or darkness before the eyes
  • Pain in chest

What are the Different Types of Atrial Fibrillation?


  1. Untimely – Symptoms may appear for a few minutes to a few hours to weeks.
  2. Permanent – ​​The symptoms are persistent and require treatment to return to normal.
  3. Long lasting– Its symptoms can last for more than 12 months.
  4. Temporary – Normal heart rhythm cannot be restored and medication is needed to control heart rate and blood clotting.

What are the causes of atrial fibrillation?


  • Defective heart function due to disordered electrical signals
  • increase in blood pressure
  • heart attack
  • coronary artery disease
  • abnormal heart valve
  • Congenital heart defects such as mitral valve regurgitation
  • an overactive thyroid gland or other metabolic disorder
  • Exposure to stimulants such as certain drugs, caffeine, tobacco, or alcohol
  • Sick sinus syndrome – failure of the heart's natural pacemaker
  • lung disease
  • prior heart surgery
  • viral infections
  • stress due to surgery, pneumonia, or other illnesses
  • Insomnia

What is the risk associated with atrial fibrillation?


  • all of the above
  • age
  • Diabetes
  • excessive alcohol consumption
  • obesity
  • Family history related to AF

What are the complications associated with atrial fibrillation?


  1. Stroke – The natural flow of blood is affected due to the disturbed rhythm of blood, due to which blood gets deposited in the upper chamber of the heart. Frozen blood leads to the formation of clots that can enter an artery supplying blood to the brain, causing a stroke.
  2. Heart failure – The heart becomes weak due to aggregation of blood, so that it is unable to transport blood throughout the body, thus ultimately it causes heart failure.

What are the Different Ways to Prevent Atrial Fibrillation?


  • eat healthy and well
  • avoid smoking
  • improve physical activity
  • maintain weight
  • Avoid excessive caffeine
  • limit alcohol consumption
  • reduce stress
  • Control over the counter medication (especially cold and cough medicine)

How to diagnose atrial fibrillation?


  1. ECG – The electrocardiogram is attached to your chest via leads. Continuous monitoring and recording of ECG is done through Holter – Portable Pocket
  2. Event recorder – Like the Holter it records heart signals, when a person experiences any of the symptoms described above, he presses a button that records it which can be used to evaluate the ECG at the time of symptoms. can be done for.
  3. Echocardiogram – A hand-held device that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart. It can be inserted into your neck to detect structural heart disease and blood clots.
  4. Stress Test – TMT or Treadmill Mill Test to take ECG while running.
  5. Chest X-ray – to look for cardiomegaly, mainly differential diagnosis.
  6. Blood test – to diagnose underlying problem like hyperthyroidism.

What are the Different Treatment Methods for Atrial Fibrillation?


Conservative management depends on the underlying cause:

  1. Electrical cardio version – After giving mild sedative medication, an electric shock is given via a paddle or patch. This causes your heart's electrical activity to stop and reset.
  2. Cardio version with drugs – Anti-arrhythmic medication with heart rate monitoring. It is a supplement along with blood thinning drugs. Heart rate control medications such as calcium channel blockers, beta blockers. Blood thinning treatment. Surgical Management:
  3. Catheter ablation – The catheter is guided from the leg to the heart with a tip, with radio waves or cold or hot waves hitting the arrhythmia tissue.
  4. Maze procedure – scalpel/radio waves or cryotherapy to stop atrial fibrillation.
  5. Atrioventricular (AV) node ablation – insertion of pacemakers into the lower chambers after ablation of the AV node.
  6. Left atrial appendage closure – catheter from the leg to the heart to prevent blood clots.

  • Lifestyle Changes:
  • quit smoking
  • be physically active
  • lose weight
  • Take your BP or other medicine on time
  • limit alcohol consumption
  • Diet Therapy:
  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
  • eat less meat or not eat
  • Reduce Vitamin K Intake