By…Dr. Pariwat Pengkaew, cardiologist specializing in cardiac physiology, Vejthani Hospital
Easily tired, palpitations due to fast heartbeat may be at risk of AF, the most common type of arrhythmia Especially in other heart disease patients, and also increases the risk of complications from brain clots up to 5 times.
Atrial fibrillation or A-Fib (AF) is an abnormal contraction of the upper chambers of the heart. By making the heart beat fast and irregularly, the heart pumps less blood to different parts of the body. Without proper treatment, it can lead to a risk of heart attack. Including the risk of a blood clot dislodging to block cerebral arteries 5 times higher than the average person due to residual blood in atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most serious and common abnormality of the atrial electrical system of arrhythmias. which can cause patients to have an irregular heart rate of more than 350 beats per minute, often seen in the elderly. This can be caused by deterioration of the heart’s electrical system. or in patients with cardiovascular disease such as valvular heart disease leaky heart valve disease abnormal heart muscle disease pericarditis congenital heart disease Also, it can be found in patients with lung disease, emphysema, infection in blood stream, brain ischemia, poisoning of thyroid gland, etc.
The type of atrial fibrillation is divided into 5 types as follows:
• The first diagnosed atrial fibrillation is early stage atrial fibrillation.
• Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia that develops and returns to a normal rhythm within 24 hours, intermittently within a week.
• Persistent atrial fibrillation is atrial fibrillation that lasts more than 1 week to 1 year and can be reversed with drugs or defibrillation.
• Long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation is atrial fibrillation that continues for more than 1 year in which doctors and patients decide to restore the normal heart beat with an electric shock or drugs.
• Permanent atrial fibrillation is atrial fibrillation that continues for more than a year when the doctor and the patient decide not to try to get it back to normal.
Symptoms of AF often begin with fatigue, palpitations, irregular rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, fainting, dizziness, decreased activity, fainting, but the first symptoms may only last for a short time. as the disease progresses
If not treated promptly, the risk of complications from brain clots is 5 times higher than in normal people, since the upper chambers of the heart are responsible for direct blood supply to the brain. and three times the risk of heart failure compared to normal people
Diagnosing heart arrhythmias Your doctor will make a diagnosis by taking a history, physical exam, and electrocardiogram. (Electrocardiogram: ECG) 24-hour portable electrocardiogram (24-hour Holter monitoring) or you may need to use an electrocardiogram with cardiac catheterization. (Electrophysiological study), which method to check depends on the type and frequency of the patient’s symptoms.
To treat AF arrhythmia in mild cases Your doctor may recommend that you take medicines to control the electrical discharges of the heart’s electrical system. Or take heart control and fibrinolytic medications to prevent complications. which must be eaten for life
But in severe cases you either don’t want to take the drug for the rest of your life. The doctor will treat with therapeutic technology with catheterization and electrocardiographic ablation (EP study with radiofrequency ablation) by electrifying the radiofrequency in the problem area. which has a 90% chance of complete cure in patients with a recent medical history and normal heart structure. Thus, patients do not need to take medication for the rest of their lives.
