| Abnormal heart rhythm or cardiac arrhythmia is most | | | | across the heart as it needs to in order to trigger the |
| commonly caused by atrial fibrillation: atrial fibrillation | | | | contraction of the muscles. Disruption is frequently |
| involves the two larger, upper chambers of the heart | | | | caused by the electrical signal being drowned out by |
| and fibrillation is the medical term used to describe | | | | electrical impulses generated elsewhere by the atria or |
| "quivering" of the affected muscles of the heart. | | | | by the pulmonary system. This creates the arrhythmia |
| Before we take a more detailed look at atrial fibrillation, | | | | or irregular heartbeat and an episode may last for a |
| we must first understand a little about the structure of | | | | few moments or for an extended period of time, |
| the heart to better understand what is happening with | | | | sometimes for years until it is detected. |
| this condition and how we treat it. | | | | Fortunately, a-fib is not usually life threatening but a |
| The heart is composed of four chambers; as we have | | | | range of symptoms may present themselves and are |
| already said, the two larger chambers, known as atria, | | | | not generally pleasant - fainting, palpitations, pain in the |
| sit on top of two smaller chambers known as | | | | chest or more seriously, congestive heart failure. |
| ventricles and each atrium is connected to the lower | | | | Having atrial fibrillation will lead to a higher risk for other |
| ventricle. The atrium's job is to take in blood after it has | | | | illnesses such as strokes due to blood clots forming |
| passed through the lungs and which is then rich in | | | | from the blood which pools in the atrium due not being |
| oxygen waiting to be delivered to the rest of the body. | | | | transferred fully to the ventricle. In general, those with |
| The atrium then contracts to force this blood into the | | | | atrial fibrillation are seven times more likely to suffer a |
| lower ventricle. The ventricle is smaller than the atrium | | | | stroke than the general population but other risk |
| but much more powerful and when it contracts, this | | | | factors also need to be taken into account. |
| forces the blood out of the heart and around the body | | | | Treatment for atrial fibrillation includes medication used |
| under pressure. | | | | to slow or regulate the beat of the heart while a pace |
| It is the double contraction of the atria followed by the | | | | maker may be fitted to ensure the electrical signal |
| ventricles which forms the typical heart beat we hear | | | | used to regulate the contractions allows for |
| as a double thud - "duh-dum". | | | | coordinated contractions. Surgery may be performed |
| With a-fib, the regular double-beat becomes | | | | to prevent atrial fib from recurring which may be minor |
| uncoordinated and this leads to blood not being | | | | (inserting a catheter) or major if the heart or electrical |
| transferred to the ventricles when it is supposed to - | | | | generation is significantly damaged. Those with atrial fib |
| the blood literally misses the beat of the heart. | | | | are frequently treated with anti-coagulants such as |
| The actual cause is usually that the electrical signal | | | | Warfarin to reduce the risk of blood clotting which |
| which coordinates the heart is disrupted or not passing | | | | causes strokes. |