Atrial Fibrillation - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

It is proved that every third person who applied to ambulance doctors because of pain in the heart, goes to the hospital with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Normally, a person's heart beats with a certain speed, consistency and rhythm. The heart of a healthy person beats from 60 to 90 beats per minute. At the same time between the characteristic shocks passes the same period of time. Atrial fibrillation is called atrial fibrillation. Fibrillation is shaking, shaking, flickering. Atrial malfunction is dangerous not only by its manifestation, but also by complications. In this article you will learn about atrial fibrillation, its symptoms, causes of development, methods of treatment - both medication and home.Let's try to understand everything in order.

How is atrial fibrillation manifested

People who have experienced an arrhythmia attack are likely to be able to distinguish it from other cardiac pathologies. If you encounter an arrhythmia for the first time, we will tell you about the main symptoms of this disease.

1. The very first manifestation of atrial fibrillation is pain in the left side of the chest. The pain can be of any nature - acute, aching, oppressive, cutting. Quite often, patients describe pain as a burning sensation, turning into strong pressure. You can distinguish atrial fibrillation from stroke and other pathologies by location. In stroke and heart attack, pain often spreads to the area of ​​the stomach, arm, etc. With arrhythmia, pain is localized clearly in the chest, does not affect other organs.
2. Another sign of arrhythmia is severe shortness of breath. During the onset of an attack, the person begins to breathe heavily, and breathing is accompanied by pain, especially while inhaling. Pain may increase with movement. In some cases, with a rapid heartbeat, a person may experience a brief apnea for 5-6 seconds. If you experience these symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, otherwise it may result in heart failure.Respiratory impairment and shortness of breath may not be associated with physical exertion, breathing may be increased even during sleep.
3. Arrhythmia may be accompanied by cramps in the limbs, especially the calf muscles. Often this manifests itself after a long stay in a state of rest - during waking up or when rising to his feet after sitting.
4. Often the attack is accompanied by tremor - a person can shake hands, legs, head. This happens both during rest and in a state of movement, when the patient can reach out for a cup or other object and see how much the brush is shaking.
5. Due to the fact that during an attack, the heart surpasses the body with an insufficient amount of blood and makes it confused, the limbs do not receive adequate nutrition. Because of this, seizures are often accompanied by tingling in the limbs, numbness. For the same reason, muscular activity decreases, a person simply cannot hold an object in his hands, it becomes difficult for him to stand on his feet, etc.
6. Increased sweating is another sign of the development of atrial fibrillation. A person sweats more than usual during an attack, even if he is at rest.In the rest of the period, copious sweat may be observed with a slight load - physical or emotional.
7. Doctors note that patients with atrial fibrillation emit more urine per day. Urination becomes frequent and abundant. This is due to dehydration, lack of potassium, and also due to the large amount of fluid consumed. A person with atrial fibrillation wants to drink constantly, the patient experiences a feeling of dryness in the mouth.
8. Often the problem is reflected in the psychological state of the patient. The patient has a completely natural feeling of fear for his own life. Disorders appear at the level of neurology - the patient can become irritable, apathetic, he is tormented by panic attacks.
9. If the disease has gone far, attacks of arrhythmia may be accompanied by dizziness, loss of consciousness, etc. The pre-unconscious state is determined by the characteristic pallor of the face.
10. When listening to the heart rhythm is determined by its "flicker." That is, the beats occur at different intervals of time, the heart then beats hard, then slows down, sometimes the beats are not bugged for a few seconds.
11. Often the attack is accompanied by pulsation of the veins in the neck of the patient.

Atrial fibrillation is really very dangerous. The disease can be sluggish, manifest minor signs throughout life. It so happens that the patient himself does not feel the symptoms, and the diagnosis is found during an ordinary medical examination. The risk of atrial fibrillation lies in its consequences. If the disease is not treated in time, it can lead to heart attack, stroke, ischemia and cardiac arrest. But where does this disease come from?

Causes of Atrial Fibrillation

Most often, arrhythmia is a consequence of other diseases of the cardiovascular system. Arrhythmia often accompanies various heart defects, coronary heart disease, weak sinus syndrome, hypertension. The normal functioning of the heart is impaired in diabetes mellitus, as well as in the absence of potassium and magnesium in the body. The risk of developing atrial fibrillation is enhanced in the following cases.

1. With alcohol intoxication. Moreover, the heart loses its normal rhythm during acute intoxication, as well as with the constant effect of alcohol on the human body (hard drinking).
2. Exercise can also cause an arrhythmia attack. We are talking about cases when a person starts to run, walk fast, lift weights, etc. That is, if the load does not match the age or physical fitness.
3. Atrial fibrillation can develop in a patient who is constantly in a state of emotional distress. Depression, stress, tension over and over again deplete the nervous system, which necessarily affects heart health.
4. Excess body weight contributes to the deterioration of the elasticity of blood vessels, the formation of cholesterol plaques, etc. Overweight is another risk factor, you must get rid of it.
5. Frequent consumption of coffee and strong black tea raises the level of blood pressure, which often ends with an attack of arrhythmia.
6. A single episode of arrhythmia can be a consequence of severe fright, sudden stress and over-stimulation.
7. Another risk factor is low motor activity. If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle, does not experience physical exertion, the muscles of his heart weaken, become decrepit and unable to pump blood properly.
8. Arrhythmia can develop as a result of taking certain medications that violate the body's electrolytic balance. The attack can be caused by diuretic drugs, the introduction of hormones in the body, atropine, adrenaline.

Arrhythmia is usually diagnosed with an electrocardiogram. The results of the examination tell the doctor about the unusually large intervals between the ventricular complexes, arrhythmic strokes. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe a daily ECG, which will help determine the duration and frequency of attacks. In some cases, an ECG is performed on the background of physical activity to determine the endurance of the body, the time it takes to restore the heart rate. Ultrasound of the heart will help to identify obvious changes in the structure and size of the body, the presence of defects or blood clots.

Drug treatment of atrial fibrillation

To cure arrhythmia completely almost impossible. Drug therapy is aimed at restoring and maintaining a healthy heart rhythm, eliminating provoking factors and preventing new attacks. Treatment is usually prescribed as follows.

1. Preparations for the normalization of heart rhythm - Anaprilin, Atenolol, Carvedilol, Nebilet, etc. They also help lower blood pressure.
2. Drugs that remove the excitability of the heart fibers, stabilize the heart rate - Quinidine, Cordarone, Allapinin.
3. To improve the work of the myocardium, glycosides will help to make beats more rhythmic. Among them are Celanid, Korglikon, Digoxin.
4. It is obligatory to take drugs that thin the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots. These are CardioMagnil, Aspirin Cardio, TromboAss, etc.

When an attack of atrial fibrillation develops, an ambulance team must be called in as soon as possible. While doctors go on call, you can use the following techniques. Artificially induce vomiting, pressing on the root of the tongue, intentionally begin to cough, hold the air for a few seconds, immerse your face in cold water, and press on the eyeballs closed for centuries. Such techniques will help to stimulate the nerve endings and to normalize the work of the heart muscle for a while.

When a patient goes to a doctor, a specialist diagnoses atrial fibrillation and decides on the intravenous administration of the above.drugs. If the drug treatment does not give the expected result, electrical cardioversion is prescribed. This is an instantaneous impulse that is performed under general anesthesia with a defibrillator. An electrical charge leads to spasm and contraction of the myocardium, which begins to function again. After stopping the attack, the patient is necessarily prescribed treatment, which the patient must follow for a long time or the whole life.

If drug treatment does not completely stop the attacks, surgical intervention is carried out. A catheter radiofrequency ablation is the insertion of a special catheter through the peripheral pulmonary vein and cauterization with the laser of too active cardiac muscles. That is, the focus of excitation is simply neutralized, thanks to which the rhythm returns to normal. Another way to restore a healthy heart rhythm is to install a pacemaker. It is a tiny device that sets its rhythm to the atria and ventricles when the normal heart rhythm is lost. That is, the cardiac pacemaker does not work constantly, but only in pathological situations. These are the main treatments for atrial fibrillation.However, remember to prescribe a drug and the dose should only be a doctor, based on the specific situation. In no case do not rely on the experience of a neighbor with supposedly similar symptoms. The same medicine can be useful and dangerous in various diseases with similar symptoms.

How to treat atrial fibrillation at home

Of course, no one speaks about the full-fledged treatment of arrhythmia alone - only a doctor should be engaged in diagnosis and prescribe drug therapy. However, there are some rules and recommendations regarding lifestyle that will help you reduce the number and intensity of seizures.

1. It is necessary to change the eating habits and go on a healthy diet. Consume more fruits and vegetables, eat cereals, lean meat, dairy products. Exclude from the diet all fat, fried, smoked. Limit salt and animal fat intake to reduce cholesterol risk.
2. A small amount of magnesium and potassium can also trigger the development of an attack of atrial fibrillation. These are the most essential trace elements for heart health.They are found in greens, leafy salads, cabbage, eggplants, spinach, zucchini, tomato. For heart health, nuts, white beans, river fish, dried fruits (especially dried apricots), liver of cod fish, etc. are useful.
3. If for some reason microelements are not absorbed, it is worth talking with your doctor about taking the vitamin complex in pills. One capsule contains the required daily amount of magnesium and potassium. Among the popular heart vitamins can be noted Panangin, Asparkam.
4. Avoid alcohol, coffee and strong black tea, exclude drugs and cigarettes. Poisoning toxins are very detrimental to the health of the heart muscle.
5. Be sure to do light exercise every day that your doctor prescribes. The simplest, but most effective in treating the heart is walking. In no case do not perform the exercises at the limit of their capabilities. You need to walk slowly, measuredly, at a comfortable pace for you.
6. Try not to be nervous, no matter how hard it is. Often the situation cannot change from our nervous experiences. So why bring yourself to a frenzy if you can't influence it? Try to avoid conflicts, do not engage in controversy with people who are unpleasant to you, change your nervous work to a calmer one.Well, let it be that it will not be so highly paid, there is still nothing more expensive than health!
7. If you have excess weight, try to get rid of it. To do this, reduce portions, eat often, reduce calorie foods, move more.
8. In no case do not take medications without a doctor's prescription, they can also cause an attack.
9. To improve the work of the heart muscle, you can use the recipes of traditional medicine. A decoction of the berries of dried or frozen viburnum, spirit tincture of yarrow, decoction of fennel seeds will help to improve the work of the heart. Such home remedies, of course, will not be able to cure the disease completely, but as a preventive measure they are quite capable of reducing the number and intensity of attacks.

These simple tips will help you change your lifestyle for the better, to reduce the burden on your heart and improve its performance.

Treatment of atrial fibrillation is a long process, but it is quite successful if all the doctor's recommendations are followed. The development and frequency of attacks depends on two conditions - the main disease and provoking factors.Treat heart disease and follow the rules described above. And then you can take control of the arrhythmia and enjoy the favorable prognosis of the cardiologist!

Video: how to permanently get rid of heart arrhythmia