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The heart is one of the most important muscles in the body. It can pump blood through synchronized contractions. Normal heart rate ranges between 60-100 beats in a minute when a person is resting (Heart Rhythm Society, 2005). Contraction and relaxation of the heart to pump blood are stimulated by an electric current that originates from the atria part of the heart called the sinus node and atrioventricular node which make the heart contract and pump blood. The purpose of this paper is to define the term atrial fibrillation, explain the various classification of atria fibrillation, its signs and symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment.
Atrial fibrillation is a condition that occurs when an electric current is generated in the heart from all parts of the atria at a high speed of between 300 to 500 impulses per minute (Heart Rhythm Society, 2005). This causes atria to fail to contract in a coordinated way. This high rate of impulses generated causes atria to quiver or fibrillate. Consequently, ventricles start to contract independently from atria causing increased heart rate. The resulting irregular heartbeats at a very high rate may cause some blood to be retained in the heart after every contraction. Such pooling of blood in the heart can increase the risk of blood clot formation and eventual cause stroke (Heart Rhythm Society, 2005).
There are three classifications of atrial fibrillation. The first one is called paroxysmal atrial fibrillation which is characterized by irregular heart rhythms that last for a short time and are clear without any intervention. The second classification is known as persistent atrial fibrillation. Patients with this type of atrial fibrillation have arrhythmia for a significantly long period. The last one is called chronic or permanent atrial fibrillation which is characterized by constant arrhythmia events (Ibid).
Though some people may have atrial fibrillation without apparent cause, several risk factors predispose individuals to this condition. Such risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, chronic lung disease, mitral valve disease and openheart surgery. Also, it has been found that advanced age is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Certain unhealthy lifestyles like excessive alcohol consumption and the use of stimulating drugs such as decongestants, caffeine and cocaine also can lead to atrial fibrillation (Heart Rhythm Society, 2005).
Symptoms associated with atrial fibrillation may include shortness of breath upon exertion, frequent palpitations, chest pain, episodes of dizziness or lightheadedness and fainting. However, to some individuals, there may be no symptoms. Diagnosis for atrial fibrillation involves taking of medical history and careful examination. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a commonly used medical device to diagnose atrial fibrillation. It has sensors that are placed on the chest, legs and arms to detect and provide a record of the hearts electrical activity. Since atrial fibrillation may not occur during ECG examination, a patient may be requested to wear a portable ECG called Holter monitor for one or two days to have sufficient sampling data on heart rhythm (Heart Rhythm Society, 2005).
Treatment of atrial fibrillation anchors on three main objectives. The first one is the restoration of normal heart rhythm. When atrial fibrillation is not rectified in time can cause permanent heart damage. The second objective is to slow the heart rate and provide relief to some or all associated symptoms without rectifying irregular heart rhythm. The final objective focuses on avoiding blood clotting that may lead to stroke by the use of anticoagulant drugs. Calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers are used to control heart rate. Electrical cardioversion provides an alternative treatment when medication fails. It involves the provision of electric shock to the heart to rectify its irregular rhythms. Another option is the use of pacemaker therapy. This is where the peacemaker device is implanted to monitor heart rate. It also stimulates the heart when its rates become slow (Heart Rhythm Society, 2005).
Reference
Heart Rhythm Society (2005). What is atrial fibrillation? Web.
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