Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is an irregular heartbeat (also known as arrhythmia) that occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) do not beat at a regular pace. They quiver, or fibrillate. Because of the heart fibrillation, the heart sometimes does not pump all of the blood out of the atria, and blood can pool, causing blood clots. When blood clots travel to the brain, this can cause a stroke. People who have Afib are 5 times more likely to have a stroke.1 Receiving an Afib test is simple and painless.
What is AFib?
AFib, or atrial fibrillation, is a condition in which the chambers of the heart do not beat in unison.
The two upper chambers of the heart, in particular, deviate from the two lower chambers.
Lightheadedness, shortness of breath, nausea, chest discomfort, and even stroke are all potential consequences of AFib.
Understanding the basics of the cardiovascular system and how the heart and lungs work together to provide your body with the oxygen it requires to function is helpful in understanding what happens in persons with AFib.
How your heart is supposed to work
The right atrium and ventricle, as well as the left atrium and ventricle, comprise your heart.
Oxygen-deficient blood enters the right side of your heart, where it receives oxygen from the lungs, before exiting the left side to the rest of your body.
It’s incredible that your body can do all of this without you even realizing it.
This is also why, when you exercise, your heart beats quicker since your body uses more oxygen and needs to work harder to keep up.
When everything is working properly, your heart coordinates the pumping of its four chambers to ensure that oxygenated blood is delivered to all parts of your body.
What happens, though, when this well calibrated machine loses its rhythm?
How do you know if you have AFib?
Fortunately, there is a simple and quick technique to determine whether you have AFib or are at risk for it.
An AFib screening, also known as an AFib EKG, is a noninvasive test that ensures your heart is beating normally.
These tests are especially essential because it is believed that between 2.7 and 6.1 million people in the United States have AFib, and many of them are unaware of it.
Many patients with AFib don’t have any symptoms until they have a major event, such as a stroke.
It is for this reason that screenings are so vital.
How does an AFib test work?
AFib EKGs are one of the most straightforward procedures to perform.
Patients are not needed to change into a hospital gown or other medical attire, and there are no needles or painful pressure bands.
Electrodes (tiny pads connected to cables) are attached to the patient’s wrists and ankles during the test.
These electrodes are solely used to obtain readings and do not produce electricity.
A professional technologist obtains a readout of cardiac activity for around 15 minutes once the patient is comfortable.
The findings of the test are printed and forwarded to the patient’s home address, along with an explanation of what the technician discovered.
One thing to keep in mind concerning AFib is that the symptoms might come and go.
If you are suffering the symptoms of AFib, even if your results are normal, you should contact a doctor.
To be clear, regardless of other symptoms, you should contact a doctor if you are experiencing any type of chest pain.
These could be symptoms of something more serious, and if not detected and treated, they will only become worse.
What do I do if I have AFib?
Don’t be alarmed if your results are positive.
Remember that many persons with AFib are completely unaware that they have the illness.
The irregular heartbeat may come and go at first, and the symptoms may be mild.
Surprisingly, 30% of AFib patients experience no symptoms at all.
It is entirely possible to live a full, healthy, and regular life while suffering from AFib.
Even if you don’t have any symptoms, it’s critical to keep track of your health and do everything you can to improve it.
The good news is that AFib is usually curable.
The earlier you catch it, like with many illnesses, the more your doctor can do to help you.
A simple prescription medicine can keep it under control for some people—blood thinning meds can help prevent complications.
A cardiologist can describe the various procedures available in more severe instances.
Despite great progress in establishing what causes AFib, clinicians are still baffled as to why some people have it while others do not.
While nothing is certain, some factors have been linked to an increased risk of developing it in certain people.
These are some of them:
Common AFib Risk Factors
- heavy alcohol use
- history of infection
- lung diseases such as COPD
- sleep apnea
- thyroid disorders
- history of heart disease
As you can see, these AFib triggers come in a wide range of types, making pinpointing the most likely reason even more challenging.
Finally, if you have AFib, the best thing you can do is speak with your doctor about it.
They’ll be the best individual to help you cope with atrial fibrillation because they’ll have access to your whole medical history and test findings.
The Bottom Line
First and foremost, recognize that AFib is a serious disorder.
AFib that goes untreated for a long time can put a strain on the heart and raise the risk of heart failure and stroke.
It is worthwhile to schedule a test if you suspect you may have AFib, even if you are just experiencing moderate variations of AFib symptoms.
Even if you don’t have AFib, your doctor will be relieved to be able to check it off the list of possible causes for your pain and discomfort.
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