Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat, a rapid heartbeat, or a quivering of the upper chambers of the heart, called the atria. Atrial fibrillation is due to a malfunction in the heart's electrical
system, and is the most common heart irregularity, or cardiac arrhythmia.
What Does Atrial Fibrillation Feel Like?
Different patients have different symptoms. Some patients describe afib as feeling like skipped heartbeats, followed by a thud and a speeding up or racing of the heart. Others describe it as an erratic heartbeat, strong heart palpitations, or simply a rapid heart rate. For still others, it feels like fluttering, butterflies, or even a flopping fish in the chest. Others have chest and throat pressure that mimics a heart attack, or constriction around the left
bicep.
The first time, it's really scary, and you wonder, "Is this a heart attack?" It may leave you dizzy, faint, light-headed, anxious, breathless, weak, or just plain exhausted. After it stops, you may feel drained. For some people, afib doesn't stop, and may continue on for hours, days, weeks, months, or even years.
Is Atrial Fibrillation Serious?
While atrial fibrillation may not sound serious, and is often considered to be a minor health issue, it can actually be quite risky and potentially even life threatening. Since the blood doesn't properly move from the atria into the ventricles and then on to the rest of the body, it can starve the body of oxygen-rich blood, leaving you feeling weak, tired, or even incapacitated.
Even more serious is that the blood that remains in the atria can pool and create blood clots, which may get spawned to the rest of the body, causing a stroke. Stoke is not only the number three killer, it is the number one cause of permanent disability.
How Big a Problem is Atrial Fibrillation?
As we age, the incidence of atrial fibrillation increases. As Baby Boomers continue to age, we can expect to see the atrial fibrillation epidemic worsen. Today afib impacts more than 5.1 million people in the United States, with expectations of 15.9 million by 20501. These numbers, from the Mayo Clinic, only reflect those with atrial fibrillation confirmed by and electrocardiogram, and don't include many more with symptoms but who cannot be
confirmed. There are possibly also many more who don't yet know they have it.
system, and is the most common heart irregularity, or cardiac arrhythmia.
What Does Atrial Fibrillation Feel Like?
Different patients have different symptoms. Some patients describe afib as feeling like skipped heartbeats, followed by a thud and a speeding up or racing of the heart. Others describe it as an erratic heartbeat, strong heart palpitations, or simply a rapid heart rate. For still others, it feels like fluttering, butterflies, or even a flopping fish in the chest. Others have chest and throat pressure that mimics a heart attack, or constriction around the left
bicep.
The first time, it's really scary, and you wonder, "Is this a heart attack?" It may leave you dizzy, faint, light-headed, anxious, breathless, weak, or just plain exhausted. After it stops, you may feel drained. For some people, afib doesn't stop, and may continue on for hours, days, weeks, months, or even years.
Is Atrial Fibrillation Serious?
While atrial fibrillation may not sound serious, and is often considered to be a minor health issue, it can actually be quite risky and potentially even life threatening. Since the blood doesn't properly move from the atria into the ventricles and then on to the rest of the body, it can starve the body of oxygen-rich blood, leaving you feeling weak, tired, or even incapacitated.
Even more serious is that the blood that remains in the atria can pool and create blood clots, which may get spawned to the rest of the body, causing a stroke. Stoke is not only the number three killer, it is the number one cause of permanent disability.
How Big a Problem is Atrial Fibrillation?
As we age, the incidence of atrial fibrillation increases. As Baby Boomers continue to age, we can expect to see the atrial fibrillation epidemic worsen. Today afib impacts more than 5.1 million people in the United States, with expectations of 15.9 million by 20501. These numbers, from the Mayo Clinic, only reflect those with atrial fibrillation confirmed by and electrocardiogram, and don't include many more with symptoms but who cannot be
confirmed. There are possibly also many more who don't yet know they have it.