Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and is easily complicated by stroke. However, most people rarely count their own heartbeats. In addition, atrial fibrillation sometimes does not cause symptoms, so many patients have atrial fibrillation without knowing it.

This article takes you through what atrial fibrillation is and how to treat it to avoid complications.

What is atrial fibrillation? Understanding atrial fibrillation

A normal heart beats regularly and rhythmically, delivering blood to the whole body at 60 to 90 beats per minute. Atrial fibrillation (also known as atrial fibrillation) is the most common arrhythmia and is a local atrial endocardial fibrillation. Caused by abnormal rapid discharge, causing the heartbeat to be fast and slow. The inability of the atria to contract regularly causes blood to stagnate and form clots, which are transmitted to the arteries through the contraction of the ventricles. This is why patients with atrial fibrillation are prone to stroke and heart failure.

Atrial fibrillation can be divided into three types based on duration:

1. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: come and go, lasting no more than 7 days.
   
2. Persistent atrial fibrillation: Lasts for more than 7 days.
   
3. Permanent atrial fibrillation: Lasts for more than 1 year.

What does atrial fibrillation feel like? Chest pain may be a symptom of atrial fibrillation!

“Doctor, my heartbeat suddenly becomes very fast, and sometimes I have chest pain.” This is a very common phenomenon in patients with atrial fibrillation. Due to irregular heart contractions, the heartbeat alternates between fast and slow. Some people have no obvious symptoms during the attack. If the following symptoms occur, you need to seek medical attention immediately:

1. Irregular, rapid heartbeat
   
2. Weakness in chest
   
3. Breaking into a cold sweat
   
4. Syncope
   
5. Difficulty breathing
   
6. Chest pain
   
7. Patients with atrial fibrillation

In addition to the above symptoms, atrial fibrillation also carries the following risks:

1. Stroke
   
2. Thrombus
   
3. Heart failure

Patients with atrial fibrillation are 4 times more likely to suffer a stroke in the future than the general population. They should pay more attention to related symptoms to avoid the possibility of atrial fibrillation.

Causative factors of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is more common in the elderly and men, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 2:1. In 2018, more than 250,000 people in Taiwan suffered from atrial fibrillation, accounting for approximately 1.4%. As the elderly population in Taiwan gradually increases, the number of people with atrial fibrillation may reach 4% in 30 years. In addition to the elderly being susceptible to this disease, the following reasons may also cause atrial fibrillation to come to your doorstep:

1. Hypertension
   
2. Hyperthyroidism
   
3. Have had myocardial infarction
   
4. Diabetic
   
5. Have had a heart valve problem: such as valvular heart disease

3 major treatments for atrial fibrillation

There are three main ways to treat atrial fibrillation:

1. Drug treatment:
   can be divided into completely suppressing atrial fibrillation and controlling the number of heartbeats. The former is heart rhythm control, which can be controlled by beta blockers and calcium ion blockers; the latter is heart rate control, which allows atrial fibrillation to continue but keeps the heartbeat at about 70 to 80 beats per minute. Happiness, mental sharpness or pulse Taike.
   
2. Anticoagulant therapy:
   mainly used to prevent stroke and reduce blood coagulation function.
   
3. ECG catheter treatment:
   Enter the blood vessel from the jugular vein or the groin and femoral vein, and inject a contrast agent to make the heart outline clear. Abnormal conduction of the heart is removed by local heating.

Atrial fibrillation self-test

Some people have no symptoms when atrial fibrillation attacks. Doctors suggest that if you are not sure whether you have atrial fibrillation, you can first place your fingers on the pulse of the other hand to feel the pulse. If you feel that the pulse is disordered or absent, If it beats regularly, seek medical attention immediately. ​