Understanding Atrial Fibrillation And Its Effects

Atrial fibrillation (also known as AF and AFib) is a condition in which your heart’s atria (the two upper chambers) flutter, or fibrillate. This causes an arrhythmia. To understand how the problem occurs, it’s important to appreciate how your heart functions.

The organ has four chambers: two atria (upper chambers) and two ventricles (lower chambers). Within the right atrium, a group of cells known as the sinoatrial node generates electrical impulses. These impulses spread throughout your atria, causing them to contract. As the contractions cause blood to move from the atria into the ventricles, the impulses travel to the atrioventricular node. This is another group of cells that sits between the ventricles and atria. Once the ventricles are filled with blook, the signals move from the atriventicular node through the ventricles, resulting in contractions.

In AFib, the electrical signals do not start at the sinoatrial node; they start elsewhere. Rather than following the uniform path described above, the signals spread erratically through your atria. That causes them to flutter. Moreover, the impulses overwhlen the atrioventricular node, which, in turn is unable to transmit the signals to the ventricles at the same pace they recieve them. The result is that your atria will fibrillate and your ventricles will beat faster than normal, but your heart’s rhythm will be completely disorganized.

How It Impacts Your Life

Because your ventricles receive a barrage of electrical impulses, they contract more quickly than they should. They do so before they can fill completely with blood. As a result, when they contract, less blood is sent throughout your body. You may notice a shortness of breath, disorientation and exhaustion after even light physical effort.

You’ll also feel your heart beating more quickly and harder than is normal. This is due to the organ working harder to send a sufficient amount of oxygen-rich blood throughout your body.

The most serious complications of atrial fibrillation are stroke and heart failure. Stroke can occur as the result of blood clots that form within the atria, especially the left atrium. If one of the clots moves from the atrium, it can reach a carotid artery and cause a stroke. Heart failure can occur due to your ventricles beating too quickly as the result of receiving a stream of electrical impulses.

How Atrial Fibrillation Is Treated

Atrial fibrillation is not always dangerous. Minor instances may be treated with anticoagulants, which will prevent blood from clotting in the atria. However, severe caseas are, in most cases, best dealth with using surgery. Many years ago, open chest surgery was necessary in order for the surgical team to access the heart. Today, AFib can be resolved through a minimally invasive maze procedure.

During maze surgery, a surgeon will create a maze of scar tissue on the atria. This scar tissue does not conduct electricity, so the signals are forced to detour along the maze created by the surgeon. This helps to control the impulses and thereby, regulate the heartbeat. If you suffer from AF, ask your doctor whether a maze procedure is a viable solution.