Definition of Atrial Fibrillation

The heart is the most important part of the human body, because once a disease occurs in the heart, it is difficult to recover through treatment. Therefore, we must avoid the occurrence of heart disease. Atrial fibrillation is a disease that people should be familiar with. Once it occurs, it can easily cause other major disease problems. Therefore, attention should be paid to prevention or treatment after it occurs. But what is the definition of atrial fibrillation_What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. The incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with age, reaching 10% in people over 75 years old. During atrial fibrillation, the frequency of atrial excitation reaches 300 to 600 beats per minute. The heart rate is often fast and irregular, sometimes reaching 100 to 160 beats per minute. Not only is it much faster than a normal person's heartbeat, but it is also absolutely irregular, and the atria lose their effective contraction function. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation is also closely related to diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and heart failure.

Causes

Common causes of atrial fibrillation include hypertension, coronary heart disease, cardiac surgery, valvular disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, pulmonary embolism, hyperthyroidism, etc. It is related to drinking, mental stress, water and electrolyte disorders, serious infection, etc.; in addition, it may also be combined with other types of arrhythmias.

Classification

There is no unified classification of atrial fibrillation. According to its duration, it can be divided into paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, persistent atrial fibrillation and permanent atrial fibrillation. It is generally believed that paroxysmal atrial fibrillation refers to those that can convert to sinus rhythm on their own within 7 days, and usually lasts less than 48 hours; persistent atrial fibrillation refers to those that last for more than 7 days and require drugs or electric shock to convert to sinus rhythm; permanent atrial fibrillation refers to those that cannot convert to sinus rhythm or recur within 24 hours after conversion.

Depending on the presence or absence of underlying heart disease, it is divided into pathological atrial fibrillation and idiopathic atrial fibrillation (no underlying heart disease in clinical examination). Idiopathic atrial fibrillation often occurs in younger people, most of whom are under 50 years old. Idiopathic atrial fibrillation is sometimes also called isolated atrial fibrillation.

Clinical manifestations

1. Heart palpitations

Feeling your heart beat faster, accompanied by fatigue or tiredness;

2. Vertigo

dizziness or even fainting;

3. Chest Discomfort

Pain, pressure, or discomfort in the precordial area;

4. Shortness of breath

Some patients may feel shortness of breath during mild physical activity or at rest, and some patients may not have any symptoms. During atrial fibrillation, the atria lose their contractile function, and blood easily stagnates in the atria and forms blood clots. After the blood clots break off, they can travel with the blood throughout the body, causing cerebral embolism (stroke), limb artery embolism (severe cases may even require amputation), etc. High-risk factors for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation include previous history of embolism, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and left atrial enlargement.