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Different Risk Factors of Atrial Fibrillation and What are the Different Symptoms

Atrial Fibrillation or A-fib is one of the most common problems with the heartbeat’s rate or rhythm with the basic cause being disorganized signals that make the ticker’s two upper chambers squeeze very fast and out of sync. The heart walls quiver or fibrillate because of their contraction. Any sort of damage to the ticker’s electrical system can lead to A-fib which often results from conditions that affect the ticker. Other things may be at play as well in at least one of every ten A-fib cases. It also happens sometimes that the healthcare provider can’t figure out what’s causing A-fib. Knowing the triggers can enable you to control your A-fib and avoid having an episode.


Risk Factors that Lead to Atrial Fibrillation:
Age- The odds go up with age, particularly after age 60 which can be attributed to the likelihood of getting heart disease and other conditions with age.

Heart Disease- There are no two ways about other heart issues raising the chance of having Atrial Fibrillation since the condition is a problem with your ticker. The heart issues include coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, heart failure, rheumatic heart disease, weakened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), heart birth defects, pericarditis (inflamed membrane or sac around the heart).

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)- A-fib can occur when the artery that supplies blood to the atria is blocked, that can damage the atrial tissue. Remember, A-fib doesn’t cause MI.

Heart Surgery- A-fib is the most common complication that will happen to three or four out of every ten people recovering from a heart surgery.

Genes- A part of the cause of A-fib is in the genes that one gets from their parents at birth. The risk is higher for you if someone in your close family had or has it.

Hyperthyroidism- It means an overactive thyroid gland that speeds up everything in the body, including your ticker.

Alcohol- Binge drinking may be a trigger for some people, conversely, even a modest amount can trigger Atrial Fibrillation for some.

Stimulants- Stimulants such as caffeine, cigarettes, etc. can set off A-fib with caffeine probably affecting more if you don’t generally drink it.

Symptoms:
An individual might feel palpitations in the ticker- a flutter in the chest, pain and pressure in the chest, confused, dizzy, short of breath, sweaty, tired, weak. Although not everyone with the condition has a racing or pounding heartbeat. Your age, what caused the A-fib and how much it affects the ticker’s ability to pump are a few things that can affect whether you’ve symptoms and regardless of its severity.

Seek medical attention with immediate effect if your ticker doesn’t go back into a normal rhythm within a few minutes, or the symptoms worsen. Call 911 right away if you have symptoms like nausea; cold sweat; drooping face; weakness in arm; trouble speaking; pain or pressure in the middle of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes; pain that spreads to your jaw, neck, arms, back, or stomach- as these could be signs of a heart attack or stroke. Doctors will perform tests to check your heartbeat or the electrical impulses in your ticker to determine whether you have A-fib. If you do have an irregular heartbeat, there are treatments available to bring it back into a normal rhythm. Doctors may also recommend medication to lower your chance of having a stroke.

Get trained in the life-saving CPR procedure and contribute towards the safety of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims. To know more, or to sign up for a course, call CPR Tampa on 727-240-9404. Visit our website, check class schedules and sign up for a course. If you don’t find suitable class timings according to your schedule, worry not as you can train at our other training site- CPR Tampa located at 5396 Primrose Lake Circle, Conference Room, Tampa, FL- 33647.
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