Atrial fibrillation can lead to other serious complications
When i suffer from atrial fibrillation. Is it make me at greater risk of suffering a heart attack?
Your risk of heart attack increases not have atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by rapid heartbeat, irregular and can cause symptoms that warrant medical attention. This condition does not cause a heart attack, but can lead to other serious complications and therefore need to treat it promptly and carefully control it.
In atrial fibrillation, the two upper heart chambers (atria) beat chaotically and irregularly, without coordination with the two lower chambers (ventricles). The result of uncoordinated heartbeat atrial fibrillation causes the heart to pump less effectively than under normal conditions and as a result, the body receives less blood with each beat. This can cause various symptoms, including decreased blood pressure, dizziness, weakness and shortness of breath.
Occasionally, rapid heart rate associated with atrial fibrillation can lead to pain or chest discomfort (angina) due to decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. People with pre-existing heart disease are especially susceptible to present this symptom of atrial fibrillation. In addition, angina may be difficult to distinguish from other types of chest pain, so that if you feel chest pain, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
Although atrial fibrillation can cause chest pain and other symptoms similar to heart attack, this condition does not lead to a heart attack. By contrast, heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when obstruction of the coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart, depriving it of blood and vital oxygen.
The most common is that the obstruction is due to coronary artery narrowing as a result of the accumulation of cholesterol (plaque), a condition known as atherosclerosis. These plaques can break off and when they do, at the site of the plaque breaks up blood clots. If a clot is large enough, can completely block blood flow through the artery, causing a heart attack.
Atrial fibrillation does not create situations that lead to a heart attack, heart attack but it can cause atrial fibrillation. In the case of the coronary artery involved in heart attack usually provides blood to the atria, the lack of blood flow can cause tissue damage headphones and the result could be atrial fibrillation.
Although atrial fibrillation increases your risk of heart attack, the condition does increase your risk of other serious complications such as stroke. The irregular heartbeat atrial fibrillation can cause blood to pool in the atria and blood clots. While these clots do not lead to a heart attack, one can detach from the atrium and travel through the bloodstream to the brain where it blocks blood flow and causes a stroke.
The risk of stroke with atrial fibrillation is higher as the person ages. The risk also increases among people who have hypertension or diabetes, have a history of heart failure or previously suffered a stroke. If you have atrial fibrillation, medications such as anticoagulants can reduce your risk quite a stroke.
Heart failure can also be a problem, especially when atrial fibrillation is not well controlled. The concern is that atrial fibrillation with uncontrolled rapid heart rate and can go to the heart muscle weakens, ending in a chronic inability of the heart to circulate the blood sufficiently to supply the body’s needs.
Talk to your doctor about the risks associated with atrial fibrillation and what you can do to minimize them.
credit to: Dr. Stephen Hammill