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What is atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly and more rapidly than normal (an irregular heart beat is also sometimes called an arrhythmia). Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia and its prevalence increases with age. Around 2.5 million people in the United States are affected.
Around 2.5 million people in the United States are affected by Afib
What are the symptoms?
Not everyone with Afib has symptoms, but some have an uncomfortable awareness of a rapid or irregular heartbeat, referred to as palpitations. In a normal heart, the heart muscle contracts and expands regularly to pump blood around the body. But in Afib, the heart muscle beats irregularly and more rapidly than is normal. This is why people with Afib sometimes describe a fluttering or quivering feeling in their chest.
Other symptoms are sometimes experienced because of the heart's diminished ability to effectively pump blood around the body. These include:
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Chest Pain
What are the consequences?
While many of the symptoms of Afib can be distressing and debilitating, one of the more serious consequences of atrial fibrillation is the increased risk of stroke.
In a heart that fibrillates (quivers), there is an increased risk of a blood clot forming and traveling to other areas of the body. When it travels to the brain and lodges in a blood vessel, the result is a stroke.
Therefore, a vital goal of treating Afib, in addition to restoring a normal heart rhythm, is preventing blood clot formation in the heart.
What can be done to help?
If you or someone close to you has recently been diagnosed with Afib, it is natural to feel anxious and worried. But with the diagnosis comes the reassurance that appropriate treatment can now be prescribed.
People with Afib considered at risk are usually treated with a blood-thinning medication to prevent clot formation. One of the most frequently prescribed blood thinners is warfarin (Coumadin®). While warfarin is very effective at reducing the risk of blood clot formation, doctors are undertaking clinical research to try to develop other, more convenient treatments for patients. If you have Afib, you might be interested to learn more about a clinical research study now underway to evaluate a new investigational blood-thinning medication. Regardless of whether or not you are already taking warfarin, you could be eligible to take part in this study.
Click here to learn more about the study »
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