Causes, symptoms and treatment of atrial fibrillation

Among the variety of diseases of the cardiovascular system, persistent atrial fibrillation stands out. The disorder is a violation of the rhythm, which is characterized by an increase in atrial contractions, they are chaotic. The pulse rate with such manifestations varies from 350 to 600 beats per minute. If the duration of the paroxysm is about 24 hours, then the likelihood of the formation of blood clots and the development of thrombosis, and sometimes ischemia and stroke, increases. This cardiac pathology, which becomes permanent, leads to circulatory failure.

What is atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation, which in medical terminology is defined as atrial fibrillation, is nothing more than a failure of the heart rhythm, accompanied by a kind of twitching of a certain muscle group. Pathology is common, in 30 cases out of 100 ends with hospitalization. It is possible to find out about its existence with the help of an ECG (electrocardiographic studies). The disease affects people of different age categories, and the trend towards an increase in the incidence is observed in the older generation.

The question of whether atrial fibrillation can be cured and how to get rid of the main symptoms cannot be answered unambiguously. It all depends on the severity of the disease and the causative factors.

If we talk about the classification of the disease, then it implies a division according to etiology and clinical course.

At the moment, the following forms of atrial fibrillation are distinguished:

• chronic;
• persistent;
• paroxysmal.

Each of the above forms of heart disease has a maximum duration of 7 days. Specifically, for paroxysmal arrhythmias, relapses are characteristic, and chronicity of the process is not excluded. At the moment, in medicine, paroxysmal and recurrent forms are distinguished.

The course of atrial fibrillation is characterized as a violation of the functioning of the atria, which are divided into two types:

• flicker;
• flutter.

With fibrillation, a certain muscle group contracts, which causes a lack of coordination. The atrioventricular connection leads to the concentration of a large number of electrical impulses, some of them are inhibited, while others tend to spread to the ventricular myocardium. Contractions occur arrhythmically.

The classification of atrial fibrillation, taking into account the frequency of contractions, is as follows:

• tachysystolic - with ventricular contractions from 90 times per minute;
• normosystolic - with contractions, the number of which varies between 60-90 times per minute;
• bradysystolic - less than 60 beats per 60 seconds.

With paroxysm, atrial fibrillation, the injection of blood flow into the cardiac ventricles is excluded. Atrial contraction is ineffective, resulting in free and incomplete filling of the ventricles. For this reason, blood ejection does not reach the aortic system.

To deal with the main symptoms in more detail, it is advisable to have an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat atrial flutter is. From a technical point of view, this is nothing but their rhythmic contractions, which are somewhat quickened and can vary from 200 to 400 beats per minute. Myocardial contractions occur alternately, almost without interruption. If, with atrial flutter, which are constantly in tension in a state of systole, a diastolic break occurs, then it is almost imperceptible. In addition, the blood filling of the atria is inhibited, which leads to insufficient filling of the ventricles. Chronic atrial fibrillation is characterized by a tendency to relapse.

Causes of atrial fibrillation

For a more detailed understanding of the issue, it is advisable to know how atrial fibrillation manifests itself. Like any disease of the cardiovascular system, the disease has its own causes.

Most often, persistent arrhythmia develops as a result of such ailments as:

• ischemic heart attack;
• cardiosclerosis;
• heart disease;
• myocarditis;
• hypertonic disease.

IHD and atrial fibrillation in some cases may occur simultaneously. Sometimes the occurrence of fibrillation is due to the presence of thyrotoxicosis. One of the possible causes of the disease is the abuse of alcohol. The same can be said about nervous stress, depression and mental disorders.

In medical practice, there is an existence of an idiopathic disorder. Symptoms of atrial fibrillation of this type are still not completely clear. Conducting an ECG allows you to verify the existence of such a pathology, even if the signs have not yet begun to appear.

Symptoms of arrhythmia

Signs of atrial fibrillation are directly dependent on the form of its manifestation, as well as on the state of the myocardium and heart valves. The mental characteristics of a person also matter.

The most severe is the tachysystolic form of the disease, in which the main symptoms are:

• increased heart rate;
• failures;
• dyspnea;
• pain in the region of the heart.

The onset of the disease is usually characterized by a paroxysmal course.

Paroxysms undergo progressive processes, and their frequency and duration are individual.

In some patients, after two repetitions, the disease becomes chronic. At the same time, other people may experience short-term non-progressive paroxysms throughout their lives.

Paroxysm in atrial fibrillation is felt differently by patients. Some patients have no idea about its appearance for a long time, they learn about the diagnosis only after a detailed examination. But this is not always the case: with typical atrial fibrillation, the heartbeat becomes chaotic.

Patients have increased sweating, weakness, accompanied by trembling, there is a feeling of fear, polyuria develops.

An increased heart rate can lead to a short-term loss of consciousness and dizziness, but a pulse deficit can lead to untimely ejections of blood into the aorta.

An attack of atrial fibrillation is sometimes of a one-time nature, and the signs disappear after the normalization of the sinus rhythm of the heart. In addition, patients in whom atrial fibrillation has become chronic, over time, cease to respond to these sensations.

Diagnostic measures and treatment of arrhythmia

With the diagnosis of "atrial fibrillation", its diagnosis is carried out on the basis of data from a physical examination and ECG.

Peripheral pulse is detected by palpation. In case of detection of irregular heart tones, varying their volume, patients are referred to a cardiologist.

In addition to examination by a specialist, more advanced diagnostic methods are used to clarify the form of the disease:

• MRI;
• ECG;
• transesophageal ECG;
• bicycle ergometry.

Treatment of cardiac arrhythmia involves the normalization of sinus rhythm and the exclusion of relapses, repetitions of attacks of atrial fibrillation. Timely response will help to avoid thromboembolic complications and other consequences.

The scheme of treatment and selection of drugs is carried out on an individual basis:

1. The mainstay of therapy is usually medication. Such a remedy for atrial fibrillation as Novocainamide is considered effective.
2. Lifestyle plays an important role in this - daily walks in the fresh air are very useful.

Restoring the rhythm of the heart is very important.

Properly carried out treatment allows:

• normalize heart rhythm;
• eliminate shortness of breath;
• save the patient from weakness and malaise.

If conservative therapy fails to achieve the desired result, the patient may be prescribed electrical cardioversion.

The next stage, after the sinus rhythm has been restored, is the administration of antiarrhythmic drugs.

Heart surgery is performed rarely and in individual cases.

The treatment of atrial fibrillation in Israel is very popular today. Even a permanent form of arrhythmia can be treated in such clinics. A description of the disease, that is, a medical history, is compiled individually for each patient, taking into account factors such as the age of the patient and his gender.

Modern cardiology involves a fairly quick search for methods of getting rid of almost any form of disease associated with pathological changes in the cardiovascular system.