Your circulatory system is made up of the vessels that carry blood throughout the body. Veins carry blood to the heart, then arteries carry oxygenated blood to all the organs and cells of your body. For this to happen, the four chambers of the heart need to contract in an organized manor to efficiently pump blood from one chamber to the other, and then out into the body. Sometimes, the signal that controls the contraction of the heart can become disorganized causing the chambers of the heart to contract irregularly and sometimes quickly. This irregular heart rhythm is called atrial fibrillation (A-fib) and can be a serious medical condition.
Atrial fibrillation causes and symptoms
It is often unknown what causes atrial fibrillation, but any of the following things can increase the risk that you will need atrial fibrillation treatment Washington DC: older age, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart valve defects, lung disease, obstructive sleep apnea, or coronary artery disease. Atrial fibrillation is most common in people who are over 65 and is more common in men than in women.
Symptoms can be different for different people, but some signs that you may need atrial fibrillation treatment DC include:
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Fatigue
Sometimes, atrial fibrillation has no symptoms or the symptoms may occur briefly then go away. Diagnosis will start with a physical exam and discussion of your symptoms, but often also includes tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG). This test is used to study the heart signal and rhythm. Other tests may include an echocardiogram, cardiac stress testing, and blood work.
Atrial fibrillation treatment Washington DC
A-fib treatment Washington DC is specific to each case. If the underlying cause is known, A-fib treatment DC will focus on that. If the cause is not known, A-fib treatment Washington DC can include: anti-coagulation medicine (blood thinners), medicine to slow the heartbeat, and medicines to treat heart failure. A-fib treatment Washington DC can also include lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and being physically active. If these treatments are not successful, atrial fibrillation treatment DC can include a procedure to block or isolate the signals causing the irregular heartbeat. You can learn more about atrial fibrillation treatment Washington DC at http://www.medstarwashington.org/our-services/medstar-heart-vascular-institute/conditions/atrial-fibrillation/.
No comments:
Post a Comment