Atrial fibrillation - causes, symptoms and treatment

It is proved that every third person who came to the emergency room because of pain in the heart goes to the hospital with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Normally, a person’s heart beats with a certain speed, consistency and rhythm. The heart of a healthy person beats from 60 to 90 beats per minute. In this case, the same period of time passes between the characteristic jolts. Atrial fibrillation is called atrial fibrillation. Fibrillation is shaking, trembling, flickering. Atrial dysfunction is dangerous not only by its manifestation, but also by complications. In this article, you will learn about atrial fibrillation, its symptoms, the causes of development, methods of treatment - both medication and home. Let's try to figure everything out in order.

How does atrial fibrillation manifest

People who have experienced an arrhythmia attack are surely able to distinguish it from other cardiac pathologies. If you are faced with arrhythmia for the first time, we will tell you about the main symptoms of this disease.

1. The very first manifestation of atrial fibrillation is pain in the left side of the chest. The pain can be of any nature - acute, aching, pressing, cutting. Quite often, patients describe pain as burning, turning into intense pressure. Atrial fibrillation can be distinguished from stroke and other pathologies by location. With a stroke and a heart attack, the pain often gives off to the stomach, hands, etc. With arrhythmia, the pain is clearly localized in the chest, does not affect other organs.
2. Another sign of arrhythmia is severe shortness of breath. During the onset of an attack, a person begins to breathe heavily, and breathing is accompanied by pain, especially when inhaling. The pain may increase with movement. In some cases, with a rapid heartbeat, a person may experience a short stop in breathing for 5-6 seconds. If such symptoms occur, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible, otherwise it may result in heart paralysis. Respiratory failure and shortness of breath may not be associated with physical activity, breathing can become more frequent even during sleep.
3. Arrhythmia can be accompanied by seizures of limbs, especially calf muscles. Often this manifests itself after a long stay in a state of rest - during waking up or when standing on your feet after sitting.
4. Often an attack is accompanied by tremor - a person's hands, legs, head can shake. This occurs both during rest and in a state of motion, when the patient can reach out for a cup or other object and see how much the brush shakes.
5. Due to the fact that during an attack, the heart distills an insufficient amount of blood throughout the body and makes it inconsistent, the limbs do not receive proper nutrition. Because of this, attacks are often accompanied by tingling in the limbs, a feeling of numbness. For the same reason, muscle activity is reduced, a person simply cannot hold an object in his hands, it becomes difficult for him to stand on his feet, etc.
6. Increased sweating is another sign of the development of atrial fibrillation. A person sweats more than usual during an attack, even if he is at rest. In the rest of the period, profuse sweat can be observed with a slight load - physical or emotional.
7. Doctors note that patients with atrial fibrillation excrete more urine per day. Urination becomes frequent and profuse.This is due to dehydration, lack of potassium, and also due to the large amount of fluid consumed. A person with atrial fibrillation wants to drink constantly, the patient experiences a feeling of dryness in the oral cavity.
8. Often the problem is reflected in the psychological state of the patient. The patient experiences a completely natural sense of fear for his own life. There are violations at the level of neurology - the patient can become irritable, lethargic, he is tormented by panic attacks.
9. If the disease has gone far, attacks of arrhythmia may be accompanied by dizziness, loss of consciousness, etc. A fainting condition is determined by the characteristic pallor of the face.
10. When listening to a heart rate, its “flicker” is determined. That is, beats occur at different intervals, the heart then beats hard, then slows down, sometimes the beats are not heard for several seconds.
11. Often an attack is accompanied by pulsation of veins on the patient’s neck.

Atrial fibrillation is really very dangerous. The disease can be sluggish, manifested by minor signs throughout life. It happens that the patient himself does not feel symptoms, and the diagnosis is detected during an ordinary medical examination. The danger of atrial fibrillation lies in its consequences. If the disease is not treated on time, it can lead to heart attack, stroke, ischemia, and heart failure. But where does this disease come from?

Causes of atrial fibrillation

Most often, arrhythmia is a consequence of other diseases of the cardiovascular system. Arrhythmia often accompanies various heart defects, ischemic disease, weak sinus nucleus syndrome, and hypertension. The normal functioning of the heart is disturbed in diabetes mellitus, as well as with a lack of potassium and magnesium in the body. The risk of developing atrial fibrillation is enhanced in the following cases.

1. With alcohol intoxication. Moreover, the heart loses its normal rhythm both during acute intoxication, and with the constant effect of alcohol on the human body (binge).
2. Large physical exertion can also cause an attack of arrhythmia. We are talking about cases when a person begins to run out of habit, walk fast, lift weights, etc. That is, if the load does not correspond to age or physical fitness.
3. Atrial fibrillation can develop in a patient who is constantly in a state of emotional experience. Depression, stress, tension over and over again deplete the nervous system, which necessarily affects heart health.
4. Excess body weight contributes to the deterioration of vascular elasticity, the formation of cholesterol plaques, etc. Being overweight is another risk factor, you must get rid of it.
5. Frequent use of coffee and strong black tea raises the level of blood pressure, which often ends in an attack of arrhythmia.
6. A single attack of arrhythmia can be the result of severe fright, severe stress and overexcitation.
7. Another risk factor is low motor activity. If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle, does not experience physical exertion, his heart muscles weaken, become decrepit and unable to pump blood properly.
8. Arrhythmia can develop as a result of taking certain medications that upset the electrolyte balance of the body. The attack can be caused by diuretics, the introduction of hormones, atropine, adrenaline.

Arrhythmias are usually diagnosed with an electrocardiogram. The results of the examination tell the doctor about unusually large intervals between the ventricular complexes, about arrhythmic strokes. If necessary, the doctor can prescribe a daily ECG, which will help to identify the duration and frequency of seizures.In some cases, an ECG is carried out against the background of physical activity to determine the endurance of the body, the recovery time of the heart rate. Ultrasound of the heart will help to identify obvious changes in the structure and size of the organ, the presence of defects or blood clots.

Drug treatment for atrial fibrillation

It is completely impossible to cure arrhythmia. Drug therapy is aimed at restoring and maintaining a healthy heart rhythm, eliminating provoking factors and preventing new attacks. Treatment is usually prescribed as follows.

1. Preparations for the normalization of heart rhythm - Anaprilin, Atenolol, Carvedilol, Nebilet, etc. They also help lower blood pressure.
2. Drugs that remove the excitability of heart fibers, stabilize the heart rhythm - Quinidine, Cordaron, Allapinin.
3. Glycosides will help improve myocardial function, make strokes more rhythmic. Among them are Celanide, Korglikon, Digoxin.
4. It is mandatory to take blood thinners and prevent blood clots. These are CardioMagnyl, Aspirin Cardio, TromboAss, etc.

With the development of an attack of atrial fibrillation, you need to call an ambulance team as soon as possible. While doctors are on call, you can use the following methods. Artificially induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue, begin to cough intentionally, hold the air for a few seconds, immerse your face in cold water, and press on the eyeballs closed for centuries. Such techniques will help stimulate nerve endings and normalize the work of the heart muscle for a while.

When the patient goes to the doctor, the specialist diagnoses atrial fibrillation and decides on the intravenous administration of the above drugs. If drug treatment does not give the expected result, an electric cardioversion is prescribed. This is a momentary pulse, which is carried out under anesthesia with the help of a defibrillator. An electric charge leads to spasm and contraction of the myocardium, which begins to function again. After stopping the attack, the patient must be prescribed treatment, which the patient must follow for a long time or throughout his life.

If drug treatment does not completely stop the seizures, surgery is performed. Radiofrequency catheter ablation is the insertion of a special catheter through the peripheral pulmonary vein and laser cauterization of too active heart muscles. That is, the focus of excitement is simply neutralized, so that the rhythm returns to normal. Another way to restore a healthy heart rate is to install a pacemaker. This is a tiny device that sets its rhythm to the atrium and ventricles when the normal rhythm of the heart goes astray. That is, the cariostimulator does not work constantly, but only in pathological situations. These are the main treatments for atrial fibrillation. However, remember that only a doctor should prescribe a drug and dose, based on the specific situation. In no case do not rely on the experience of a neighbor with supposedly similar symptoms. The same medicine can be useful and dangerous for various diseases with similar symptoms.

How to treat atrial fibrillation at home

Of course, no one speaks about the full-fledged treatment of arrhythmia on their own - only a doctor should be involved in diagnostics and prescribe drug therapy. However, there are some rules and recommendations regarding lifestyle that can help you reduce the number and intensity of seizures.

1. It is imperative to change eating habits and switch to healthy foods. Consume more fruits and vegetables, eat cereals, lean meat, dairy products. Exclude from the diet all fatty, fried, smoked. Limit your intake of salt and animal fats to lower your risk of developing cholesterol.
2. A small amount of magnesium and potassium can also provoke the development of an attack of atrial fibrillation. These are the most essential trace elements for heart health. They are found in greens, leafy salads, cabbage, eggplant, spinach, zucchini, and tomato. Nuts, white beans, river fish, dried fruits (especially dried apricots), cod fish liver, etc. are useful for heart health.
3. If trace elements are not absorbed for some reason, you should talk with your doctor about taking the vitamin complex in tablets. One capsule contains the necessary daily amount of magnesium and potassium. Among the popular heart vitamins can be noted Panangin, Asparkam.
4. Stop drinking alcohol, coffee and strong black tea, eliminate drugs and cigarettes. Poison toxins are very detrimental to the health of the heart muscle.
5. Be sure to do light physical exercises every day that your doctor will prescribe. The simplest but most effective in treating the heart is walking. In no case do the exercises to the limit of their capabilities. You need to walk slowly, measuredly, at a pace comfortable for you.
6. Try not to be nervous, no matter how hard it is. Often from our nervous experiences, the situation cannot change. So why bring yourself into a frenzy if you cannot influence it? Try to avoid conflicts, do not engage in polemics with unpleasant people, change your nervous work to a more relaxed one. Well, let her not be so highly paid, there is nothing more expensive than her health!
7. If you are overweight, try to get rid of it. To do this, reduce portions, eat often, lower calorie foods, move more.
8. In no case do not take medications without a doctor’s prescription, they can also cause an attack.
9. You can improve the functioning of the heart muscle with the help of traditional medicine recipes. A decoction of dried or frozen viburnum berries, alcohol tincture of yarrow, a decoction of dill seeds will help to improve heart function. Such home-made medicines, of course, cannot cure the disease completely, however, as a preventative measure, they are quite capable of reducing the number and intensity of seizures.

These simple tips will help you change your lifestyle for the better in order to reduce the load on the heart and improve its functioning.

Treatment of atrial fibrillation is a long process, but if all the recommendations of the doctor are followed, it is quite successful. The development and frequency of seizures depends on two conditions - the underlying disease and the provoking factors. Get treatment for heart disease and follow the rules described above. And then you can take control of arrhythmia and enjoy the favorable forecasts of a cardiologist!

Video: how to permanently get rid of cardiac arrhythmias