Atrial Fibrillation and the Need for Regular Cardiac Screening
Atrial Fibrillation and the Need for Regular Cardiac Screening
Atrial fibrillation is a potentially life-threatening condition which is simply treated, with high rates of success, but which also frequently passes unnoticed by patients until a serious cardiac event or stroke uncovers the condition. Atrial fibrillation is present in almost 10% of people aged over 80 years but it is also found in much younger patients which underlines the need for regular cardiac screening.
The condition is caused by the electrical signal which coordinates the double-beat of the heart (known as the Sinus Rhythm) so that the atrium pumps blood into the ventricle when it is ready to receive it. The electrical signal makes the atrium contract on cue but atrial defibrillation causes the signal to bypass the atrium which results in the atrium failing to contract – instead it fibrillates – hence the term “atrial fibrillation”. Fibrillation is where the atrium is not contracting and instead, the atrium “shivers” much like a jelly on a plate – this results in “misfiring” as the atrium fails to contract to force the blood into the ventricle on cue or simply operates ineffectively.
Symptoms range in severity and many sufferers are simply unaware of the condition because they are unaffected by the symptoms or have some other medical condition which masks the symptoms. Typical symptoms include shortness of breath, an inability to partake in exercise, palpitations and on occasion, angina is noted. These symptoms are also present in a large number of other heart conditions and so this masks the atrial fibrillation.
Patients who are in the high risk category for contracting atrial fibrillation include the elderly, those with a history of cardiac problems and especially a prior heart attack, stroke, hypertension, rheumatic fever or diabetes.
Regular screening can uncover the condition as the heart has a well-known rhythm known as the Sinus Rhythm and the electrical signal can be monitored simply enough by an ECG. When atrial fibrillation is present in a patient, the initial atrial signal is lost in the ECG output prior to the high wave created by the powerful ventricle contraction. Atrial fibrillation is often missed during screenings simply because the nurse or doctor is not looking for it, so it is important you discuss this with your medical providers when you have a check-up.
Treatment is highly effective and ranges from no medical intervention, because the symptoms do not affect the patient or their health, through to medication which may be used in conjunction with catheters to control the path and regularity of the electrical signal across the atrium. Where surgical intervention is required, an operation known as the Maze Procedure is utilized which has a very high degree of success (80% to 100%).
The Maze Procedure involves making a series of incisions in the atrium which are then sewn back up – the atrium is above to hold blood and contract normally but the electrical signal cannot traverse the incisions. His makes the electrical signal follow the path delineated by the surgeon when making these incisions and takes the signal across the atrium which re-establishes the Sinus Rhythm and normal heart function.