When your loved one is suffering from some heartache, you immediately get nervous with the thought that it might be a
heart attack. But, people being aware of some medical knowledge may note some aspect that will lead them to understand that not all heartaches are concluded as heart attacks.
This may be called
Atrial Fibrillation (AF). Now, what is AF or Atrial Fibrillation? In the layman language, it is the irregular heartbeat. Perhaps sometimes lower than the standard beats and sometimes faster than the regular beats.
Basic knowledge about AF
The basic understanding about this AF is something technical. The regular beats or the ordinary controlling clock in the heart is abrogated by numerous arbitrary electrical driving forces that discharge from the heart muscle in the atria. The fibrillation of the atria then happens. This implies that the atria contract faster, i.e. up to four hundred times per minute. But it is only some of these impulses or driving forces passes through the ventricles in a chaotic way. Thus, due to this particular reason the ventricles contracts between fifty to one hundred and eighty times per minute but on a standard note; it pumps from around one hundred and forty to one hundred and eighty times per minute. The ventricles contracting in a sporadic route and with fluctuating power can be distinctively called AF. Subsequently, if you feel that you have Atrial Fibrillation, feel your heartbeat, you may tally up to 180 pulsates every moment. Additionally, every beat can differ, and the beat may be sporadic.
Who can suffer?
After knowing about what exactly is AF or Atrial Fibrillation, you can now feel how often it can occur? Well, a physical human disorder precisely has no often guaranteed that how often it can occur. Still, on a medical note or as suggested by the doctors, it is commonly a disorder among the older generation. Though there is never a certainty that an adult will not be suffering from so, the rate of people getting affected with this between 50-60 years is less. But, the ratio starts increasing between the age group, 70-80- years or above. However, on certain occasions, it is found that young people are also affected by such disorders. These are only possible when they seemingly suffer from some
acute heart problems since childhood.
Reasons of the disease
When the primary risk zone is for the senior citizens, you may have to know certain causes of AF. Especially when you have people in your home approaching this age, you need to be more attentive on this aspect.
Blood pressure: Blood Pressure is something that can lay you in the hands of many disorders. A high blood pressure can not only lead you to suffer from AF but also from other diseases by putting a strain on the heart muscle.
Fast rhythm: Excessive rhythmic heart hyperactive thyroid glands and pulmonary embolus are other factors that you need to be cautious about when you have a senior citizen in your house.
Heart diseases: People already suffering from heart diseases need to be more vigilant about a regular test that will help them to be aware.
Miscellaneous: People suffering from hypertension,
obesity, pneumonia, etc. are likely to be friends with any heart disorders. Hence, avoiding them is only wise.
Causes of AF
Apart from the fact that what may cause AF, when can you know that your elderly parent or grandparent is suffering from AF? Well, these are the symptoms:
Thumping heart: Palpitated heart that beats faster or irregular along with dizziness and breathlessness.
Chest Pains: Angina may develop when you exert yourself. This is probably even when you are resting or without doing any stressful work.
Sweating: Unnecessary sweating even on smaller exertions is resultant of AF. Noting the fact that even on lighter issues the person may tend to be hyperactive.
Treatments of AF
With a quick note of the symptoms, it is necessary that you take the patient for some examinations. This will make the doctor sure about the exact problems he or she is having. An ECG or a Chest examination can help you in this proves. After detecting the base of the problem, controlling the rates becomes mandatory. Keeping a rhythm monitor and attending anticoagulation treatment is necessary. There are proper medications available that can help in the process.
