Today I thoroughly enjoyed meeting people at the Gethsemane SDA Church Health Fair in Raleigh, NC. I was promoting healthier lifestyle and disease management items as well CPR certification services. I had a church member tell me that she’d been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation years ago but notes she only has concerns when chest discomfort occurs usually when she does not take her Coreg (blood pressure medication – beta blocker class). She wanted to know if she still has atrial fibrillation, does it come and go, and what should she do at this juncture in her medical care.
As a physician assistant, I am grateful to be in a position to provide advice when solicited. However, of course one should adhere to the guidelines recommended by their personal medical clinician.
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition in which the atria (2 top chambers of the heart) beat irregularly and out of sync from the ventricle (2 lower chambers of the heart). The transmission of electrical signals that tells the heart how fast to beat is not working properly. This causes irregular, rapid heart beats of the heart muscle which can increase the risk for stroke, blood clots, and heart failure.
Some people do not have symptoms while others may feel chest pain or feel dizzy, faint or lightheaded at times. Atrial fibrillation can be persistent or occur only occasionally. Findings on an EKG tracing can indicate the presence of atrial fibrillation (see image above). Various things can cause atrial fibrillation such as high blood pressure, heart attack, lung infections, heart surgery, viral illnesses, sleep apnea, stress, and thyroid problems.
Various treatments include taking medications to slow the heart rate such as the beta blocker medication the church member indicated she was taking daily. Other treatments involve taking medication to prevent formation of blood clots or surgical treatment to correct the irregular electrical impulse causing the rapid irregular heart rate.
It is important to seek care from your doctor to be sure you are being treated correctly to prevent serious occurrences such as heart attack, stroke or decreased blood flow to important organs due to formation of a blood clot. Do not apply the wait and see approach! Ask questions and take medications as directed.
Sources: mayoclinic.org, Clinician’s Pocket Reference