What is atrial fibrillation?
A heart condition that causes electrical signals to move around the two atria in an uncoordinated fashion causing the atria to quiver and fail to contract effectively.
What might AF present as on an ECG?
- Absent P wave
- quivering line where P wave ought to be
- Irregular QRS complex intervals
How does AF impact on heart contractility?
Atrial Kick is lost so cardiac output drops significantly.
What causes AF?
There are many causes although essentially anything that damage or stress the cells of the atria.
- Other cardiac diseases
- alcohol
- genetics
- obesity
- diabetes
What are people with AF at risk of?
Stroke
What are paroxysmal AF events?
Periods where AF comes and goes but are less than a week.
What are persistent AF events?
AF event lasting over a week up to months without self-terminating.
The longer AF continues the more stress put upon the atrial cells leading to atrial fibrosis
What is permanent AF?
Where a decision has been made to not attempt to stop the rhythm
AF symptoms?
- Fatigue
- dizziness
- sob
- weakness
- palpitations or thumping
What are the normal treatments for AF?
Anticoagulants
Pacemaker
Ablations
