Even if you’ve never experienced A-Fib, you’ve probably heard it referenced in television commercials or read about it in magazine ads.
A-Fib is a disorder of electrical signals in the atrium of the heart that can make your heart feel like it’s fluttering or beating out of your chest. But why are we hearing more and more about it?
Here are 5 things about the common heart condition you didn’t know:
- A-Fib is becoming more and more common. As the population ages and the obesity epidemic continues, our society is more at-risk for A-Fib than ever. As many as 1 in 10 adults over the age of 65 suffer from A-Fib.
- Chronic A-Fib is easier to manage than Paroxysmal (brief or occasional) A-Fib. Chronic A-Fib is often treated successfully with medication. Paroxysmal A-Fib is more challenging to regulate.
- As much as 22% of stroke cases can be attributed to A-Fib. This is because during fibrillation, there is a chance for blood to sit still and clot – that clot can then easily travel to the brain causing stroke.
- A-Fib can be caused by more than age and weight. A-Fib can also be caused by Thyroid Disease, Sleep Apnea, Post-Operative State and illness or infection.
- Stroke isn’t the only consequence. A-Fib can also weaken the heart and/or cause heart failure. Moral of the story, don’t wait to see a doctor if symptoms present!
Want more information on A-Fib? Watch our podcast, Pair-O-Docs on Podbean or Apple Podcast.
Acknowledgements: Dr. William Jason McManus, Stuart Cardiology
