If a health care provider has identified you with atrial fibrillation (AFib), you would possibly surprise what it means on your well being.
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the commonest analysis of an irregular heartbeat. By 2030, researchers estimate over 12 million individuals may have AFib in the USA. And it can have an effect on anybody: in 2023, basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared in a public service announcement after he discovered he was affected by the situation. “Don’t wait,” he urges within the video obtainable at notimetowait.com. “After I first observed signs, I ought to have gone to the physician and instructed them what was occurring,” he says.
What Is AFib?
When AFib happens, the highest and backside chambers of the center beat out of rhythm. When this occurs, blood strikes much less effectively, elevating your danger of blood clots and stroke. An irregular move of blood within the coronary heart could cause a clot. And if the clot breaks off, it could go to your mind and trigger a stroke. AFib causes about one in each 5 strokes.
“There may be a whole lot of concern round AFib,” acknowledges Faisal Service provider, MD, director of cardiac electrophysiology at Emory Healthcare. “However, for most individuals, it isn’t life-threatening. They’ll count on to dwell a wholesome, lengthy life.”
As an electrophysiologist, Dr. Service provider is a heart specialist who specializes within the coronary heart’s electrical techniques. Treating sufferers with AFib is about 50 % of his work.
Right here’s what you’ll want to learn about atrial fibrillation, second opinions and obtainable remedy choices.
AFib Signs and Danger Components
Some individuals with AFib don’t have any signs. Others would possibly discover indicators equivalent to:
A sense of speedy fluttering of their coronary heart (palpitations)
An irregular heartbeat
Chest ache
Excessive fatigue
Lightheadedness
Shortness of breath
As individuals become older, their danger of AFib grows. As well as, different components can enhance AFib danger, equivalent to hypertension, weight problems, European ancestry, diabetes, coronary heart illness, smoking and extra.
Discuss to your main care physician about your coronary heart well being in the event you discover any signs or have a number of danger components. Collectively, you possibly can focus on your AFib danger and decide your subsequent steps.
Getting a Second Opinion for AFib
Whether or not newly identified or years into remedy, generally it’s beneficial for individuals with an AFib analysis to hunt a second opinion. As a result of medication is continually evolving with new analysis and progressive strategies, you could possibly study choices which may work higher on your particular person scenario.
“It by no means hurts to get a second opinion,” says Dr. Service provider. You would uncover new remedy choices, get a distinct medical opinion or achieve reassurance you’re on the suitable path.
Different causes sufferers with AFib search a second opinion embody:
Their signs aren’t below management or their remedy isn’t working
Their AFib is progressing
They wish to change drugs or get off drugs
Emory Coronary heart & Vascular Heart has the most important and most superior electrophysiology program in Georgia. And our cardiologists and electrophysiologists supply probably the most superior remedies obtainable, together with these nonetheless in scientific trials.
For those who’ve already been identified with AFib and desire a second opinion, contact the Emory Arrhythmia Heart at 678-582-8293.
AFib Therapies Supplied Choices at Emory Healthcare
Specialists at Emory supply a spread of remedies, together with progressive scientific trials. Therapies embody life-style modifications, drugs and surgical procedure.
Dr. Service provider places remedies into three classes primarily based on their targets:
To cut back AFib danger or forestall AFib from progressing. You’ll be able to’t change some danger components, like your age. However physicians can work with you that will help you enhance your general well being. For instance, sufferers may have to regulate or drop some weight, eat higher, train or deal with their sleep apnea.
To deal with AFib signs. We monitor and deal with signs to maintain your coronary heart in rhythm extra typically and forestall problems. Drugs or ablation could also be best for you. Ablation destroys the small areas of the center that trigger AFib. Cardiologists and electrophysiologists can carry out ablations utilizing radiofrequency waves, freezing or different newer power sources. Emory leads lots of the newest scientific trials in pulsed-field ablation.
To forestall stroke. As a result of AFib will increase the chance of blood clots, some sufferers take blood thinner drugs. Procedures like left-atrial appendage closure may also forestall stroke; they block the realm the place clots typically kind.
Choices to Deal with Cussed AFib
Sufferers with persistent AFib can discover a wide range of progressive options at Emory Healthcare. Our specialists carry out many alternative ablations, which can give you a greater end result. For instance, our electrophysiologists and cardiac surgeons can work collectively to destroy drawback areas inside and outdoors the center in a single process.
Our consultants may also use pacemakers with an AV node ablation to regulate the center’s rhythm. The AV node connects the highest and backside of the center. As soon as they ablate the AV node, surgeons insert a pacemaker to maintain the center in an everyday rhythm.
Medical trials take a look at remedies to make choices obtainable to extra varieties of sufferers. For instance, atrial appendage closures are sometimes solely obtainable for sufferers who can not take blood thinners. Suppliers at Emory Healthcare additionally take part in scientific trials to review the effectiveness of those units in sufferers preferring to not use blood thinners. Sufferers who would in any other case be ineligible for the closure process obtain the remedy in a trial.
A Particular person-First Method to AFib Therapy
Therapy for AFib isn’t an emergency. So, Dr. Service provider has “time to get to know individuals and discuss what’s occurring.” Sufferers typically have fears about their situation, so he works to ease a few of their anxieties. For instance, Dr. Service provider routinely asks if their present remedy plan continues to be efficient or if it will get in the way in which of their life, so he can higher perceive their considerations.
“Overtreating AFib is widespread,” he says. “However not all AFib must be handled; it may be monitored. And most of the people with AFib don’t want a process.” Dr. Service provider develops individualized remedy plans so he doesn’t overtreat AFib or overexpose his sufferers to drugs or procedures. With considerate questions, he ensures his sufferers get the suitable stage of remedy for his or her distinctive case of AFib.
Discover AFib Experience at Emory Healthcare
A supplier who frequently sees the complete vary of AFib can make sure you get the correct remedy. The electrophysiology workforce at Emory Healthcare performs hundreds of AFib procedures every year, which helps them keep on the high of their area. “The extra you do one thing, the higher you get at it,” mentioned Dr. Service provider. The electrophysiology workforce performs over 1,000 ablations and 300 closure procedures yearly.
Don’t Wait
For those who suppose you might have AFib or another coronary heart concern, first discuss together with your main care supplier – don’t wait.. They might run some exams or display you to find out your subsequent steps.
Discover your coronary heart well being skilled at Emory Coronary heart and Vascular Heart. Our research-based care advantages every kind of sufferers. We work laborious that will help you forestall coronary heart illness. And our specialists know probably the most progressive remedies for individuals with complicated coronary heart wants. To make an appointment, please name 404-778-7777.