Atrial Fibrillation: The Disordered Dance
of the Heart Atrial fibrillation
, a strange and mysterious medical term, hides a great threat to human health. It is like an out-of-control dance in the heart, disrupting the original regular and orderly rhythm, bringing many troubles and potential risks to the lives of patients. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia. Normally, the rhythm of the heart is controlled by the sinoatrial node, which, like a precise conductor, sends out electrical signals in an orderly manner to make the atria and ventricles contract and relax in turn, thus achieving effective blood circulation. However, when AF occurs, the electrical activity in the atria becomes chaotic, causing the atria to flutter rapidly and irregularly, failing to pump blood efficiently into the ventricles. The symptoms of atrial fibrillation vary from person to person, some people may not feel obvious, while others may have symptoms such as palpitation, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath and even chest pain. Because of the diversity and uncertainty of the symptoms, atrial fibrillation is often ignored in the early stage, which delays the opportunity of diagnosis and treatment. The occurrence of atrial fibrillation is not without reason, and it is often related to a variety of factors. Age is an important risk factor, and the incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with age. Hypertension, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, hyperthyroidism and other diseases also increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. In addition, bad living habits, such as long-term heavy drinking, smoking, overwork, mental stress and so on, may also become the fuse to induce atrial fibrillation. The harm of atrial fibrillation to health should not be underestimated. First of all, because the atrium can not contract effectively, blood stasis in the atrium is easy to form thrombus. Once these thrombi fall off and enter the blood vessels of the brain, heart or other important organs with the blood circulation, they may lead to embolic diseases, such as cerebral embolism (stroke), myocardial infarction and so on, which seriously threaten life. Secondly, long-term atrial fibrillation can lead to changes in heart structure and function, which greatly increases the risk of heart failure. In addition, atrial fibrillation can also affect the quality of life of patients, so that they can not carry out normal physical activities, and even affect mental health. The diagnosis of atrial fibrillation usually requires a combination of the patient’s symptoms, signs, electrocardiogram, and other relevant tests. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important means to diagnose atrial fibrillation, which can directly show the abnormal electrical activity of the atrium. However, for paroxysmal AF, 24-hour Holter monitoring or longer ECG monitoring is sometimes required to capture abnormalities due to its uncertain onset time. In addition, cardiac ultrasound and blood tests are also helpful in evaluating the structure and function of the heart and finding potential causes of atrial fibrillation. The goals of AF treatment include restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm, control of ventricular rate, and prevention of thromboembolic complications. Resumption of sinus rhythm is an ideal treatment option for patients with symptomatic and frequent AF. This can be achieved by methods such as drug therapy, electrical cardioversion, or catheter ablation. Drug therapy includes the use of antiarrhythmic drugs, but these drugs may have some side effects, and the efficacy is not ideal for all patients. Electrical cardioversion is to restore the normal rhythm of the heart by means of electric shock, but it often needs to be carried out under anesthesia, and the recurrence rate is high. In recent years, catheter ablation, as a minimally invasive treatment, has made significant progress in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. It delivers radiofrequency energy or frozen energy to the abnormal part of the atrium through the catheter, eliminating the source of abnormal electrical activity, so as to achieve the purpose of treating atrial fibrillation. Ventricular rate control is also an important treatment strategy for patients who are unable to return to sinus rhythm or are unwilling to undergo the above treatment. Through the use of drugs such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, the ventricular rate can be slowed down, symptoms can be alleviated, and heart function can be improved. At the same time, no matter what treatment method is adopted, the prevention of thromboembolism is an important part of the treatment of atrial fibrillation. For high-risk patients, long-term anticoagulation drugs, such as warfarin and new oral anticoagulants, are usually needed to reduce the risk of thrombosis. In addition to medical treatment, self-management of patients with atrial fibrillation is also crucial. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the foundation, including smoking cessation, alcohol restriction, reasonable diet, moderate exercise, weight control, avoiding overwork and mental stress. It is also essential to review regularly, take medicine according to medical supervision and monitor the changes of the disease. At the same time, patients and their families should understand the relevant knowledge of atrial fibrillation and improve their understanding of the disease and coping ability. In the field of medical research, scientists have been exploring the morbidity mechanism and more effective treatment of atrial fibrillation. With the deepening understanding of atrial fibrillation, it is believed that more innovative treatments will come out in the future, bringing more hope to patients with atrial fibrillation. In conclusion, atrial fibrillation is a common and complex cardiovascular disease, which brings great challenges to the health and life of patients. However, through early diagnosis, rational treatment and active self-management, we can effectively control atrial fibrillation, reduce the risk of complications and improve the quality of life of patients. Let’s pay attention to heart health and protect the regularity and tranquility of the beating life.
