Part of what makes atrial fibrillation so dangerous is that many people with the disease may experience mild, negligible symptoms, or even none at all. Older patients, especially those with other conditions and higher risk factors, usually fall in this category.
Silent Afib is a type of atrial fibrillation that does not show any symptoms. It can go undetected for years, leading to a high risk of complications such as stroke, heart failure, and cognitive decline. Early detection of Afib is crucial to prevent these complications from occurring.
Many patients with atrial fibrillation present with recognizable symptoms or complications such as palpitations, stroke, or heart failure; however, approximately one-third of cases are diagnosed with no or nonspecific symptoms (ie, asymptomatic).
Afib that causes the lower chambers to beat too quickly can cause heart failure. Afib may occur occasionally, or it can be constant.
An analysis of five U.S. medical claims databases suggests as many as 23% of 5.6 million to 6.6 million presumptive atrial fibrillation cases are undiagnosed, with many undiagnosed patients likely eligible for oral anticoagulant treatment.
Age is the main risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Though AFib can be diagnosed at any age, it's much more common after age 65.
But while atrial fibrillation or AFib risk does go up as you age, this is one heart disorder that could hit at any point in life. Although the majority of AFib diagnoses happen over the age of 60, more and more young people – even teenagers and 20-somethings – are suffering from heart conditions.
Can Afib go away? If you have paroxysmal Afib, your symptoms may go away on their own without treatment. However, paroxysmal Afib can progress to persistent Afib depending on your risk factors. And both persistent Afib and long-standing persistent Afib require treatment to avoid serious complications.
The exact cause of atrial fibrillation is unknown, but it's more common with age and affects certain groups of people more than others. Atrial fibrillation is common in people with other heart conditions, such as: high blood pressure (hypertension) atherosclerosis.
What makes AFib so hard to detect and diagnose is that some people have no symptoms at all and AFib occurs sporadically, which makes it difficult to detect in one visit, blood pressure test, or ECG.
Untreated AFib can raise your risk for problems like a heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, which could shorten your life expectancy. But treatments and lifestyle changes can help prevent these problems and manage your risks.
However, many of the most common ailments also predispose you to developing AFib, including high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery disease, obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. More than 2.7 million people have AFib in the United States, and that number continues to increase as the as the population ages.
The condition does not cause a heart attack. However, atrial fibrillation can lead to other serious complications, so it needs to be treated promptly and monitored closely.
A personal survey of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most important causes of irregular heartbeats, has found that the majority of triggers for the condition are easily modifiable lifestyle choices, including alcohol, caffeine, exercise and lack of sleep.
Coronary artery disease is one of the risk factors for AFib. Conditions like CAD, aging, persistent high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, obesity, sleep apnea, and emphysema can eventually damage the heart's electrical system and lead to AFib.
People who have obesity are at higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Other long-term health conditions. You may be more likely to get AFib if you have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, lung disease or sleep apnea.
Both atrial fibrillation and anxiety can lead to irregular heart rhythms, known as arrhythmia. Anxiety may contribute to some heart conditions, including atrial fibrillation. Having atrial fibrillation may also contribute to anxiety.
With the right treatment and regular management, most people with persistent atrial fibrillation can live active, healthy lives. The longer persistent Afib goes without treatment, however, the harder it is to manage. It may become permanent or lead to severe complications such as blood clots or stroke.
The study, conducted at the University of Adelaide in Australia, showed the majority of participants saw some degree of reversal after losing just 10% of their starting weight. More than half kicked AFib completely after keeping the weight off for four years.
In a long-term scenario, living with Afib can make you feel as if your heart is flip-flopping or skipping beats. Whether or not Afib shortens a person's lifespan depends on whether or not he or she can get their heart rate and anticoagulation under control. If controlled, then Afib doesn't shorten a person's lifespan.
While patients who have elevated stroke risks may be able to manage symptoms of AFib — such as a racing heartbeat — with other medications or medical procedures, they will still need to take blood thinners to protect against stroke.
Atrial fibrillation (AF), also called Afib, is a condition which causes an irregular and often rapid heart rate. It can lead to stroke and heart failure. AF is one of a group of heart rhythm conditions called arrhythmias, which are caused by changes to the heart's electrical impulses.
What Does AFib Feel Like? You might feel a flutter or quiver in your chest when your heart beats. Your heart might beat faster than usual, pound, or race. The feeling often lasts for a few minutes.