Why We're So Concerned About Atrial Fibrillation

Cardiovascular diseases affect nearly half of American adults (about 48%), which means tens of millions of Americans are at greater risk for serious heart disease.

Though all cardiovascular diseases should be considered potentially serious, we want to focus on one that certainly fits the bill — atrial fibrillation. AFib, as the condition is often called, is estimated to affect more than 10.5 million Americans, a number that’s on the rise.

In this month’s blog post, the team at Upper East Side Cardiology, with board-certified cardiologist Dr. Satjit Bhusri at the helm, wants to take a closer look at why heart health specialists like ourselves are concerned about AFib. Let’s take a look.

About AFib

AFib is classified as an arrhythmia, an irregularity in your heart’s rhythm, and it’s the most common one. With AFib, the upper chambers in your heart (the atria) contract irregularly thanks to abnormal electrical activity. Instead of contracting rhythmically to send blood down to the lower chambers (your ventricles), the upper chambers quiver or beat erratically and too fast.

Due to this rhythm irregularity, your heart isn’t pumping blood efficiently, and blood can stall in the upper chambers.

AFib can come and go or be a constant companion. Additionally, during the early stages, many people are unaware of the condition.

The serious complications of AFib

We can start this discussion with a sobering reality — AFib can double your risk for death, especially if it goes untreated.

When we described blood pooling in the upper chambers due to AFib, this is a serious problem because it allows blood clots to form. And these blood clots can lead to stroke. By the numbers, up to 20% of people who have a stroke also have AFib, and this connection is far from coincidental.

Another issue we’re concerned with when you have AFib is heart failure. When your heart doesn't beat efficiently, it can stress the organ and lead to premature failure.

Recognizing AFib so you can take action

Given how serious the complications of AFib can be, it’s important to recognize when there's a problem — and the earlier, the better.

Signs of AFib include:

• Heart palpitations that make it feel like your heart is fluttering, speeding, or flip-flopping 
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain

Many people with AFib only experience episodes of these symptoms, but without intervention, AFib can advance, and symptoms can become more frequent and stronger.

If you recognize any of the symptoms from this list, please see us right away. We can take many steps to reduce your risk of complications, such as prescribing blood-thinning medications to prevent clots. Making a few lifestyle changes can also go a long way toward improving AFib.

To learn more about AFib or to undergo an evaluation for this common arrhythmia, we invite you to contact our New York City office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Call our team at 212-752-3464 or request information online.