Posted Mar 8, 2012
That fluttering, flopping or racing in your chest could be caused by more than a new romance.
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the most common type of heart rhythm abnormality (arrhythmia). It interferes with your heart’s natural pacemaker, often causing palpitations which feel like a “flutter” of the heart.
This can interfere with the way that the heart pumps blood. It is most common in patients over the age of 65 and in those with thyroid disease, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and other medical conditions.
Symptoms of AFib can include trouble breathing, sweating, fainting, dizziness, pressure or pain in the chest, and fatigue or weakness.
However, many may have little or no signs at all, so it is important to see a physician if you are experiencing even one of these symptoms.
Once a patient is diagnosed with AFib, there are several options to help control the arrhythmia and prevent stroke, generally first through prescription medications.
If this is ineffective, other procedures available include electrical cardioversion, which can restore regular heartbeat through an electric shock to the heart done under anesthesia.
Electrical cardioversion, however, does not prevent against future arrhythmia. Maintaining a normal rhythm may require anti- arrhythmic drugs.
Catheter ablation uses flexible wires, under X-ray guidance, to deliver bursts of radiofrequency to affected areas of the heart, thereby restoring the heart’s electrical signals.
Symptoms of an arrhythmia or other cardiac concerns should not be ignored. Often times your physician can treat these with both dietary and lifestyle changes, helping you to feel better in time to enjoy your new romance.