A healthy heart maintains a consistent heartbeat. But if you experience heart flutters or a racing heart, you could have atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat. While not typically dangerous itself, AFib can lead to serious, sometimes life-endangering heart conditions. Set your mind at ease and receive expert cardiovascular care when you partner with Heart One Associates, with offices in Peoria, Buckeye, and Phoenix, Arizona. Schedule a heart health assessment today — call or inquire online.
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heartbeat. This rhythm problem causes the heart's upper chamber to fall out of sync with its lower chambers.
Although AFib itself isn't life-threatening, it puts you at risk for conditions that are. When the heart's chambers work together, they create a consistent blood flow around the body. If their timing is off, the blood moves more slowly and less efficiently, allowing the blood to pool and even clot. A blood clot in the brain, heart, or lungs can cause stroke and even death.
The experienced team at Heart One Associates provides cardiovascular diagnostic tests to identify potential health issues. If you have concerns about heart health, schedule a health assessment.
AFib symptoms are fairly consistent across everyone who has the condition. Most people report the following:
AFib symptoms take four forms. Occasional AFib comes and goes, persistent AFib goes away only with treatment, long-term persistent AFib has lasted for longer than 12 months, and with permanent AFib, the heart rhythm can never be restored.
Your physician at Heart One Associates talks you through your AFib treatment options and answers all your questions.
Often, another heart problem is to blame for the damage to or abnormalities in the heart's structure that causes AFib, such as:
But not all causes are heart-related. Alcohol and stimulants, high thyroid levels, and pneumonia are potential causes too. And some people have a condition called lone atrial fibrillation, which occurs for no apparent reason.
Your doctor performs a physical examination and explores your health history to identify the underlying cause — if any — of your atrial fibrillation.
Often, AFib doesn't require treatment — just ongoing monitoring. However, if you have a high risk of complications, have persistent symptoms, or even no symptoms at all, your provider recommends a custom treatment program that may include blood-thinning or rate-controlling medication, shock treatment, or surgery.
Schedule a consultation at Heart One Associates today. Call the team or request an appointment online.
