Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEmergency SymptomsComplicationsHospital CareAt-Home ManagementNext in Atrial Fibrillation GuideCan You Reverse Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Naturally?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Emergency Symptoms
Complications
Hospital Care
At-Home Management
Next in Atrial Fibrillation Guide
Atrial fibrillation(AFib) is the most commonly treatedheart arrhythmia.It causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat fast, generating an inefficient heartbeat and increasing the risk of stroke. Anytime someone experiences AFib for the first time, they should go to the hospital.
This article will discuss AFib symptoms and when emergency treatment is necessary
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Atrial Fibrillation Emergency Symptoms
AFib is a rapid, irregular heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat chaotically, ineffectively, and at a very fast rate. This leads to ineffective emptying of the atria, thus increasing the risk of blood clots. It also reduces the efficiency of the lower cardiac chambers (ventricles), which lowers the ability of the heart to pump blood efficiently.
A person can be in AFib and not experience any symptoms. However, AFib can cause emergency symptoms that need immediate medical attention. Call 911 for these symptoms:
Heart Rate vs. HeartbeatA heart rate is the number of times per minute that the heart beats.A heartbeat is when theheartgoes through its normal sequence of moving blood from the heart to the body via muscular contractions of the heart chambers (atria and ventricles) and the opening and closing of valves.It starts when blood enters the right atrium and is pumped into the right ventricle. From the right ventricle, blood is pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs. From the lungs, it returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins to the left atrium.Blood then moves to the left ventricle and then out of the heart via the aorta to the body. This entire sequence, ormovement of blood, happens during every heartbeat.
Heart Rate vs. Heartbeat
A heart rate is the number of times per minute that the heart beats.A heartbeat is when theheartgoes through its normal sequence of moving blood from the heart to the body via muscular contractions of the heart chambers (atria and ventricles) and the opening and closing of valves.It starts when blood enters the right atrium and is pumped into the right ventricle. From the right ventricle, blood is pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs. From the lungs, it returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins to the left atrium.Blood then moves to the left ventricle and then out of the heart via the aorta to the body. This entire sequence, ormovement of blood, happens during every heartbeat.
A heart rate is the number of times per minute that the heart beats.
A heartbeat is when theheartgoes through its normal sequence of moving blood from the heart to the body via muscular contractions of the heart chambers (atria and ventricles) and the opening and closing of valves.
It starts when blood enters the right atrium and is pumped into the right ventricle. From the right ventricle, blood is pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs. From the lungs, it returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins to the left atrium.
Blood then moves to the left ventricle and then out of the heart via the aorta to the body. This entire sequence, ormovement of blood, happens during every heartbeat.
Atrial Fibrillation Complications
The greatest risk associated with AFib is that the arrhythmia can cause additional problems like a stroke or heart failure.
Stroke
The increasedrisk of strokeis due to how the heart moves when it is in AFib. The upper chambers of the heart are not fully contracting during AFib. This results in some blood staying in the atria.
When blood pools in the atria, there is an increased chance of clot formation. Theseclotscan then be pushed out of the heart to the brain, causing a stroke.
Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
Heart Failure
Heart failureis another complication of atrial fibrillation. Heart failure is when the heart does not pump enough blood through the body.
When someone is in AFib, their heart is beating very fast. This does not allow enough blood to fill the heart between contractions. This decreases the amount of blood pumped into the body.
Without the strong heart contractions to move blood into the body, blood can back up into the pulmonary veins. The extra blood in these veins causes fluid to be pushed into the lungs. This is calledpulmonary edema. Ultimately, less oxygen exchange in the lungs causes shortness of breath and fatigue.
What Happens at Hospital for Atrial Fibrillation
Someone who is stable and comes into the hospital for AFib is likely to be treated with medications to control their heart rate and rhythm and an anticoagulant to prevent stroke.
People who are in the hospital with unstable vital signs may be treated with intravenous (IV) medications or cardioverted.Cardioversionis when someone is shocked with electrical paddles or stickers placed on the chest. They will be sedated before they are shocked.
After treatment at a hospital, healthcare providers will create a home plan for people with AFib. The goal will be to reduce the incidence of AFib and keep the heart rate and rhythm normal.
Atrial Fibrillation Heart RateWhen someone is in AFib their atria (upper chambers of the heart) are moving at a very fast and irregular rate. The atrial rate can beat 400 or more times per minute.This is very rapid compared to the range of 60 to 150 beats per minute for a healthy person.
Atrial Fibrillation Heart Rate
When someone is in AFib their atria (upper chambers of the heart) are moving at a very fast and irregular rate. The atrial rate can beat 400 or more times per minute.This is very rapid compared to the range of 60 to 150 beats per minute for a healthy person.
Managing Atrial Fibrillation Episodes at Home
If a person has had AFib, their healthcare provider may have set them up with instructions on how to manage it at home. Most people will be taking medications daily to control their heart rate and ananticoagulantto reduce the risk of stroke. However, there is still a risk of developing AFib.
Some steps to take to manage AFib episodes at home are:
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an arrhythmia that increases a person’s risk of stroke and heart failure. Immediate recognition and treatment can improve outcomes. For some people, AFib is something they will deal with for the rest of their life.
A healthcare provider can provide a treatment plan that allows a person with AFib to manage some of their symptoms at home. However, if symptoms worsen, it’s vital that they seek immediate medical attention.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.MedlinePlus.Atrial fibrillation.Mount Sinai.Atrial fibrillation - discharge.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.How blood flows through the heart.American Heart Association.Why atrial fibrillation matters.Alsagaff MY, Susilo H, Pramudia C, et al.Rapid atrial fibrillation in the emergency department.Heart Int. 2022;16(1):12-19. doi:10.17925/HI.2022.16.1.12Johns Hopkins Medicine.What is Afib?UNC Health.You’ve been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, now what?
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.MedlinePlus.Atrial fibrillation.Mount Sinai.Atrial fibrillation - discharge.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.How blood flows through the heart.American Heart Association.Why atrial fibrillation matters.Alsagaff MY, Susilo H, Pramudia C, et al.Rapid atrial fibrillation in the emergency department.Heart Int. 2022;16(1):12-19. doi:10.17925/HI.2022.16.1.12Johns Hopkins Medicine.What is Afib?UNC Health.You’ve been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, now what?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.MedlinePlus.Atrial fibrillation.Mount Sinai.Atrial fibrillation - discharge.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.How blood flows through the heart.American Heart Association.Why atrial fibrillation matters.Alsagaff MY, Susilo H, Pramudia C, et al.Rapid atrial fibrillation in the emergency department.Heart Int. 2022;16(1):12-19. doi:10.17925/HI.2022.16.1.12Johns Hopkins Medicine.What is Afib?UNC Health.You’ve been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, now what?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Atrial fibrillation.
MedlinePlus.Atrial fibrillation.
Mount Sinai.Atrial fibrillation - discharge.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.How blood flows through the heart.
American Heart Association.Why atrial fibrillation matters.
Alsagaff MY, Susilo H, Pramudia C, et al.Rapid atrial fibrillation in the emergency department.Heart Int. 2022;16(1):12-19. doi:10.17925/HI.2022.16.1.12
Johns Hopkins Medicine.What is Afib?
UNC Health.You’ve been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, now what?
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