Have you ever experienced the feeling of your heart skipping a beat? Or feeling like your heart is banging against your chest wall? You’re not alone. An estimated 5 million Americans live with irregular heart rhythm, also known as atrial fibrillation or Afib.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of Afib, don’t wait to see a specialist. To schedule an appointment with a board-certified cardiologist in Franklin, NJ; Vernon, NJ; Milford, PA; or Newton, NJ, contact us today. Give our office a call at (973) 579-2100 or request an appointment through our secure online form.
Your heart normally contracts and relaxes to a regular heartbeat. However, Afib causes the upper chambers (atria) to beat irregularly and out of correlation with the bottom chambers (the ventricles). The irregular heartbeat can cause no symptoms, or it can cause palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue.
As you age, it’s important to be aware of the risk factors for Atrial Fibrillation because the chance of heart disease and related conditions like Atrial Fibrillation increases.
It is also important to note that atrial fibrillation is more likely in men and in people who have had a heart attack. Lifestyle habits such as drinking large amounts of alcohol, having too much caffeine, or being extremely stressed can trigger atrial fibrillation as well.
Atrial Fibrillation causes some of the heart’s chambers to contract faster than normal and when this happens they may not be able to pump enough blood to the body.
Some people experience symptoms that may include:
Malfunctions such as Afib affect how the heart pushes oxygen-rich blood through the body. Because it impacts blood flow, some complications can occur if people struggle with Afib for a long time:
To stop Afib from causing long-term damage, there are a few treatment options physicians might suggest, including: