Aunt Liu in the community is 66 years old this year and suffers from rheumatic mitral stenosis for more than 20 years. Recently, she always feels palpitations and shortness of breath. So she went to the hospital to check. The doctor took out the stethoscope and listened to it, and looked at her electrocardiogram, telling her that it was caused by atrial fibrillation, and let her go back and insist on taking aspirin every day.
Is what atrial fibrillation? Why does Aunt Liu take aspirin every day?
Today, let’s take a look at atrial fibrillation for everyone.
Is what atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in clinic. Atrial contraction in normal people shows uniform and consistent contraction. Just like the drumming performance at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games, every drummer will beat the drum in an orderly way according to the rhythm to make a strong drum sound. However, if the performers beat their own drums at different rhythms, the scene will only be a noise.
Atrial fibrillation is that the atrium is replaced by irregular fibrillation. Everyone no longer obeys the command of the [commander]. The heart does not contract according to the normal rhythm and becomes fast and irregular. The drumbeat is at most a failed performance, but if the heart beats irregularly, the situation is bad.
How do you know if you have atrial fibrillation?
The symptoms of atrial fibrillation are extremely atypical, so you can’t wait until thrombosis occurs before you come to see a doctor. How can we make a definite diagnosis? In fact, it is very simple. When you often feel flustered and your chest is not timely, you have to go to the hospital to have an electrocardiogram. It is convenient and inexpensive. Don’t underestimate those electrocardiograms that look like gobbledygook. After the doctor’s analysis, you can find many problems.
However, some atrial fibrillation is paroxysmal, that is to say, it is not persistent, the result of an electrocardiogram examination may be normal. At this time, the doctor will decide whether it is necessary to do dynamic electrocardiogram for further examination according to your specific situation.
Will atrial fibrillation cause what consequences?
We often say that only by making concerted efforts can one do a good job. If one’s heart beats badly, the heart will naturally not work well. Its influence on the body is mainly manifested in two aspects.
1. Insufficient blood supply
The heart is like a pump, It continuously sucks back venous blood, The arterial blood is then pumped out to maintain the blood supply the body needs. However, if it is pumped so fast, it will only pump a little at a time, and the blood that can be pumped out will become very small. Patients will feel flustered and precordial discomfort due to insufficient blood supply, and sometimes even faint.
2. Increase the risk of thrombosis
The blood of a normal person is flowing quietly like a stream. However, in patients with atrial fibrillation, the wind is not so calm. When blood flows through the atrium that quivers irregularly, It is easy to form vortices, thus greatly increasing the risk of thrombosis. Thrombosis is like the sediment in a stream condensing into large stones, which will flow to all parts of the body along with the blood circulation and block the blood vessels in corresponding parts.
If the thrombus flows to the cerebral vessels, it will lead to cerebral embolism and cerebral infarction (i.e. Ischemic stroke). If the thrombus [runs] to the leg, it may block the blood vessels in the leg, and in serious cases it will cause ischemic necrosis.
Which atrial fibrillation patients are more likely to cause thrombosis?
As patients with atrial fibrillation, the risk of thrombosis varies from individual to individual. If you belong to one of the following groups, you should pay special attention:
- If you are older than 65 years old, the risk will be even greater if you are older than 75 years old. Congestive heart failure; Hypertension; Diabetes mellitus; Have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack.
How to treat atrial fibrillation?
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Restore normal rhythm: Let the trembling atrium beat according to the normal rhythm. Can no longer allow it to tremble in disorder, must obey the unified command of [commander], this [commander] medical call sinus node. Normal regular rhythm is called sinus rhythm. Drugs such as amiodarone can be taken to restore sinus rhythm.
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Slow down your heart rate: You have to slow down your heart rate. You can take drugs that slow down your heart rate, such as propranolol.
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Prevention of thrombosis: The key point is to prevent thrombosis. As many patients with atrial fibrillation will suffer from severe disabling stroke and thromboembolism in the future, Therefore, all patients with atrial fibrillation should receive anticoagulant therapy, and aspirin can be taken for a long time to prevent thrombosis. In addition, according to the severity of the patient’s condition, other kinds of drugs (such as warfarin) may be needed to prevent coagulation. This requires detailed evaluation by cardiologists.
Responsible Editor: Huang Lijia