dallas Cardiologist Sheds Light on Rising AFib Rates and Silent โSymptoms
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DALLAS,โ TX – Aโค concerning number โofโค Americans are living with atrial fibrillation (AFib) – an irregular heartbeat โthat can lead to stroke, heart failure,โฃ and other complicationsโ – frequently enough โขwithout even knowing it. โAโ recent studyโข revealedโ that a โstaggering 62% of AFib patients were unaware of their condition before diagnosis. Aโค Dallas-based electrophysiologist is now speaking outโข about the growingโค prevalence of AFib,the subtle signs patientsโข frequently โmiss,and โขproactive stepsโ individuals can take to mitigate their risk.
AFib isโข becoming increasingly common, โฃeven appearing more frequently in individuals in โdevelopedโฃ countries compared to those in third-world nations. Thisโ rise, coupled with the often-silent nature of the condition, makes early detection and intervention crucial.โ Untreated AFib considerably elevates the risk ofโฃ stroke โfivefold, highlighting the urgent need for โคgreater awareness and preventative measures. The cardiologist โคemphasizes that while AFib โis “modifiable,” a multi-faceted approach โขcombiningโ lifestyle changes โwith medical treatment isโฃ key to โmanaging and possibly achieving remission.
Recognizing theโ Signs and Understanding the โRisks
AFib occurs when the โupperโ chambers of the heart (atria) beat irregularly,โ disrupting the coordinated flow of blood โฃto theโ lower chambers. Symptoms can vary widely, ranging from noticeable โฃpalpitationsโข and shortness โof breath to fatigue and โdizziness. Though, many individuals experience no symptoms at all, making itโ a “silent” threat.
“You can do all these lifestyle โฃthingsโฆto try to โkeepโ yourself from having AFib or having other diseases โdown the line,” the cardiologist explained. He โstresses โฃtheโค importance of controlling underlying health โคconditions like diabetes and high blood pressure,treating โคobstructive sleep apnea,and,crucially,losing weight.
Treatment Options: From Medication to Ablation
Once diagnosed,โ AFibโค is treatable, โฃthough not always curable. Treatment strategies include bloodโ thinners to prevent โstroke,โข medication to control โheart rateโ and rhythm,โ and aโ procedure called โคablation.
An ablation, performed by an electrophysiologist, involvesโค accessing the heart through a vein in the โคgroin and modifying โthe areas โtriggering the โirregular heartbeat. “By โขkeeping the triggerโ from entering the heart, we can โฃkeep AFib away,” the cardiologist stated. In moreโ advanced cases, โablation โฃcanโ also address scar tissue thatโ contributes to the condition.โฃ He describes achieving AFib-free status after ablation as being “in remission,” mirroring the concept used in cancer treatment.
Proactive โSteps for Prevention
The cardiologist โขemphasizes a holistic approach to โคAFib management, combining medical interventions with sustained โคlifestyle modifications. Prioritizing heart healthโ through diet, exercise, and management of existing conditions is paramount.
Resources:
* โ Atrial fibrillation: New โฃguidelines, new โคadvice
* New atrial โfibrillation guideline: โModify risk, controlโ rhythm, โฃprevent progression
* โค New researchโข finds 62% of AFib patients were unaware of the conditionโ beforeโฃ diagnosis