Around 1.8 million people suffer from atrial fibrillation - the most common cardiac arrhythmia.
Find out here when the phenomenon becomes dangerous.
When the heart starts racing for no apparent reason, the affected person becomes afraid.
Palpitations * can have many causes, many of which are not life threatening.
A racing heart is also a symptom of what is known as atrial fibrillation.
This heart disease must always be checked and treated by a doctor, as it can cause a dangerous stroke.
You can find out here how to recognize atrial fibrillation at an early stage and which risk factors favor the heart problem.
Atrial fibrillation is tricky.
Not all of those affected feel that their heart is not healthy.
Every second person is said to suffer from atrial fibrillation without noticing it, as the Heart Foundation informs.
The arrhythmia is not always accompanied by an irregular heartbeat or a racing heart
.
"Many patients feel no symptoms at all," quotes the Fitbook portal from the Berlin heart specialist Dietrich Andresen.
Also, because many have symptoms only occasionally, it would be difficult for doctors to detect atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is caused by electrical impulses from the pulmonary veins that flow into the left atrium.
This "accident" ensures that the heart suddenly starts beating or racing in a completely irregular manner -
with up to 160 beats per minute or even faster
: "Some patients feel dizzy or may even pass out," explains Andresen.
Typical atrial fibrillation symptoms include:
fast, irregular, or chaotic heartbeat (palpitations or palpitations)
Chest pain
shortness of breath
Restlessness and fear
Feeling weak
Attacks of dizziness
brief loss of consciousness
In the case of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, the symptoms disappear after a few hours or days, as reported by the Heart Foundation.
However, in this case, too, you should consult a doctor, because
attack-like atrial fibrillation
can develop into
permanent atrial fibrillation
.
How does atrial fibrillation develop?
Atrial fibrillation is common in people who already have heart problems.
However, people without heart disease can also be affected, albeit less often.
In this case, doctors often find a
family predisposition
to atrial fibrillation, as the Health Knowledge Foundation informs.
The following risk factors can promote the development of atrial fibrillation:
Heart disease such as heart failure or a recent heart attack
Male gender and old age
high blood pressure
diabetes
Some drugs (such as drugs to increase potency)
Obesity
Smoke
excessive alcohol consumption
Emergency?
Important difference between atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation and atrial fibrillation are not the same thing.
The former is an emergency; those affected immediately pass out because the heart stops because of the ventricular fibrillation.
In that case, 112 must be dialed immediately and cardiac massage started
.
Atrial fibrillation does not result in sudden cardiac death, but increases the risk of stroke.
(jg)
*
Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editorial network.
More sources: https://www.fitbook.de/health/vorhofflimmern-symptome-therapien
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