(Lifestyle) Atrial fibrillation: A silent disease

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Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, dementia, and even death.

A study published by the American Heart Association revealed that 33.5 million people or 0.5% of the world's po[CENSORED]tion suffer from atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder. Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a problem with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat and many times there are no symptoms for this condition, in fact, it is sometimes diagnosed by chance in a routine check-up. The most common complaints are: palpitations (rapid and irregular heartbeat) and very marked tiredness when performing daily activities. Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, dementia, and even death.

Factors that may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation include the following: Age, Heart disease, High blood pressure, Thyroid disease, Diabetes, Lung disease or sleep apnea, Obesity, and Family history.

Depending on the circumstances and severity in each case, there are three ways to treat this condition; Drugs and anticoagulants or medications that can prevent the onset of the arrhythmia, control the heart rate when it occurs, and reduce complications. Cardioversion, which attempts to reverse atrial fibrillation; that is, move it to a normal heart rate. And lastly, ablation, a minimally invasive technique that is normally performed through a peripheral vein such as the femoral vein to the left atrium in order to restore normal rhythm. Atrial fibrillation ablation is generally performed in patients with a reasonable chance of cure who continue to have atrial fibrillation despite taking antiarrhythmic medication. In certain cases, it can be considered as the first treatment option since it is associated with a higher cure rate and is low risk in expert hands.

Dr. Daniel Benhayon, cardioelectrophysiologist, and Dr. John Cogan, cardioelectrophysiologist and Medical Director of the department of electrophysiology at Memorial Healthcare System in South Florida, both experts in the management of atrial fibrillation, explain us about this minimally invasive technique . “There are two procedures to perform atrial fibrillation ablation; cardiac and catheter surgery. Cardiac surgery is more effective, but it is reserved for very specific cases or patients who are going to undergo another cardiac surgery. The catheter procedure is usually preferred, as it is very effective in the right, low-risk patient,” the experts say.

If ablation of atrial fibrillation has been successful, it is likely that the patient can discontinue antiarrhythmic therapy, since the source of the arrhythmia has been eliminated. The decision to withdraw all, nothing or part of the treatment is made by the doctor evaluating each case and based on the history and tests performed on each patient. Since ablation is a procedure that is carried out using flexible catheters that are inserted through a vein or an artery, usually in the groin, after a few days the patient can return to their daily activities without impediments.
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