Atrial fibrillation - symptoms and methods of its elimination

Many patients ask the question - what is atrial fibrillation? This is a violation of the contractile function of the heart, which is accompanied by fibrillation of the muscle fibers of the atria. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by fast and irregular electrical atrial pulses, whose frequency can reach 350-600 per minute, as a result of which ventricular contractions are also irregular. Systematic violations of the rhythm of contraction of the heart muscle can lead to chronic circulatory failure. Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of arrhythmia. The main causes that cause it are myocarditis, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, cardiosclerosis, hypertension, etc. Also, atrial fibrillation can develop against a background of thyrotoxicosis, alcohol poisoning, adrenomimetics and cardiac glycosides.

Atrial fibrillation has different symptoms, largely depending on its shape (paroxysmal, persistent, tachysystolic, bradiscital) and the state of the heart muscle. The most severe manifestation of tachysitolytic form of arrhythmia (rapid heart rate, heart pain, dyspnea, which increases with physical exertion), as well as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, the symptoms of which are mainly manifested as weakness, sweating, trembling, fear, polyuria, dizziness, fainting. Often, patients complain of shortness of breath and a feeling of pain in the heart, sometimes there is anemia of the visible mucous membranes and cyanosis of the lips.

Atrial fibrillation: symptoms and treatment

Treatment of the disease is aimed at restoring the rhythm of the heart, preventing recurrence of atrial fibrillation, preventing the development of thromboembolism. In medical practice to prevent the development of paroxysms of arrhythmia use quinidine, novocaineamide, propanorm, cordarone. Less effective is the use of verapamil, digoxin, anaprilin. The mechanism of their action is aimed at normalizing contractile activity of the myocardium, improving the health of patients (reduce shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations). With insufficient effectiveness of the use of medicines, cardiologists often prescribe an electric cardioversion (impulse electric discharge to the heart area in order to improve the heart rhythm), with paroxysms disappearing in 90% of cases. Atrial fibrillation, the symptoms of which last more than 2 days, increases the chances of developing thromboembolism. Warfarin is prescribed to prevent thrombus formation. Patients with a diagnosis - a chronic form of atrial fibrillation, appoint atenolol, egilok, concor (adrenoblockers), diltiazem, verapamil, digoxin (antagonists of calcium ions). The effectiveness of treatment depends on the timely establishment of the underlying disease, which caused the development of rhythm disturbances. Radical methods that eliminate atrial fibrillation are the use of RF isolation of pulmonary veins. The focus of ectopic excitation, which is localized in the mouths of the pulmonary veins, is removed from the atria. The effectiveness of radiofrequency isolation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation is about 60%. With a permanent or recurrent form, radiofrequency ablation (burning) of the atrioventicular node of the heart is prescribed with the implantation of a permanent pacemaker.

The basis of primary prevention is the timely treatment of diseases that are dangerous for the development of atrial fibrillation. Secondary prophylaxis is aimed at adhering to the doctor's recommendations regarding antirechered therapy, limiting physical and psycho-emotional stress, abstinence from the use of nicotine and alcoholic beverages.