AFib Awareness: Know the signs and seek treatment
According to the American Heart Association, strokes are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., and AFib causes about 15% of strokes.
“Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm condition we see,” said Dr. Himanshu Shukla, a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist with HCA Florida Heart and Lung. “While AFib itself may not always feel serious, it can lead to dangerous complications if left untreated, including impacts on the brain.”
AFib is an irregular heartbeat in which the atria (upper chambers of the heart) don’t contract in a strong, rhythmic way. When a heart is in AFib, it may not pump enough oxygen-rich blood out of the heart, increasing the risk of clot formation. Clots can travel to the brain, block blood vessels, and cause a stroke.
Left untreated, patients with AFib are three to five times more likely to experience an ischemic stroke (caused by clots) than those without AFib.
While some patients with AFib don’t experience any symptoms, the most common feeling is a fluttering, fast or pounding heartbeat, known as palpitations. AFib can also cause dizziness or fainting, chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath or weakness. These symptoms can be constant or come and go.
“At HCA Florida Healthcare, we create custom solutions for each patient that may include medication and/or surgical procedures,” Dr. Shukla added. “I urge my AFib patients to be diligent about following their doctor’s orders to manage their condition and minimize their stroke risk.”
Dr. Shukla also noted that HCA Florida Ocala Hospital has significantly prioritized electrophysiology, a specialty of cardiac care that evaluates electrical activity of the heart for irregularities, such as arrhythmia. “We continue to provide high-level, quality care by providing all the resources of the hospital system, including all the specialty services and equipment,” he said. “This ensures quality care and top results for these more complex services. Patient safety and successful outcomes are our top priority.”
On Sept. 10 HCA Florida Ocala Hospital hosted a workshop about AFib and some of the latest treatment techniques and technology.
During the session, Dr. Shukla discussed how AFib develops, who is at risk, and the advantages and disadvantages of various treatment options, including pacemakers, traditional ablation, and pulsed-field ablation. Pulsed-field ablation is a new technology that involves targeting the source of heart arrhythmia with short high-voltage pulses and thus reduces the risk of injury to surrounding healthy tissue.
Dr. Chris Jones, a local cardiologist, presented on patient preparation for an AFib procedure and the benefits of implanting a device that allows patients to live with less reliance on blood-thinners and other anti-arrhythmia medications.
Together, the American Heart Association, HCA Healthcare, Inc. and the HCA Healthcare Foundation are working to foster cardiovascular health, prevent stroke and improve AFib patient outcomes by increasing cardiology and neurology collaboration. This year the HCA Healthcare Foundation is providing $3.9 million in additional funding and support to build upon the partnership focused on the heart-brain connection to help treat, beat and prevent stroke.
For more information on AFib, visit HCA Healthcare’s Healthy Living Blog.