My mother has always preached, “You’ll never get what you
want in life if you don’t ask for it!” and you know what, she is right! That
statement holds true to so many aspects of life and it even applies to the
conversation you should have with your doctor regarding atrial fibrillation.
Afib is an irregular, often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood
flow[1].
Treatment for afib varies depending on weight, age, symptoms and pre-existing
health conditions[2],
which is why it is essential to ask for an open dialog with your doctor about
your treatment plan.
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To help develop a solid treatment plan that is best for you,
meet with your doctor and ask the following questions about afib courtesy of
Everyday Health2.
1. What's Causing
My Symptoms?
Whether you
have other health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery
disease, these will affect your treatment for afib. Weight can also play a
role. "Clear data shows that people
who are obese, particularly morbidly obese, are at higher risk for afib," says
Smit Vasaiwala, an
assistant professor of cardiology at Loyola University Medical Center. Afib also is more common among
people with untreated sleep apnea and hyperthyroidism, he says. Treating
underlying issues, notes the American Heart Association, may help restore a
normal heart rhythm.
2. What Are My
Treatment Options?
According to the American Heart Association, treatments for
afib may include:
- Taking medication to control heart rhythm
- Taking blood-thinning medication to prevent clots
- Having catheter ablation — a procedure that uses an energy source, such as radio waves or lasers, to block the abnormal electrical signals triggering afib.
To individualize these treatments, your doctor will consider
your age and weight as well as the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
These factors can influence not only the success of your treatment but also
your risk for complications. "Some patients may not be a candidate for
ablation," Vasaiwala says. "The procedure may not be safe or
effective for people who are extremely overweight, have severe kidney or liver
disease, or those who are very old."
3. What Tests Do I
Need?
A personalized approach to afib treatment usually includes
tests that can give your doctor a better picture of your heart and brain
health. Routine tests for afib include an electrocardiogram (known as an EKG or
ECG) and an echocardiogram (echo) to rule out structural heart disease, which
can be interrupting the natural flow of blood through the heart. An MRI can
help predict how effective an ablation procedure would be, Vasaiwala says. An
MRI can also provide a picture of your brain to help doctors determine your
risk for stroke and your need for blood-thinning medication. In addition,
stress tests may be used to rule out undiagnosed coronary artery disease. As
Vasaiwala says, "We need to make sure that this underlying condition is
not causing afib."
4. Should I Make
Lifestyle Changes?
Adjusting your day-to-day routine may help restore a normal
heart rhythm — especially for those newly diagnosed with afib. "It's
important to determine if it's a reversible problem," Vasaiwala notes.
"Is it something silly, like a patient is drinking three pots of coffee
each day or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol? Excessive stress can cause
afib, too. If it's potentially reversible, then that’s the first thing you want
to address."
Other lifestyle changes that the American Heart Association
suggests to help reduce afib risks include:
- Getting regular physical activity
- Eating a heart-healthy diet that's low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol
- Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol in check
- Limiting how much alcohol you drink
- Avoiding caffeine
- Not smoking
- Maintaining a healthy weight
5. How Important
Is Controlling Afib?
"Afib is a progressive disease, so the sooner it's
treated, the better things will be," Vasaiwala says. "For patients
who've been in afib for a long period of time, the chances of successfully
returning to a normal heart rhythm are significantly lower." Although it's
known that afib can increase the risk for stroke and heart failure, other
long-term effects of the condition are not yet fully understood. "We don't
know what it means to be in afib for 50 years," he says. Even when
symptoms aren't noticeable, however, afib can increase the risk for stroke. In
fact, the National Stroke Association reports that people with afib are five
times more likely to have a stroke than those who don't have afib. Moreover,
about 15 percent of people who have a stroke also have afib. And, for those who
have other conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, the risk for
stroke may be even higher, the American Heart Association cautions.
With so many health issues to deal with and/or investigate,
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Works Cited:
1.
“Atrial Fibrillation.” Google. 14 April 2016. <https://www.gstatic.com/healthricherkp/pdf/atrial_fibrillation.pdf>.
2.
Dallas, Mary Elizabeth. “5 Questions to Ask Your
Doctor About Afib.” Everyday Health.
11 September 2014. <http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/questions-ask-your-doctor-about-afib/
>.
