What is Atrial Fibrillation - An American Heart Association Infographic

The American Heart Association released an infographic on atrial fibrilation to further inform people as well as bridge knowledge gaps on the condition.

Atrial Fibrillation, AF or Afib, is a condition where the the heart's atria beats too fast and irregularly. Afib is the most common type of arrhythmia (the condition where the heart beats too fast, too slow, or at an irregular pace).

The atria is the heart's two upper chambers. In atrial fibrillation, the blood pools in the atria and does not get completely pumped to the ventricles, which are the two lower chambers.

Unless checked, people may not notice that they have atrial fibrillation. As the AHA Infographic states, 90% of afib patients find about afib from their doctors. Afib is a health risk as 15% to 20% of strokes are attributed to it.

Treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) depends the symptoms, severity, and whether the person already has heart disease. General treatment for afib include medicines, medical procedures, pacemakers, and lifestyle changes.

iPhone App Takes ECG Reading For Monitoring Heart and Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis

An iPhone application that takes electrocardiogram (ECG) readings that is vital to diagnosing for atrial fibrillation was presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2012.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a type of arrhythmia (irregular beating of the heart) where the patient suffers from a rapid beating of the heart combined with poor blood flow. This leads to an increased risk of suffering from a stroke up to as much as seven times the average.

Using Extreme Cold To Treat Malfunctioning Heart Tissues

Cardiac arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats in an irregular rhythm. It may beat too slow or too fast.

These episodes are generally harmless. People who experience an irregular heartbeat may suddenly feel flushed, have shortness of breath, or suddenly weak. There are times when arrhythmia may be dangerous when the heart because of its rhythm may not pump enough blood to the body which can damage the affected areas specially the heart and the brain.

The most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation. This is a rapid beating of the heart that is combined with poor blood flow. Patients who suffer atrial fibrillation may have symptoms such as palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure.

Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke up to seven times the average especially when coupled with other high risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and stress). This condition is detected by taking the pulse or undergoing an electrocardiogram reading (ECG or EKG).

The goal for treating atrial fibrillation is to avoid circulatory shock and prevent a stroke. Circulatory shock is when the body undergoes low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and loss of consciousness. This is generally referred to simply as "shock".

Montreal technology uses cold to treat heart condition

A team of cardiologists from the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) specializing in cardiac arrhythmias has used for the very first time in Canada, a technology developed in Montreal to treat a patient with atrial fibrillation. Recently licenced by Health Canada, this sophisticated device is a balloon inserted by catheter that uses extreme cold to burn malfunctioning heart tissue. This medical milestone is excellent news for hundreds of Canadians as one in 20 people will suffer from atrial fibrillation at some point in their lives.

On September 4 2012, Doctor Marc Dubuc and Doctor Peter Guerra, both cardiologists at MHI, performed the procedure in a 67-year-old female patient. The patient had been suffering from arrhythmia for a number of years and drug-based treatments had proved ineffective. The patient tolerated the procedure well and she was able to return to the comfort of her home barely 24 hours after the procedure.