HJAR Nov/Dec 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2022 55 Mangaraju Chakka, MD Cardiologist CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute signals cause the heart to contract quickly and irregularly, which is known as fibrillating. This irregularity causes blood to pool in the upper chambers instead of circulating into the heart’s two lower chambers. That leaves the heart’s upper and lower chambers out of sync, and the heart begins to lose efficiency. Atrial fibrillation diagnosis may be he- reditary in some rare cases, but anyone has a chance of developing this common heart condition. Still, certain risk factors increase the likelihood of someone developing atrial fibrillation. Some of those risk factors include: • Hypertension or uncontrolled high blood pressure. • Chronic conditions like diabetes, COPD, thyroid conditions, and sleep apnea. • Obesity. • Excessive alcohol or drug use. • Stress or anxiety. • Other existing heart conditions like coronary artery disease or heart valve disease. Regardless of the cause of atrial fibrilla- tion, it’s important to understand that while symptoms may last for a few minutes or hours before suddenly stopping, the heart arrhythmia itself is always present. WHILE atrial fibrillation diagnosis may in- crease with age, this heart condition can de- velop at any age. Many patients as young as their 20s and 30s will face an atrial fibrillation diagnosis, and, while it is treatable, it can also be associated with other heart conditions when diagnosed at a younger age. For many individuals, the first time they are taken to the emergency room with a stroke is the first time they ever hear they have atrial fibrillation. Many people will feel there’s something abnormal in their heart rhythm before they have a serious heart event like a stroke, but they may not be able to explain what’s happening or understand how serious what they feel really is. Regardless of the age, when a patient first feels a “flutter”of their heart and is diagnosed, the risks associated atrial fibrillation are very real. This irregular heart beat can lead to heart failure, blood clots, or even a stroke. ATRIAL FIBRILLATION CAUSES Atrial fibrillation occurs when someone experiences rapid, disorganized electrical ac- tivity in the two upper chambers of the heart, known as the atria. Those pulses can range from300-to-600 beats per minute compared to a normal resting heart rate that doesn’t exceed 100 beats per minute. These rapid ATRIAL FIBRILLATION SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS Not every heart arrhythmia is atrial fibril- lation, and some arrhythmias may be less or more concerning depending on other health factors. That means it is important to know and recognize atrial fibrillation symptoms and signs. It may be something very benign, like a little fluttering in the chest to a racing of the heart. You may feel your heart pounding or feel extra beats or symptoms like shortness of breath when you try to do things. Some- times people may feel dizzy like they’re going to pass out. The most important thing to do is to visit with your cardiologist for a diagnosis. Once you know what condition you have, you’ll understand how serious it is and be able to take the next steps with your cardiologist to determine the best atrial fibrillation treat- ment for you. n Mangaraju Chakka, MD, is a cardiologist with the CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute treating patients in Little Rock and Hot Springs. He specializes in cardiac electrophysiology and performed the first catheter-based radiofrequency ablations for atrial fibrillation at CHI St. Vincent. Chakka earned a medical degree from New York University School of Medicine. “Regardless of the age, when a patient first feels a ‘flutter’ of their heart and is diagnosed, the risks associated atrial fibrillation are very real.”