Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation consultations focus on this common arrhythmia, providing guidance on diagnosis, treatment options, and lifestyle management.

Understanding Cardiac Rhythm and Atrial Fibrillation

The Heart: Your Body’s Vital Pump

The heart, often dubbed the body’s natural pump, is responsible for ensuring a consistent blood supply to all parts of the body. Comprising four chambers, it operates in a synchronised manner to keep our circulatory system in optimal working condition. The two upper chambers, the right atrium and left atrium, receive blood as it returns from the body via the veins. Meanwhile, the lower chambers, the right and left ventricles, take on the crucial role of pumping rich blood out to the body via the arteries. It is the role of the atria to pump the blood from the veins into the ventricles, so that the ventricles are properly primed before they contract.

Much like any mechanical device, the heart relies on an intricate electrical system to regulate its functions

Normal Heart Rhythm: The Spark Behind Each Beat

For the heart to fulfill its role efficiently – pumping blood throughout the body – it depends on an electrical impulse, essentially its spark plug, to generate a heartbeat. In a healthy heart, this electrical impulse originates in the right atrium, specifically in a spot known as the sino-atrial (SA) node. This SA node acts as the heart’s natural pacemaker, generating electrical sparks that prompt the heart to beat around 60 to 100 times per minute. Naturally, during exercise, stress, or strenuous activities, your heart rate may increase, while rest or sleep leads to a slower heart rate. Certain medications may also influence your heart rate, and all of these variations are perfectly normal.

From the SA node, the electrical impulse travels through the heart’s conduction system, which acts like the heart’s electrical wiring. It spreads across the right and left atria and eventually reaches the atrioventricular (AV) node. The AV node serves as a vital connection between the upper chambers (atria) and the lower chambers (ventricles), serving as the only pathway for electrical impulses to reach the pumping chambers. The impulse travels through the AV node and down into the ventricles, prompting them to contract and propel blood to the lungs and the rest of the body.

Understanding Atrial Fibrillation: When the Rhythm Goes Awry

In certain cases, an abnormal heart rhythm, known as arrhythmia, occurs when an electrical impulse initiates from a location other than the SA node or follows an unusual pathway. This is precisely what happens in atrial fibrillation (AF). In AF, an abnormal electrical focus develops, leading to multiple electrical short circuits within the upper chambers of the heart, both the left and right atria.

The Consequences of Atrial Fibrillation: Symptoms and Risk

Atrial fibrillation gives rise to rapid short circuits, which can have a range of consequences:

Symptoms: These short circuits are conducted into the pumping chambers via the AV node, causing them to contract rapidly and irregularly. This often leads to palpitations, shortness of breath, tiredness, and can even result in dizziness and chest pain for some individuals.

Risk of Blood Clots and Stroke: Ineffective pumping of the upper chambers can slow blood flow in the atria. This, in rare instances, can lead to the formation of blood clots, potentially resulting in a stroke. The risk of blood clots and stroke varies based on individual risk factors, which we will discuss with you, taking into account your medical history.

The Causes of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation can be associated with various heart conditions such as previous heart attacks, heart valve problems, high blood pressure, and more. However, it can also occur seemingly out of the blue in individuals whose hearts appear otherwise healthy. In such cases, certain triggers like infection, alcohol, stress, tiredness, or vigorous exercise can provoke episodes of atrial fibrillation.

Available Treatments for Atrial Fibrillation

Several treatments are available to manage atrial fibrillation:

Medications: Medications are often the primary approach to controlling atrial fibrillation. They can effectively reduce the frequency and severity of episodes, though they do not provide a cure and may have side effects.
DC Shock or Electrical Cardioversion: In some cases, a procedure involving a controlled electrical shock to the chest can revert the heart’s rhythm to normal. This procedure, typically performed under general anesthesia, may require additional medication to maintain normal rhythm.
Blood Thinning Medications: Given the potential for blood clots in atrial fibrillation, many patients may need blood-thinning medication to prevent clot formation. Your doctor will determine whether aspirin, warfarin, or newer agents (NOACs) are most suitable for your specific situation.
Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: This specialised procedure, known as radiofrequency or catheter ablation, can be an option for some patients. It involves creating small burns at the tip of a catheter to eliminate the tissue responsible for the short-circuit, essentially curing atrial fibrillation.
Pacemaker and AV Node Ablation: For patients with severe symptoms and unresponsive to medications, a permanent pacemaker may be implanted. This can be followed by AV node ablation, effectively eliminating short-circuits in the atria, thus controlling symptoms.

The Prospect of a Cure

Atrial fibrillation is a common condition and the subject of extensive research. As our understanding of the condition deepens, there is hope that more effective treatments and even cures will become available. We remain committed to staying at the forefront of these developments to provide you with the best care possible.

Atrial Fibrillation

Understanding Cardiac Rhythm and Atrial Fibrillation

WHAT WE DO

OUR DOCTORS

LOCATE US

RESOURCES

PATIENT INFORMATION

CONSULTATIONS & APPOINTMENTS

consulting

Diagnostic and Imaging Services

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY

ASSOCIATIONS

contact us

FRANKSTON

OPENING HOURS