Our heart consists of four chambers – two atria and two ventricles which pump regularly and in a sequence to supply blood to all body parts. Electrical signals trigger the pumping action, telling the heart when to contract and relax. If there are any disturbances in the electric signals, it leads to an abnormal heartbeat. Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is when the heartbeat is very high at 200 beats per minute. Read on to learn everything about AFib.

What is Atrial fibrillation?

When your heart functions normally, it contracts and relaxes to a regular beat of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Atria are two thin cube-shaped upper chambers of our heart. Their primary function is to receive blood from the veins. When there is some disturbance in the electric signals in the atria, it begins to contract rapidly, leading to AFib. Because of the rapid heartbeat, the blood from the atria may not flow into the ventricles, and the blood that remains in the atria may form blood clots.

Types of AFib

There are four types of AFib, and they are classified based on severity. They are:

Paroxysmal Atrial fibrillation : Symptoms disappear within two days without any treatment.

Persistent Atrial fibrillation : It may last for more than a week and needs a course of shock treatment called cardioversion.

Permanent or chronic Atrial fibrillation : This lasts longer than a year, and doctors resort to tablets and pills to maintain a uniform heartbeat.

Acute-onset Atrial fibrillation : It happens if pre-existing AFib worsens or a patient may have a sudden intense and fast heartbeat. It is considered an emergent situation needing immediate treatment.

Causes of AFib

A-Fib can happen on its own or because of other health conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases. In some patients, the cause of AFib may remain unknown. Some of the common causes of AFib are:

Asthma

Cardiomyopathy

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Congenital heart disease

Coronary heart disease

Electrolyte imbalances

Emphysema

Heart valve disease

High blood pressure

Lung cancer

Overactive thyroid

Pneumonia

Pulmonary embolism

Besides existing or underlying health conditions, lifestyle factors like caffeine indulgence can also trigger AFib.

Symptoms of AFib
Not everyone with AFib may show symptoms; many are diagnosed during regular examinations when a doctor or nurse checks their pulse. Irregular heartbeat affects the efficiency of the heart, and you may notice related symptoms like:

Fast, irregular heartbeat

Palpitations in the heart that resemble fluttering or flopping

Pressure or pain in the chest

Shortness of breath while lying down flat

Unexplained fatigue

Treatment of AFib

AFib needs to be treated with periodic screening and follow-up. Undiagnosed or untreated AFib can lead to stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and sudden cardiac arrest. Doctors consider your age, current health condition, and the cause and type of AFib before deciding on the right treatment. The following are the treatment options for AFib:

Pills and tablets that help regulate and slow heart rate are the first lines of treatment. Commonly used groups of pills and therapies are:

Beta-blockers

Calcium-channel blockers

Anti-arrhythmics

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet treatments to prevent stroke

Cardioversion

Cardioversion is when doctors send controlled electric shocks to the heart using a defibrillator machine to restore regular heart rate. Doctors may do this procedure multiple times and usually combine it with tablets.

Catheter ablation

Doctors use a surgical procedure called catheter ablation to destroy the areas that disrupt the electric signals and cause irregular heart rates.

Fixing a pacemaker

Doctors use a surgical procedure to implant artificial devices called pacemakers inside the chest. The device then regularly transmits electrical impulses to the heart to regulate its normal rate of contraction and relaxation.

Natural remedies to prevent and manage AFib

Maintaining a heart-friendly lifestyle is one of the surest ways of preventing AFib. Following are the natural ways not only to prevent AFib but also to prevent further episodes for those already affected by it:

Increasing the time spent on moderate physical activities like walking, yoga, and Tai Chi keeps your heart pumping normally.

Avoiding intense workouts.

Improving sleeping habits to reduce stress on the heart.

Learning to manage stress by meditation, maintaining work-life balance, and cultivating new hobbies.

Foods to eat and avoid

Among the triggers of AFib, food habits are within our control, unlike genetic triggers. Making careful food choices are mandatory to prevent and manage AFib.

Include heart-friendly foods like:

Healthy plant-based fats

Fish

Lean poultry

Low-fat dairy

Whole grains

Rainbow-colored fruits and vegetables

Electrolyte-rich food like fortified cereals, green leafy vegetables, watermelons

Avoid foods like:

Stimulants and inflammatory foods

Refined carbohydrates

Processed foods high in salt and sugar

High-fat dairy that contains casein

Gluten foods

Caffeine

Trans and saturated fat are typically found in processed and fried foods

MSG

Making simple changes in the lifestyle and adopting healthy habits like eating the right kind of food can help manage and prevent many health conditions.