Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder, afflicting more than one million Americans. The condition occurs when blood is not pumped through the heart with a regular beat. If untreated, the condition can result in blood clots that can travel through the body and cause strokes, heart attacks or loss of the use of vital organs.
In many instances, patients become aware of this condition when their pulse beats irregularly (palpitations). Other signs include racing heartbeat, light-headedness, shortness of breath or even fainting.
Patients suffering from atrial fibrillation may undergo the following tests to find the cause of the problem.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) test. An EKG records the rhythm or electrical activity of the heart.
- Portable monitor. Because arrhythmia often comes and goes and may not be detected during an office EKG test, the doctor will outfit the patient with a portable heart monitor for a 24-hour period to detect problems that show up during the course of a normal day.
- Electrophysiologic test. More serious cases of abnormal heart rhythm can be diagnosed by threading a catheter through a vein and into the heart. By stimulating the heart the doctor is able to track its activity.
Options may include one or a combination of the following:
- Electric shock to the heart
Once atrial fibrillation is treated, the chances of its happening again depend on whether the problem is located in the atria (the heart's natural pacemaker) or the ventricles (two lower chambers of the heart). Ventrical problems tend to be the more serious of the two.
