What is atrial fibrillation?

4 May 2021

It is a serious anomaly in which there is heart rate acceleration and the atria beat uncontrollably and irregularly, hindering breathing. If it is not diagnosed and treated in time, it can cause the formation of blood clots that can travel from the heart to the brain and cause a stroke (cerebrovascular accident), heart failure, or heart attack, all of which are life-threatening.

Atrial fibrillation can be idiopathic and appear unexpectedly, but it is usually due to:

Sleep disorders such as apnea.
Diabetes.
Pre-existing heart disease, including congenital.
Stress.
Stimulant abuse.
Alcoholism, smoking, and drug addiction.
Hyperthyroidism.
Metabolic disorders.
Viral infections.
Obesity.
Pulmonary ailments.
High blood pressure.
Genetic predisposition.
Sedentary lifestyle.

There are several types of atrial fibrillation depending on the duration of the episodes, including:

Intermittent: Symptoms come and go, lasting a few minutes, hours, or weeks.
Long-lasting: heart rhythm alteration does not stop by itself, it is necessary to correct it with medical and pharmacological treatment.
Long-term: the symptoms are present for more than a year.
Permanent: it is not possible to restore the normal heart rhythm, so drugs are required to control it and prevent the formation of clots.

Signs and symptoms Atrial fibrillation

Although some people may not have signs of atrial fibrillation, the characteristic symptoms are:

Exhaustion.
Weakness.
Daze.
Inability to breathe normally.
Tightness and pain in the chest.
Fast and irregular heartbeat.
Dizziness.
Decreased physical capacity.

If atrial fibrillation is not treated and controlled early, it can weaken the heart and lead to heart failure. So if you have these symptoms, you must see a cardiologist immediately so that you can be diagnosed and treated promptly and avoid complications that put your health at risk.

Diagnosis and treatment Atrial fibrillation

Once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and will request various tests to be able to diagnose properly, such as:

Electrocardiogram.
Echocardiogram.
Holter monitor.
Stress tests.
X-rays.
Blood tests.

Once the origin of your atrial fibrillation has been identified, your doctor will define the most appropriate treatment for you based on your symptoms, their intensity, and the time you have had them. The main purpose is to restore the heart rate and prevent clot formation, either by ingesting drugs, electric shocks with a defibrillator, the placement of catheters, and in more extreme cases, surgery.

At the Cardiovascular Center, we offer you a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services to take care of you through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care model. Come to us, we want to hear your heart.

Related centers and departments Atrial fibrillation

Cardiovascular Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

fundaciondelcorazon.com
myhealth.ucsd.edu
msdmanuals.com
mayoclinic.org
texasheart.org
medigraphic.org
Valencia SJS, Arriaga NR, Navarro RJR, et al. Indicadores ecocardiográficos de cardioversión eléctrica en pacientes con fibrilación auricular. Arch Cardiol Mex. 2001;71(1):28-33.
Bayés LA, Cygankiewicz I, Bayés GA, et al. Espectro clínico y complicaciones de la fibrilación auricular. Arch Cardiol Mex. 2004;74(Suppl: 2):293-297.
Vitón CAA, Rego ÁH. Consideraciones fisiopatológicas y diagnósticas sobre la fibrilación auricular. Rev Cub Med Int Emerg. 2020;19(2):1-17.
Obregón SA, Aroche AR, Aldama PL, et al. Cierre percutáneo de la orejuela izquierda en la fibrilación auricular no valvular. Rev Cubana Cardiol Cir Cardiovasc. 2020;26(4):1-4.

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The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is atrial fibrillation?

Signs and symptoms Atrial fibrillation

Diagnosis and treatment Atrial fibrillation

Related centers and departments Atrial fibrillation

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Atrial fibrillation