what is afib lawyer

How is AFIB treated?

How is AFib treated? 1 Medicines to control the heart’s rhythm and rate 2 Blood-thinning medicine to prevent blood clots from forming and reduce stroke risk 3 Surgery 4 Medicine and healthy lifestyle changes to manage AFib risk factors More ...

Is a-fib life-threatening?

Although A-fib itself usually isn't life-threatening, it's a serious medical condition that requires proper treatment to prevent stroke. Treatment for atrial fibrillation may include medications, therapy to reset the heart rhythm and catheter procedures to block faulty heart signals.

Can I still work with AFIB?

Many people with AFib can continue working. But at the start of AFib symptoms, you may need some time off to adjust to your new prescriptions and for medical appointments. When you decide to come back to work, depending on the type of job you do, there may be some stress. AFib can increase your risk of having a stroke or other health problems.

What is atrial fibrillation (AFIB)?

What is Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB)? Atrial fibrillation (AFIB) is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase your risk of strokes, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

What is AFIB in medical terms?

What is Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB)? Atrial fibrillation (AFIB) is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase your risk of strokes, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. During AFIB, the heart’s two upper chambers (i.e., the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly, thereby out of coordination with ...

How long does AFIB last?

This type of atrial fibrillation is continuous and lasts longer than 12 months. In this type of AFIB, the abnormal heart rhythm cannot be restored. You will have atrial fibrillation permanently, and you will often require medications to control your heart rate and to prevent blood clots.

How long does it take for AFIB to go away?

Furthermore, there are several types of atrial fibrillation: 1 In this case it is called paroxysmal AFIB. Symptoms may come and go, usually lasting for a few minutes to hours. Sometimes symptoms occur for as long as a week and episodes can happen repeatedly. Symptoms may go away on their own or require treatment. 2 With this type of AFIB, your heart rhythm does not go back to normal on its own. If you have persistent Atrial fibrillation, you will need treatment such as an electrical shock or medications in order to restore your heart rhythm. 3 Long-standing persistent. This type of atrial fibrillation is continuous and lasts longer than 12 months. 4 In this type of AFIB, the abnormal heart rhythm cannot be restored. You will have atrial fibrillation permanently, and you will often require medications to control your heart rate and to prevent blood clots.

How long does it take for atrial fibrillation to come and go?

Furthermore, there are several types of atrial fibrillation: In this case it is called paroxysmal AFIB. Symptoms may come and go, usually lasting for a few minutes to hours. Sometimes symptoms occur for as long as a week and episodes can happen repeatedly.

Does AFIB go away on its own?

Symptoms may go away on their own or require treatment. With this type of AFIB, your heart rhythm does not go back to normal on its own. If you have persistent Atrial fibrillation, you will need treatment such as an electrical shock or medications in order to restore your heart rhythm. Long-standing persistent.

Is PTSD related to AFIB?

A 2018 study was the first to report a relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and new cases of atrial fibrillation. Since AFIB significantly impacts both patients and the healthcare system, researchers are committed to identifying risk factors and developing strategies to prevent and manage the condition. As mentioned above, AFIB is linked to traditional cardiovascular risks, including hypertension (i.e., high blood pressure), diabetes, obesity, and sleep apnea. However, data linking psychological stress and negative emotions to AFIB are also beginning to emerge. PTSD has been linked to other cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension), but its relationship to AFIB was not previously explored.

What is AFIB in medical terms?

What is AFib? In the simplest words, AFib is a problem with the electrical signals of the heart. AFib occurs when the heart’s upper chambers develop an abnormal, rapid, erratic heartbeat. If untreated, it can lead to poor blood flow to and from the heart, ultimately causing stroke or heart attack.

Why do you need ablation for AFIB?

Why use ablation surgery for AFib? Surgical treatment is the best way to improve your quality of life if you have advanced or complex atrial fibrillation, such as difficult-to-control, recurrent AFib . By using surgery to control your arrhythmia symptoms, we help you live active, full lives.

How long does it take to get out of bed after AFIB?

This treatment is fast and effective, and you should be up and out of bed within 4 to 6 hours after your procedure.

What causes AFIB in older people?

Though there is no root cause of AFib, there are several risk factors and symptoms that are often seen in conjunction with the condition: high blood pressure, sleep apnea, obesity and structural heart disease.

How many people have AFIB?

With nearly 6 million Americans suffering from atrial fibrillation, or AFib, and 150,000 new cases diagnosed each year, AFib is the most common type of arrhythmia affecting people.

Is there a single cause of atrial fibrillation?

We have not yet identified a single cause for atrial fibrillation, and we do not believe there will ever be one definitive cause because this condition spans all age groups, with and without heart disease. The most common source of AFib is just getting older, not people doing something wrong or having poor health habits.

Can AFIB cause heart failure?

AFIb can lead to serious conditions, such as heart failure, stroke or a heart attack. So, if you’re experiencing similar symptoms, it’s time to reach out to your primary care doctor to undergo testing to confirm your condition. Your physician may want an electrocardiogram (EKG) or Holter monitor to test for AFib.

What is the most common test for atrial fibrillation?

The most commonly used tests to diagnose atrial fibrillation include: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): The ECG draws a picture on graph paper of the electrical impulses traveling through the heart muscle. An EKG provides an electrical “snapshot” of the heart.

What is an ECG recording of atrial fibrillation?

An ECG recording of atrial fibrillation. Instead of the impulse traveling in an orderly fashion through the heart, many impulses begin at the same time and spread through the atria, competing for a chance to travel through the AV node.

What is electrical cardioversion?

Electrical Cardioversion: A cardioversion electrically “resets” the heart. Medications alone are not always effective in converting atrial fibrillation to a more normal rhythm. Sometimes cardioversion is used to restore a normal heart rhythm and allow the medication to successfully maintain the normal rhythm.

What is the rate of impulses in the atria?

The ventricles contract irregularly, leading to a rapid and irregular heartbeat. The rate of impulses in the atria can range from 300 to 600 beats per minute. There are two types of atrial fibrillation. Paroxysmal is intermittent, meaning it comes and goes and continuous is persistent.

What is a pulmonary vein ablation?

Pulmonary Vein Ablation: Pulmonary vein ablation (also called pulmonary vein antrum isolation or PVAI) may be an option for people who cannot tolerate medications or when medications are not effective in treating atrial fibrillations.

Why is AV node ablation used?

Because the patient will continue to have atrial fibrillation, an anticoagulant medication is prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke. Important note: Due to better treatment alternatives, AV node ablation is rarely used to treat atrial fibrillation.

Where does atrial fibrillation occur?

Because atrial fibrillation usually begins in the pulmonary veins or at their attachment to the left atrium, energy is applied around the connections of the pulmonary veins to the left atrium during the pulmonary vein ablation procedure.

What happens to the heart during AFIB?

What happens during AFib? Normally, your heart contracts and relaxes to a regular beat. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly (quiver) instead of beating effectively to move blood into the ventricles.

Is AFIB a serious condition?

Even though untreated atrial fibrillation doubles the risk of heart-related deaths and is associated with a 5-fold increased risk for stroke, many patients are unaware that AFib is a serious condition. Watch an animation of atrial fibrillation. Less than half of AF patients believe they have an increased risk for stroke or heart-related ...

Is atrial fibrillation a serious condition?

Only 33% of AF patients think atrial fibrillation is a serious condition. Less than half of AF patients believe they have an increased risk for stroke or heart-related hospitalizations or death.

What are the risk factors for AFIB?

High blood pressure, the risk for which also increases with advancing age, accounts for about 1 in 5 cases of AFib. 4. Risk factors for AFib include 4,5. Advancing age. High blood pressure. Obesity.

How many people will have AFIB in 2030?

It is estimated that 12.1 million people in the United States will have AFib in 2030. 1,2. In 2018, AFib was mentioned on 175,326 death certificates and was the underlying cause of death in 25,845 of those deaths. 3. People of European descent are more likely to have AFib than African Americans.

How do you know if you have AFIB?

Others may experience one or more of the following symptoms: Irregular heartbeat. Heart palpitations (rapid, fluttering, or pounding) Lightheadedness. Extreme fatigue.

Why are AFIB strokes more severe than strokes?

Strokes happen when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a blood clot or by fatty deposits called plaque in the blood vessel lining.

Getting Back to Work

You may not be able to work as much as you did before your AFib diagnosis. To bring your irregular heartbeat back to a normal rhythm, it’s important to take your medications as prescribed and avoid anything that may cause too much stress.

How to Manage Stress

When you have AFib, the abnormal heartbeats may cause your blood to pool and create blood clots in your heart. If the clot breaks off and travels to your brain, you may be at risk for a stroke.

When to Get Help

If you do have AFib symptoms at work, you may not need emergency medical attention, but it’s important to tell or see your doctor as soon as possible if:

Sick Leave and Disability

If you need time off for medical care, know your rights as an employee. In most companies, under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you may qualify for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for a “serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform” if you:

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may experience signs and symptoms such as: Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flip-flopping in your chest. Weakness.

How long does atrial fibrillation last?

This type of atrial fibrillation is continuous and lasts longer than 12 months. Permanent. In this type of atrial fibrillation, the abnormal heart rhythm can't be restored. You'll have atrial fibrillation permanently, and you'll often require medications to control your heart rate and to prevent blood clots.

What is the electrical connection between the atria and the ventricles?

In atrial fibrillation, the signals in the upper chambers of your heart are chaotic. As a result, they quiver. The AV node — the electrical connection between the atria and the ventricles — is bombarded with impulses trying to get through to the ventricles.

What is the normal heart rate for a person with atrial fibrillation?

The heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute. The normal range for a heart rate is 60 to 100 beats a minute. Your heart is made up of four chambers — two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles).

How fast is the heart rate in atrial fibrillation?

The result is a fast and irregular heart rhythm. The heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute.

Can a stroke cause atrial fibrillation?

There it might block blood flow, causing a stroke. The risk of a stroke in atrial fibrillation depends on your age (you have a higher risk as you age) and on whether you have high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of heart failure or a previous stroke, and other factors.

Can drinking alcohol cause atrial fibrillation?

Drinking alcohol. For some people, drinking alcohol can trigger an episode of atrial fibrillation.