A lot of people misunderstand the causes and potential side effects of atrial fibrillation (commonly known as Afib). Even among those who have coped with the disorder for years, there is a mistaken belief that the condition is harmless. In truth, it’s not. It can lead to stroke, heart failure, and other consequences.
To review, Afib is characterized as an erratic discharge of rapid electrical impulses that spread across your heart’s atria (i.e. the two upper chambers). Rather than contracting in sync with your heart’s ventricles (i.e. the two lower chambers), the atria flutter – or fibrillate. In some cases, the disorder causes no noticeable symptoms. In other cases, the patient might be at risk of experiencing medical events that can be life-threatening.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the dangerous risks involved with not addressing atrial fibrillation. We’ll also detai an operation known as the maze procedure that a growing number of surgeons are using to help solve the problem.
The Risk Of Stroke
A stroke is the result of blood clots that clog one of the arteries in the brain. Clots rarely form in these arteries; instead, they form elsewhere, break away, and travel along your bloodstream.
Atrial fibrillation can result in the pooling of blood with one or both of your atria. As a result, the blood begins to clot. If the clots simply remain within your atria, they pose little danger. However, they can break away and move through your ventricles on their way to the aorta.
Blood travels from your heart through the aorta and onward to your brain. The clots and then travel through your bloodstream until they reach and clog a major artery. That produces a stroke. Common symptoms of a stroke can include partial paralysis, eye problems, and difficulty remembering things.
The Risk Of Heart Failure
Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is overworked to the point of exhaustion. This can happen for a number of reasons, including coronary artery disease, diabetes, and of course, atrial fibrillation. In the latter case, the rapid electrical signals cause the atria to flutter so quickly that they eventually wear themselves out and weaken the heart. That reduces your heart’s ability to pump blood effectively throughout your body. As a result, the heart muscle becomes enlarged and is further weakened.
Secondary Side Effects
The reduced ability of your heart muscle to pump oxygen-rich blood to your tissue and organs can produce a number of secondary side effects. For example, your lower extremities (i.e. ankles and feet) may start to swell. Moreover, it’s not uncommon for the abdomen to also begin expanding.
Depending on the severity of the Afib-induced heart failure, you may experience a level of organ damage. This is due to your organs not receiving a sufficient supply of oxygen-rich blood.
You might also develop a persistent cough and shortness of breath if the condition produces excess fluid around your lungs. Unless Afib is resolved, these side effects can become permanent.
Maze Procedure To Resolve Afib
The most common method for addressing atrial fibrillation is the maze procedure. This is an operation during which your surgeon will create incisions or use catheter ablation to produce a maze of scar tissue across the surface of your atria. Scar tissue cannot conduct electricity. By designing this path, your surgeon can reroute the erratic patterns of the electric impulses. In effect, the surgeon is able to guide the signals along a defined path, thereby eliminating the fluttering and restoring a uniform rhythm for your heartbeat.
Atrial fibrillation can remain undetected for years. This is one of the reasons many patients never seek treatment. The problem is, the conditin can be very risky, depending on the severity of the case. If you suspect you have Afib, consult your doctor regarding whether the maze procedure is an appropriate solution for your circumstances.