WELLNESS
Know stroke-causing
AFib warning signs
Oftentimes, seeking to improve
your health starts at your core -
your heart. One common condition
to be aware of is atrial fibrillation
(AFib), which is a quivering or
irregular heartbeat that can lead to
blood clots, stroke, heart failure and
other heart-related complications.
Currently impacting up to 6.1
million Americans, AFib is projected
to double by 2030, according to
the American Heart Association.
One in three individuals is at
risk for developing AFib over the
course of his or her lifetime, and
the likelihood of developing the
condition increases by almost 40
percent after the age of 55.
The average person living
with AFib has a five-fold increase
of experiencing a stroke than
someone with a regular heartbeat.
However, proper diagnosis and
treatment can help reduce the
chances of associated heart health
complications, including stroke.
The first step toward managing
AFib and preventing serious health
complications is gaining knowledge
about the condition. The experts at
the American Heart Association
are working to elevate awareness
with these facts:
Causes
While in some cases the cause
is unknown, AFib can be the result
of damage to the heart’s electrical
system from other conditions such
as longstanding, uncontrolled high
blood pressure, obesity, smoking
and heart disease. For example,
smokers are 20 percent more likely
to develop AFib than nonsmokers.
Symptoms and signs
A person living with AFib may
have symptoms like a fluttering
heartbeat, but he or she may not
have symptoms at all. Nearly 80
percent of people who report having
AFib note they did not experience
symptoms, which can lead to the
condition being overlooked or
confused with other conditions,
such as anxiety.
Other common symptoms
include dizziness, weakness,
faintness or confusion; fatigue when
exercising; sweating and chest pain
or pressure.
At-risk populations
Anyone, at any age, can develop
AFib. People over age 50, those with
high blood pressure or other forms
of heart disease and those with
a family history of the condition
are at highest risk and should
discuss their medical history with
their doctors.
People of African, Asian or
Hispanic ancestry are typically
less likely to suffer from AFib.
However, research suggests that
those with African or Hispanic
ancestry living with AFib have
a higher risk of death when the
condition is combined with another
factor such as heart failure or high
blood pressure.
Risk factors
While some people living with
AFib are unaware of the condition
due to not experiencing symptoms, it
causes the heart to beat erratically,
stops blood from moving through
the heart efficiently and may result
in pooling or clotting. The clot
may block blood flow to the brain,
causing a stroke. Risk factors such
as age, high blood pressure, heart
failure, diabetes or medical history
contribute to individuals’ five-fold
risk of stroke.
To learn more and to access
AFib tools and resources, visit
heart.org/AFib.
Courtesy Family Features
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TIMESLEDGER,QNS.COM MAY 17-23, 2019 31
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