Piedmont Macon encourages middle Georgians to learn more about their heart health, especially during the month of February which is officially recognized as Heart Month. Over 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib (or AF), shorthand for “atrial fibrillation,” which is when someone experiences an irregular heart rhythm (an arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

Patients describe AFib as feeling like their heart is “flip-flopping” or “skipping a beat” or at times, “beating against their chest walls,” while other patients describe having no indication of symptoms at all, only to be diagnosed with AFib during routine checkups. So, what actually happens during AFib, and what causes it? In patients with AFib, the heart isn’t contracting and relaxing in a regular rhythm, but instead, the upper chambers of heart (the atria) beat or quiver irregularly, causing blood to move through the ventricles of the heart less effectively. Though symptoms are typically the same across all types, AFib is divided into several sub-categories, classified by duration of symptoms and other underlying conditions; these different categorizations help medical practitioners best understand and treat the spectrum of AFib diagnoses. 

Why care about AFib? Though millions of people live relatively normal lives with AFib, many of those living with this condition are unaware of its seriousness and its effect on overall heart health outcomes. Awareness is critical since being diagnosed with this condition significantly increases the chances of experiencing many associated health risks. Patients diagnosed with AFib are 5 times more likely to experience a stroke (in fact, 15-20% of those who have had a stroke have AFib) and they are twice as likely to suffer a heart-related death.

How is AFib treated? The first step to effective treatment is diagnosis following an in-depth exam by a physician, usually involving an EKG or ECG to confirm the arrhythmia. The severity of a patients’ AFib coupled with the consideration of other underlying medical conditions will help determine treatment goals and establish a care plan; this may involve medications and lifestyle changes and may also necessitate nonsurgical and surgical procedures for improvement or correction of the condition. 

How to reduce your risk for AFib and AFib-associated complications

Once you’ve determined your risk factors, the work begins to keep them as low as possible. Follow these six steps to achieve a healthier heart and lower your risk for AFib:

1. Exercise regularly
   Do some aerobic exercise – like walking, cycling, jogging and swimming – to get the blood pumping. You’ll want to aim for at least two and a half hours each week. Add in some strength training for your major muscle groups two days a week.
2. Eat a heart-healthy diet
   Try to include plenty of fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole grains in your diet. A healthy diet should include foods that are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat, sugar and salt. Also, limiting your total calories to a reasonable amount is important.
3. Maintain a healthy weight
   Everyone’s body is different. A healthy weight for one person may not be healthy for another person. One thing is certain: too much weight can increase your risk of heart disease. Eating healthy and exercising can remove obesity as a risk factor.
4. Cut out tobacco

Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease. Non-smokers should also avoid second-hand smoke.

5. Drink in moderation
   Limit your alcohol to a moderate level. This means two or fewer drinks per day for men and one for women. One drink equals a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor.
6. Keep an eye on other medical conditions
   This is especially important if you have: 

• High cholesterol - Exercise raises your HDL (good) cholesterol level. Decreasing your intake of saturated fat lowers your LDL (bad) cholesterol. Changes in both numbers helps make you healthier overall. If you are prescribed a statin and your cholesterol numbers improve, this does not mean that you should be sedentary and eat whatever you want – you’ll still need to focus on other controllable risk factors.
• High blood pressure - If you have high blood pressure, work to get it under control. Eating a healthy diet, exercising, and not drinking alcohol are just some ways to help control your blood pressure. Some people will also need to take medication.
• Diabetes - Eating well, exercising and taking medication can help keep diabetes under control.

To find out more about AFib, heart health, or to find a physician, call (478) 746-4646 or visit our website, www.piedmont.org