eNewsletter - February 2010
To Catch a Speeding Heart
If you've ever felt like your heart was "beating out of your chest," you may have atrial fibrillation, or a-fib. Other symptoms include tiredness and chest pains, although some people with a-fib don't experience any symptoms.
If you suspect you have a-fib, make an appointment with a cardiologist, who can offer you an easy, non-invasive test for the condition. Because a-fib is a major risk factor for stroke and heart failure, it needs a doctor's attention. Treatment options include:
Lifestyle changes
Limit or stop the use of tobacco products, caffeine, alcohol, and cough and cold remedies containing stimulants.
Electrical cardioversion
While under a short-acting anesthesia, an electrical impulse is delivered to the chest wall, normalizing the rhythm.
Catheter ablation with pacemaker implantation
High-frequency electrical energy is delivered through a catheter to the conduction system of the heart. This prevents the rapid heart rate caused by a-fib. A pacemaker is then implanted to control the heart rate.
Pulmonary vein isolation
Using a catheter, bands of tissue inside the pulmonary vein (atop the heart) are rendered dysfunctional, blocking conduction of the abnormal rhythms.
Heart surgery
The maze procedure uses a series of incisions in the right and left atria to confine the heart's impulses to defined pathways.
Non-invasive alternatives to the maze
Surgeons now use radiofrequency, microwave and cryothermic (cold temperature), devices to scar the tissue and block abnormal impulses.
For more information, visit Cleveland Clinic's Center for Specialized Women's Health.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.