An Epidemic of Atrial Fibrillation
According Dr. Richard Page, director of cardiology at the University of Washington medical school, there is an epidemic of atrial fibrillation (AF). More than 5 million people in the U.S. have atrial fibrillation and the Mayo Clinic estimates that the number will rise to 16 million by 2050. AF occurs when “the heart’s two small upper chambers (the atria) quiver instead of beating effectively.”
Nurse Cari Widmer experienced her first attack while examining a patient.
I was having no normal heart beats, just a continuous fluttering sensation … a vibrating quiver up to my esophagus. Then I got short of breath.
Afterwards, I felt like my whole body had been through a major workout.
A number of treatments are available including drugs, electrical cardioversion, radiofrequency ablation, and atrial pacemakers.
More information on atrial fibrillation is available from the American Heart Association.
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1 opinion for An Epidemic of Atrial Fibrillation
A Hearty Life » Live Webcast of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Mar 19, 2007 at 11:39 pm
[...] in the atria, it can sometimes clot and lead to a stroke. Some researchers believe that there is an epidemic of atrial fibrillation (AF) that could result in 16 million affected people by [...]
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