Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of abnormal heartbeat, arrhythmia, and affects nearly 1% of the population. Its prevalence increases with increasing age; it is relatively infrequent in those under 40 years old, but occurs in up to 5% of those over 80 years of age.
Although often not considered life-threatening itself, AF should be taken seriously because it can lead to more serious conditions such as other heart rhythm disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, stroke, and congestive heart failure. At Beverly Hills Cardiology based in Los Angeles, we understand how important it is to manage your atrial fibrillation. Dr. Shervin Eshaghian is a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of Atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias.
What Is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation originates in various areas of the 2 upper chambers of the heart (the atria), begins in multiple sites in a chaotic pattern, and causes them to contract irregularly and quickly. Instead of beating in a productive, regular rhythm, a heart in Atrial fibrillation beats very rapidly, irregularly, and ineffectively. During atrial fibrillation, the atria do not pump blood as effectively as they normally should. In some cases, blood in the atria, which is not being pumped out effectively, can stagnate and clot. If these clots break up or break off, they may pass into the left ventricle, travel through the blood stream and block a smaller artery. If this happens in the brain, it can cause a stroke. Therefore, diagnosis, careful monitoring and treatment are all important aspects of managing atrial fibrillation.
Dr. Shervin Eshaghian of Beverly Hills Cardiology will work with you to determine your risk of having a future stroke, and prescribes appropriate treatments to reduce this risk.
