SAN ANTONIO — Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the heart beats abnormally, and can be life-threatening. In today's Healthy SA, we find out that the condition is being seen by physicians more often and what you should do about it.
September is Atrial Fibrillation Month. The condition is also called AFib. And because it is becoming more and more common, so are many other health issues that go along with it.
Dr. Jennifer Caudle, a board-certified family medicine physician and associate professor, as well as a member of the Department of Family Medicine at the Rowan University-School of Osteopathic Medicine told KENS 5, "People with atrial fibrillation have a five time increased risk for stroke, which is one of the many things that makes it so important to talk about."
People with AFib may feel any of these symptoms: An irregular heartbeat, heart palpitations or a flutter, lightheadedness, extreme fatigue, and shortness of breath and chest pain.
"I should also say that a decent number of, percentage of the population doesn't actually have symptoms of atrial fibrillation," Caudle said.
The CDC says about 12 million people in the U.S. will come down with AFib in their lifetime. More than 454,000 are hospitalized with AFib as the primary diagnosis every year. The condition also contributes to about 158,000 deaths each year, with more women experiencing AFib than men, because women live longer.
That's why OMRON Healthcare has launched their "Going For Zero" educational campaign to cut down on the number of heart attacks and strokes, and learn how to treat a condition like AFib.
"I want people to know you can live a happy, healthy life with atrial fibrillation, that's treated and managed, etc," Caudle said.
And if you think you may have a heart problem, Dr. Caudle says don't wait to get checked.
"If you do have symptoms of anything that are abnormal, you should be seeing your doctor," she said.