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Cardiac fibrillation - signs, causes and treatment
contents
- When the heart rate increases
- Forecourts and chambers
- The atrial fibrillation
- causes
- Threatening complications
- diagnosis
- therapy
- The ventricular fibrillation
- causes
- symptoms
- diagnosis
- therapy
When the heart rate increases
As the heart rate increases more and more, less blood is pumped into the circulation per heartbeat. This is because the chambers do not have enough time to relax and refill, or the contractions of the heart are too weak and uncoordinated.
Atrial fibrillation can occur in the form of atrial fibrillation or ventricular fibrillation, which is associated with different health risks. (Image: Sonja Calovini / fotolia.com) Forecourts and chambers
The human heart consists of four inner courtyards, on each side of the heart two: a small, somewhat muscle-poor atrium, which collects the blood from the body or the lungs, and a muscular chamber, which sucks the blood from the atrium and then back into the Body, or in the pulmonary circulation, pressed into it. Simply portrayed, the atria contract first, blood flows into the ventricles, and then the chambers contract and the blood is pumped into the circulation. All this is coordinated by special cardiac cells. Their task is to transmit electrical signals in a specific order to the heart chambers in such a way that a smooth cooperation is guaranteed.
When the atrial fibrillation, here meant the atrial fibrillation, this process is disturbed. Effective atrial contractions can no longer take place. On the contrary - the atria resemble a "twitching" or "flicker". In this way they can not help the chambers properly with the pumping work.
The atrial fibrillation
In atrial fibrillation, a cardiac arrhythmia, the atria contract between 350 and 600 times. These completely irregular actions are forwarded to the chambers, which then work equally uncontrolled. This means that the excitement of the forecourts only partially or not arrive at the chambers. The amount of blood pumping the chambers into the blood vessels becomes less and less. At rest, the amount of blood is reduced by about fifteen percent, during exercise even more. This is then noticeable by heart palpitations, palpitations and above all by shortness of breath.
Atrial fibrillation is often missed and its effects are underestimated. However, unlike ventricular fibrillation, this type of atrial fibrillation is not life-threatening. If the atrial fibrillation occurs as an attack, this is usually only for a short time and is either not perceived as such or just, as already mentioned, described as heart stuttering or palpitations. Weakness, shortness of breath, heartache and anxiety are among the complaints. The faster the heart beats, the sooner the patients notice this and the more unpleasant it becomes for them.
causes
Possible causes of atrial fibrillation include high blood pressure, which persists for a long time, old age, myocardial insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, hyperthyroidism, valvular heart failure, and excessive consumption of alcohol.
In the case of atrial fibrillation, dangerous blood clots can form and subsequently lead to thrombosis. (Image: Axel Kock / fotolia.com) Threatening complications
A complication of atrial fibrillation, especially the atrial fibrillation, is the formation of thrombi (formation of blood clots). If they dissolve, they can trigger an arterial embolism in the form of a stroke or a circulatory disorder in another organ. In addition, the risk of stroke increases with age. If the atrial fibrillation has been around for a while, the atria become larger and change their actual tissue structure. Furthermore threatens a heart failure. Most sufferers live for years with complaints such as palpitations and shortness of breath during exercise. There is also a pulse deficit. This means that not all pulse waves that emanate from the heart also arrive in the periphery, for example, in the hand or foot artery. This can be determined in practice by pressing the various pulses.
diagnosis
In the case of atrial fibrillation, a specialist, a so-called cardiologist, should generally be consulted. He feels the pulses and auscultates the heart. As a rule, an ECG (electrocardiogram) is also included. Such an EGK does not necessarily have to be abnormal. Especially if the atrial fibrillation is in the initial phase, a long-term ECG, which is created between 24 and 48 hours, more meaningful. Another possibility is the application of an event recorder. This is activated by the patient whenever complaints occur. The results are then evaluated by the doctor using a computer.
therapy
In order to counteract clot formation, a complication of cardiac fibrillation, the patient is usually prescribed a drug that inhibits blood clotting (anticoagulants). Against the arrhythmia, a so-called medicinal cardioversion is performed, that is, those affected get prescribed an antiarrhythmic. Another possibility is the electric cardioversion. It tries to restore the normal heartbeat. This therapy is reminiscent of an "electric shock" during a short anesthetic. Before it is used, however, it must be ensured that the patient or the patient in the atria has not formed a blood clot. This is checked with a special ultrasound procedure.
Another treatment option is catheter ablation. This is a procedure in which a certain area in the left atrium is desquamated by means of a high frequency current or cold with the aid of a catheter, which is advanced over the groin through the vena cava to the heart.
With the so-called frequency control is trying to lower the pulse rate at rest. This is done by administering drugs, such as beta-blockers. This is a therapy for older patients, with less discomfort.
Ventricular fibrillation is always life-threatening and must be interrupted if necessary with a defibrillator. (Image: tunedin / fotolia.com) The ventricular fibrillation
A life-threatening atrial fibrillation is ventricular fibrillation. Within a short time, if left untreated, this can lead to cardiac arrest. In ventricular fibrillation, the chambers contract between 350 and 600 times per minute. In this case, no regulated chamber contraction is possible, which means that only very little blood is ejected into the vessels. Emergency therapy with resuscitation / defibrillation must be done as soon as possible.
In ventricular fibrillation, the special cardiac cells are still involved, but the contractions are no longer harmonious, causing a "tremor" or "fibrillation" of the heart muscle. A normal contracting is no longer possible and thus the ventricle does not pump the blood properly. If the help does not come in time, so-called asystole develops - the heart stops.
causes
The most common cause of ventricular fibrillation is damage to the heart muscle caused by coronary heart disease (CHD) or acute myocardial infarction. Other causes include myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), severe heart failure (heart failure) or a disease of the stimulus conduction system of the heart. Potassium and magnesium are extremely important for the proper functioning of the heart. If these two essential minerals are very different in their composition, this may also be a reason for the life-threatening atrial fibrillation. Especially when patients with the presence of cardiac insufficiency take drugs for drainage, it is important to closely monitor the blood for the minerals.
A power accident can also trigger a ventricular fibrillation. Patients who have had VFI during their lifetime have a high risk of recurring.
When ventricular fibrillation, the pumping power of the heart is life-threatening and there is a threat of sudden cardiac arrest. (Image: spkphotostock / fotolia.com) symptoms
Within a few seconds unconsciousness occurs - without pulse and without respiratory activity. This can happen out of the blue, without harbingers. Possible warning signs are the following: chest pain on the left side, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath even with little effort and palpitations. All of these symptoms must be clarified urgently by a doctor. Chest pain, tightness in the chest, dread, shortness of breath - an emergency doctor must be called here.
diagnosis
The ECG makes ventricular fibrillation visible. Irregular spikes and a frequency of more than 320 beats per minute are typical hints here
therapy
Every second counts with ventricular fibrillation. Resuscitation measures must be initiated immediately. The faster the ventricular fibrillation is interrupted with a defibrillator, the greater the chance of survival. If patients are at high risk for this threatening atrial fibrillation and treatment with medication is unsatisfactory, a defibrillator may be implanted. This detects a ventricular fibrillation and interrupts this by an electric shock. (Sw)