Page 29 - PGA Community News - February '25

February 2025 February 2025 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 29

Detecting And Treating Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

With February being the month to raise awareness for high blood pressure, heart
your heart, it’s an ideal time to emphasize the importance valve disease, prior heart
of detecting and treating AFib. AFib is a type of arrhythmia surgery, sleep apnea,
(irregular heartbeat) that causes numerous debilitating hyperthyroidism, diabetes
symptoms. and alcohol abuse.
Symptoms of AFib range from fatigue, chest palpitations Patients with suspected
or pounding, chest pain or pressure, difficulty breathing, or proven AFib need a full
dizziness or fainting. history and physical exam.
Unfortunately, some patients are found to have AFib An electrocardiogram
only after having a stroke. Some people with AFib feel no should be done to
symptoms at all. confirm the diagnosis.
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center offers a variety of There are devices like
minimally invasive treatment options for AFib and is on Holter monitors and event
the forefront of procedure options for this potentially life- recorders that are worn by
threatening condition. Leaving persistent AFib untreated the patient and monitor
can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure, as well as the heart during days or
other heart-related complications. weeks. All patients with
The heart has groups of specialized cells that generate AFib should have an
electrical impulses that travel through natural pathways echocardiogram done by
from the top chambers to the bottom chambers of the heart a cardiologist to detect
(from the atria to the ventricles). These impulses make the any underlying heart
heart contract and pump blood efficiently. In AFib, there are disease. Blood thinners
changes in the structure of the atria that result in abnormal are indicated if the risk for
electrical firing creating uncoordinated and ineffective atrial stroke is significant.
contractions. Blood can pool in the atria forming clots that Treatment options
if dislodged can travel to the brain, causing a stroke. The depend on how long,
heartbeat in AFib becomes irregular and can result in very often, and severe the
fast or slow heart rates because of this abnormal electrical AFib episodes occur.
activation. Treatments range from the use of medications, noninvasive opportunity to treat patients that have AFib. Treating AFib
As an electrophysiologist on the medical staff of procedures (cardioversion and catheter ablation), to hybrid successfully improves quality of life, reduces mortality, and
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Dr. Matthew Klein procedures where cardiac surgeons and electrophysiologists decreases the potential for developing strokes and other
encourages patients to seek medical attention immediately if work together to get the patient back into a normal heart cardiac conditions.”
they are experiencing AFib symptoms, and says, “Knowing rhythm. For more information about AFib treatment available
if a person has AFib is important. It is associated with a AFib treatment options offered at Palm Beach Gardens at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center visit https://www.
fivefold increased risk of having a stroke, a threefold risk of Medical Center include: palmbeachhealthnetwork.com/services/heart-care or call
developing heart failure and a twofold risk of both dementia • Atrial Fibrillation Ablation (561) 622-1411.
and mortality. AFib strokes are likely to be more severe than • Convergent Procedure
non-AFib related strokes.” • Laparoscopic Atrial Fibrillation Surgery
Conditions that predispose patients to develop AFib • Watchman
include age over 60, coronary artery disease, heart failure, Dr. Klein concludes, “We have a unique and great

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