Short Info:

Human heart, no bigger than the size of a fist, does a mighty job of pumping blood throughout
the body to keep us alive. That is why any medical condition that affects the functioning of the
heart demands prompt care and attention.
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Many of us know that the average pulse rate of a healthy adult is 72 beats per minute. Beating
about 100,000 times a day, it keeps up with the bodys demand for blood by working harder. It
is the hearts electrical system that controls the speed or rhythm of heartbeats. Electrical signals
are sent by the sinoatrial (SA) node (hearts natural pacemaker) through the atria,
atrioventricular (AV) node and ventricles which allows its contraction and pumping of blood.
However, in some cases the electrical impulses are generated from another part of the atria or
nearby pulmonary veins making the AV node flood with erratic signals. In that event, the
contractions of atria dont remain synchronised with the contractions of ventricles resulting in
irregular heart rhythms and this condition is known as arrhythmia. During such conditions, the
heart rate will be either too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia). Having arrhythmias
doesnt always mean a risky outcome, as it can be harmless and brief at times but it can also be
life-threatening. Atrial fibrillation or A-fib is a case in point with symptoms such as palpitations,
chest pain, fatigue, dizziness and more.

During Atrial Fibrillation (AF), the atria beats very rapidly and irregularly thereby affecting its
efficiency to pump blood to the ventricles, which increases the risk of clots forming. This increases
the risks of stroke and heart failure. Hence, it is essential to seek timely medical treatment.
Anticoagulants and antiplatelets are blood thinners that can prevent the risk of stroke. Vitamin
K antagonists (VKAs) such as aspirin and warfarin are commonly used as the medication for A-fib
to reduce the incidence of strokes. However, these agents also increase the risk of bleeding and
also need routine monitoring. However, novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have emerged as a
safe alternative. Novel oral coagulants offer an improved safety ratio and fewer food and drug
interactions resulting in reduced cardiovascular mortality and stroke for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF).
Sometimes, A-fib can be caused by underlying coronary artery disease for which Fractional flow
reserve measurements and imaging techniques are used for diagnosis and risk management.
Patients with arrhythmias can live a normal and happy life if they undergo treatment and medical
therapy early on.