Atrial Fibrillation: A Case Study

This case study discusses the management of a 68 year old male who presented with chest palpitations secondary to rapid atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac arrhythmia with serious complications if not treated correctly. This essay will discuss the initial clinical presentation of the patient and examine the management and outcome of the interventions applied. The significance of atrial fibrillation including its pathophysiology and aetiology will also be discussed.

Most physicians and people who acquired the problem usually know it as A-FIB, a shorter term for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation deals with the cardiovascular system, in particular, the heart in the body. It is defined as, “the electrical signals that control this system are off-kilter. Instead of working together the atria do their own thing, causing fast fluttering heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia” (WEBMD). In a normal pumping blood of the heart the atria would squeeze first, followed by the ventricles of the heart. A-fib can be a serious issue if not treated, due to the inadequate pumping of the blood, causing a higher chance of heart failure. It is also a higher chance in getting a stroke, because improper flow of the blood can cause clots in the

Cardiac dysrhythmias come in different degrees of severity. There are heart conditions that you are able to live with and manage on a daily basis and those that require immediate attention. Atrial Fibrillation is one of the more frequently seen types of dysrhythmias (NIH, 2011). The best way to diagnosis a heart condition is by reading a cardiac strip (Ignatavicius &Workman, 2013). Cardiac strips play an chief part in the nursing world allowing the nurse and other trained medical professionals to interpret what the heart is doing. In a normal strip, one can clearly identify a P wave before every QRS complex, which is then followed by a T wave; in Atrial Fibrillation, the Sinoatrial node fires irregularly causing there to be no clear P

When one begins to discuss issues that arise with an intrinsic organ, things get serious. Unfortunately, vital organs like the heart and liver that are causing problems can’t be removed like the appendix or the kidney and “cure” people of issues such as Appendicitis or constant dealings with gallstones. This is true when things begin to go awry within the heart and conditions begin to arise. Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib) is the most common type of arrhythmia, or issue with the heart rate or rhythm. Though A-fib is not a condition that is life-threatening, depending on the severity and lack of treatment, this condition leads to more serious issues like heart disease, and even heart attacks and strokes, which are usually what end up being the cause of death in individuals diagnosed with the condition. Because of A-fib leading to other more detrimental problems, such as the ones listed above, it is difficult to identify and pinpoint if someone has it or had it, which is why it is known as one of the contributors to the “silent killer,” also known as the heart attack. In this paper, gaining a deeper understanding of Atrial Fibrillation will be accomplished through the exploration of: causes, diagnosis, symptoms and treatment, the variation of types, what all is affected within the body as a result, what happens physically, and what occurs at the cellular level when diagnosed with this disorder. All in all, Atrial Fibrillation should be taken seriously and further research is

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the US. More than three million people suffer from AFIb. Each year, approximately one hundred and twenty thousand Americans experience an ischemic stroke due to AFib. That accounts for more than 25% of all incidents of stroke from all causes. The incidence of stroke in people with AFib is five times higher than in those who do not have the ailment.

Atrial fibrillation can cause significant discomfort (particularly if one has a lot of symptoms) and this may reduce one’s ability to exercise and do daily activities which may affect one’s life. Alternative, atrial fibrillation may not affect one’s day-to-day life. Atrial fibrillation is associated with a decrease in the heart’s ability to pump blood (it can result in the development of heart failure), which can affect one’s quality of life, increase the likelihood of being admitted to hospital and reduce one’s life expectancy. Atrial fibrillation itself does not pose a direct and immediate risk of death and many patients live with the arrhythmia for decades. However, atrial fibrillation can lead to serious complications. These possible complications

Henry Rollins once said; “Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better.” Although, loneliness is a part of life, nobody wants to feel alone or be in isolation. My mother passed away when I was 9. At that point in time she was the only person I looked up to, as a result the situation left me feeling alone. While other girls were learning how to wear makeup and how to cook from their mothers, I began teaching myself how to do these simple things. This experience has made me realize how important it is to appreciate what you have before it is too late. I am also more independent as a result.

Today millions of Americans live or have lived with Atrial fibrillation. The main concern with this health issue is that many people who lived with it sometimes are not aware of it. Atrial fibrillation is defined by Mayo Clinic (2012) as “an irregular and often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow to the body”. It occurs when the four chambers of the heart have a disrupted rhythm. The abnormal functionality of health may lead to a stroke because of the possible blood clot that will be formed. The Atrial fibrillation or Afib put the body in a situation without oxygen and nutrients because the body is not well supplied by a heart that is became weak. In general, only few people will feel change in their heartbeat. They may verbalize

Prevalence, age distribution, and gender of patients with atrial fibrillation: analysis and implications. Arch Intern Med. 1995; 155:469-73.

Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly encountered arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) in the United States, diagnosed in approximately 1% of the population or 2.5 million people (Nottingham, 2010). Atrial fibrillation has always been of interest during this author’s healthcare career. It is always out there, insidiously hiding, causes a multitude of symptoms and problems. This author remembers puzzling over the presentation of atrial fibrillation and it’s management. Identification is always the first challenge. Banner and Lauck (2013) cite Falk (2001) acknowledging the wide presentation of symptoms from asymptomatic to life threatening. Patient specific options can be confusing and challenging to navigate. Treatment algorithms include pharmacology, electrophysiological interventions, and surgery (Berry, Padgett, & Holton, 2015). This author believes, given the prevalence and consequences of mismanagement, the study of relevant evidence based practice in the treatment of atrial fibrillation is a worthy concentration. For many patients, nurses are the first point of contact in the healthcare system. This demands nursing leadership in the areas of identification, treatment and education for atrial fibrillation.

You have made a great observation that, in order for Ana to receive quality health care at this facility, she is in need of a nutritional assessment in how to incorporate the restriction that she is now faced with, in regards to her recent diagnosis of Atrial fibrillation. I would agree, Ana and her brother will need assistance in getting Medicaid approved, as well as, locating any additional programs that she may now qualify for. Thank for sharing.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is reaching epidemic proportions and is having a major impact on the public health system. This essay will explore the prevalence of AF and will describe the aetiology, pathophysiology and the risk factors of this arrhythmia. It will use evidence based practices to describe the current treatment modalities used for AF, along with the appropriate nursing interventions in order to prevent any complications and thus, resulting in an improved quality of life for the patient. Furthermore, the essay will be exploring topics regarding the relevant education and lifestyle modifications.

Atrial fibrillation is a common problem, with over 2 million people affected in the United States. Atrial fibrillation causes substantial morbidity and mortality, with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Thus, it is important to recognize the risk factors associated with the disease to prevent it from occurring. In this review, being overweight and obese is positively correlated with increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation in both men and women. This review suggests that the excess risk of atrial fibrillation associated with obesity may be caused by the left atrial remodeling and enlargement caused by the excess adipose tissue, hemodynamic overload, and adipokines inflammatory response. This data raises the possibility that interventions to promote normal weight may reduce the burden of atrial fibrillation in the current and future population. A few of the recognized risk factors for atrial fibrillation are male sex, increasing age, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and heart valve disease (13). It has been known for more than 75 years that a critical mass of atrial tissue is necessary for atrial fibrillation to occur and left atrial enlargement is also an important precursor of atrial fibrillation (3). Several studies have shown that BMI is one of the most powerful determinants of the left atrial size needed for developing atrial fibrillation (3), so getting BMI lowered by exercise and a good diet should be of high priority

According to a new study found that people with abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation that commonly used painkillers can increase the risk of bleeding and blood clots.This risk is even higher among those who are taking blood thinners with pain medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, which is not Dr. Nath Islamic Guinea (Gunnar Gislason) said that if you add NSAIDs on blood thinners, you have double the risk of bleeding.He noted that people with atrial fibrillation taking blood thinners to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. Atrial fibrillation causes the upper recording rapid heart contractions and irregular. Twisted contract will form a blood clot, which can lead to ischemic stroke if it's from the heart and go to the brain.Dr.

Atrial Fibrillation and its inception are due to innovative health professionals who sought to treat their patients. Dr. Melvin Scheinman performed the first catheter ablation in humans in 1981. Dr. Melvin also utilized high-energy DC shocks to generate scars in his patient’s heart compared to today’s popularized RF energy. Dr Scheinman still remains as an active member of the electrophysiology group at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Dr Scheinman’s work has also led to the development of radiofrequency energy catheters. The UCSF radiofrequency energy catheters channel radiofrequency energy to heat the catheter tip and perform much more precise ablation than was possible with DC ablation. Cather ablation has been used for