3/23/2023 0 Comments Irregular heartbeat![]() In some people, bouts of AF can be triggered by certain foods, exercises, stimulants or even stress. This will help highlight if there are any changes in your heartbeat to keep an eye on. Take your own pulse regularly, and keep a record to show your doctor. Check your pulse regularly and keep a record.Bring this record to your next doctor’s appointment. Write down whenever you experience an AF episode and how long it lasts, as well as any other symptoms. Follow these carefully for the best health outcomes. Your doctor may advise lifestyle and dietary adjustments, and provide strict guidelines around any prescribed medications. Follow your doctor’s advice carefully.The irregular occurrence of AF episodes can be stressful, but there are a number of steps you can take to help you stay on top of your AF and continue to live a full and active life. If you have any concerns, discuss your results with your doctor.Check your pulse regularly and record the results.Multiply this by 2 to get the beats per minute (bpm). Count the number of beats for 30 seconds.Place your index and middle finger on the underside of your other wrist, below the base of the thumb, and press down firmly.Also speak to your doctor if your pulse is consistently outside the normal range, as this may indicate an underlying problem. A pause or extra beat now and then is normal, but if you notice frequent skipped or extra beats, speak to your doctor. Your pulse should beat steadily and regularly. Keeping a record will help you notice if there is anything different or unusual with your results.Ī normal pulse, or resting heart rate, ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Your pulse can indicate how well your heart is working, how fast it beats, and its rhythm and strength. While only your doctor can diagnose AF, you can keep an eye on your heart health by regularly checking your pulse. Manage diabetes through diet or medication.Exercise regularly, such as by setting up your own exercise program.Control high blood pressure through medication or dietary changes.Simple lifestyle changes such as the below could help to prevent and manage AF as well as improve overall health and wellbeing. There is a strong association between AF and high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity. How to decrease your risk of atrial fibrillation Stimulant use: Smoking, alcohol, caffeine and certain medications may trigger episodes of AF, and long-term alcohol use can lead to persistent AF.Other chronic health conditions: Sleep apnoea and diabetes can increase AF risk, as can other chronic conditions such as kidney disease and lung disease.High blood pressure: This can increase the risk of AF, particularly if not controlled by lifestyle changes or medication.Heart defects from birth ( congenital heart disease) can also increase the risk. Heart disease: Anyone with heart disease or a history of heart attack or heart surgery has an increased risk of AF.The risk of AF is also increased by the following factors. 2 At this stage, screening for the condition becomes even more important due to the increased risk of an associated stroke. About seven per cent of people over 65 have AF, and this increases to 10 per cent over the age of 75. Over the age of 40, you have a one in three lifetime risk of developing AF.Īs you get older, your risk of developing AF increases. The most common causes of AF are ageing, having long-term high blood pressure, diabetes or coronary heart disease, although the cause is not always known. HRI’s study saw that Native Americans, Aboriginal Australians and Māori and Pacific people in New Zealand experience higher levels of AF at an earlier age.ĪF can occur in both men and women, and can occur at any age, though it is more common in those over 75 years of age. Recent research by the Heart Research Institute (HRI) has also confirmed a strong link between AF and dementia.Ī clear pattern has been found between the incidence of AF and First Nations peoples. If a clot blocks a brain artery, this can cause a stroke. These clots can break off and travel to all areas of the body in the bloodstream. In AF, blood circulates in the heart in an abnormal way, so there is a tendency for blood clots to develop ( thrombosis). Even if the AF does not present with any symptoms, it is still important to treat it. While AF itself may not be dangerous, it is important to diagnose and treat it because it increases the risk of other conditions, such as heart failure and stroke. This is due to a problem in the heart’s chambers that collect the blood (atria). Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of abnormal heart rhythm where the heart beats irregularly – it may be rapid or slow. ![]()
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