Disturbances in the normal functioning of cardiac activity is an urgent problem throughout the world. Most often, they develop in old age, but can also occur in young people, children. As is known from statistics, pathologies of the cardiovascular system are one of the main causes of death. Therefore, doctors around the world are searching for new methods of preventing such diseases. It is also important to help slow down the development of the disease and maintain compensation for as long as possible.
In recent years, to identify cardiac pathologies, a screening study has been conducted for the entire adult population, regardless of age. On an outpatient basis, each patient undergoes electrocardiography (ECG) with a frequency of 1 time per year in the absence of complaints. If heart disease is detected, the person is registered, and all studies are conducted more often, treatment is prescribed. Often patients have atrial fibrillation on an ECG. A synonym for this condition is atrial fibrillation.
What is atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation - on the ECG one of the most common varieties of arrhythmias. According to statistics, it is observed in 1-2% of the population. To a greater extent, people from 40 years and older are affected by this rhythm disturbance. Sometimes atrial fibrillation is asymptomatic, and the patient does not know about the presence of pathology. In some cases, atrial fibrillation is so pronounced that urgent hospitalization of the patient and urgent measures are required. The course of the pathology depends on its form and the general condition of the patient. Atrial fibrillation (fibrillation) occurs due to increased excitability of atrial tissue. As a result, chaotic pathological contractions appear. Most often, atrial fibrillation is combined with other cardiac pathologies.
Normal ECG: description and interpretation
Electrocardiography is the main diagnostic method for heart disease. It is performed with suspected ischemia, myocardial infarction, various arrhythmias and other cardiac pathologies. The ECG method is based on recording potentials from the surface of the heart. Thanks to the assessment of electrical activity, one can judge the state of various sections of the myocardium. A normal ECG is observed in healthy people. In addition, there are a number of pathologies that are not detected by electrocardiography. Nevertheless, the majority of diseases are recorded on an ECG. A doctor of any specialty can describe the results of this examination, nevertheless, cardiologists are recommended to perform the decryption.
The ECG is a horizontal line with teeth and intervals. There are 12 leads, from the surface of which electrical impulses come. The P wave on the ECG is responsible for the excitation of the atria. After it, a small P-Q interval is recorded. It characterizes the excitation of the atrial septum. Next, the QRS complex is observed. It is characterized by electrical excitation of the ventricles. It is followed by a relaxation time of the heart muscle - repolarization. It consists of an ST interval and a T wave. Normally, each ECG element should have a certain width (time) and height (amplitude). Changes in at least one indicator in 1 lead indicate pathology.
What does atrial fibrillation look like on an ECG?
Atrial fibrillation is a pathological condition in which extraordinary chaotic excitations of the myocardium occur. In this case, a violation of the normal rhythm occurs. Atrial fibrillation on an ECG is characterized by a change in the P waves, f waves appear instead of them (they are located in large numbers between QRS complexes), while a normal P wave should be 1 before each ventricular excitation. In addition, with fibrillation, a violation of the normal heart rhythm is observed. This is reflected in the ECG in that the distances between RR in one lead are not the same in width (time).
The difference between fibrillation and atrial flutter
In addition to fibrillation, there is such a rhythm disturbance as atrial flutter. On an ECG, these 2 pathologies differ. Atrial flutter (TP) is a pathological condition in which there is a significant increase in the frequency of heart contractions (200-400 beats per minute). Usually it occurs in the form of sudden attacks - paroxysms. TP is characterized by sudden development and self-termination. It refers to varieties of supraventricular tachycardia. With the development of an attack, the patient must be given emergency care. Atrial flutter on an ECG differs from fibrillation in that pathological excitations have a high frequency and amplitude (F-waves). In this case, the rhythm of the heart remains correct. The distances between RR are the same.
Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation
There are 3 forms of atrial fibrillation. They differ in heart rate. Allocate:
- Tachysystolic form. The heart rate is over 90 beats per minute.
- Normosystolic form. Heart rate ranges from 60 to 90 beats per minute.
- Bradisystolic form. It is less common than the rest. Heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute.
Signs of atrial fibrillation depend on how impaired the function of the ventricles is. With paroxysm of atrial fibrillation , a sudden increased heart rate, a feeling of palpitations, trembling and excessive sweating, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness are noted. With severe tachycardia, loss of consciousness, the development of stroke, myocardial infarction are possible. A large number of people have a normosystolic form of atrial fibrillation. Clinical symptoms are most often absent.
Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Despite the fact that atrial fibrillation is often asymptomatic, it increases the risk of thrombosis and the development of myocardial infarction. Therefore, with atrial fibrillation, antiplatelet agents are prescribed. Among them are the preparations Aspirin-Cardio, Tromboass. To correct heart rate in tachycardia, antiarrhythmic drugs are prescribed. Most often these are the medicines “Coronal”, “Metoprolol”, “Amiodarone”. With constant atrial fibrillation, surgical treatment is recommended.