Tips to Live and Cope with Atrial Fibrillation for a Healthy Life

A-fib or Atrial Fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat which can lead to the ticker not pumping enough oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. People with A-fib can lead a full and healthy life with proper medical treatment. Making a few changes can improve your quality of life and help reduce the severity of the symptoms.

Healthy Lifestyle Measures:

Besides receiving regular medical care, there are several steps individuals with A-fib can take to deal with the condition:

1.      Eat a heart-healthy diet, it can be highly beneficial for people with A-fib. Individuals with the condition should eat less trans fat and sugar, while increasing their intake of green leafy vegetables, lean proteins and fiber intake.

2.      With appropriate exercise and diet, maintain a healthy weight which can help.

3.      Alcohol intake can have a negative impact on your ticker so reduce alcohol consumption. People with A-fib should talk to their doctors before drinking as some people with the condition need to avoid alcohol altogether.

4.      Stress can complicate A-fib so manage it well. You can reduce your stress levels through exercise, meditation or other methods.

5.      Quitting smoking can improve living with atrial fibrillation and also lowers further heart and lung risks.

6.      Exercise can have a huge impact on overall health and fitness and increasing and continuing exercise is particularly important for people with A-fib. Consult your doctor before beginning any exercise routine to ensure it is safe for you.

Individuals with A-fib should maintain follow-up care with their healthcare providers so that proper treatment is continued.

Impact of A-fib on the Body:

Atrial fibrillation can have several impacts on the body such as blood clots, heart problems and shortness of breath. The condition may also lead to a build-up of fluid in the legs, ankles and feet. Furthermore, one may experience irritability and tiredness during formerly routine activities apart from weight-gain, lightheadedness, etc.

Treatment:

When treating A-fib, doctors typically look at treatments to reset the rhythm of the heart, control the rate it is beating, and reduce the risks of blood clots. A doctor looks at a few things such as whether the person has other heart problems, other medications they are taking, one’s response to earlier treatments, etc. in determining the way to treat A-fib.

1.      Cardioversion

2.      Preventive Medication

3.      Catheter and surgical procedures (in cases where medication is not effective)

4.      Preventing blood clots (warfarin and newer anticoagulants are the typically prescribed ones)

Coping with Atrial Fibrillation:

There are many treatment options and therapies that can greatly reduce the symptoms or correct atrial fibrillation which can be attributed to the fact that A-fib is a commonly diagnosed condition. You can go on to live a normal life with proper treatment. A person could experience further complications such as a life-threatening stroke or worsening heart disease if left untreated. The best ways to prevent complications is by recognizing the signs, being driven enough to make lifestyle changes and treating the condition.

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