Atrial Fibrillation Causes, Risks and Association Medical Conditions
Being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation can be a bewildering experience. Learning about what causes afib, behaviors that increase your risk of occurrences, and the prevalence of associated medical conditions may help you understand why the mini-maze is the optimal treatment option for you.
You may not have to live with atrial fibrillation. Surgical options that are curative in 90% of all patients are available at Western Cardiovascular Associates. Whether you live in Salt Lake City, Ogden, or Utah Valley, or anywhere in the country, contact Western Cardiovascular Associates online or call us at 801-743-4750 today.
Where Do Irregular Electrical Impulses Come From?
Atrial fibrillation occurs when erratic or irregular electrical impulses cause disorganized contractions in the heart's atria. A landmark study completed in France in 1998, showed that erratic electrical impulses were initiated in the pulmonary veins in 90% of the studied occurrences of atrial fibrillation. Since then, additional research has linked the erratic electrical impulses initiated in the pulmonary veins to intermittent (paroxysmal) atrial fibrillation. Surgical clinical trials have furthered this hypothesis by showing success rates of over 95% when surgical ablation is used to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins in patients who are diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Subsequent research and studies have shown that the heart's autonomic nervous system, which is made up of nerve bundles called ganglionic plexi, may also be triggering factors for continuous (persistent and permanent) AF. A prominent theory suggests that as atrial fibrillation progresses, electrical remodeling of the atria occurs allowing the autonomic nervous system to sustain irregular electrical impulses indefinitely and in some cases, permanently. Since no one knows with absolute certainty when or how intermittent AF becomes continuous, Dr. Affleck surgically ablates certain ganglionic plexi after mapping the irregular electrical pathways during each mini-maze procedure. Dr. Affleck uses bipolar radiofrequency epicardial stimulation to ensure complete conduction block of the ganglionic plexuses before he completes the surgery.
Contributing Risks for Atrial Fibrillation
Your risk of acquiring atrial fibrillation increases with age. Less than 2% of the nation's population under the age of 65 is diagnosed with AF, while over 5% of the population over 65 is diagnosed with afib. People who suffer from obesity have also shown a higher predisposition for atrial fibrillation than the general public. Incidence of atrial fibrillation occurrences can be triggered by excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol or other nervous system stimulants.
Related Medical Conditions
The relationship of atrial fibrillation to other medical conditions and heart disease continues to be researched and reported. Because the mechanisms of the heart are so intricate, when one aspect of the organ's function is disrupted, it is common and expected that other aspects will be impacted. The following related medical conditions have less of an obvious cause and effect relationship to atrial fibrillation, but these conditions tend to be indicators of AF or they contribute to the prevalence of AF.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Studies have shown that people with OSA have an increased risk of AF, especially after cardioversion. OSA occurs in more patients with AF than any other group that suffers from multiple heart diseases.
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Over time, MVP causes the left atrium to dilate. Left atrium dilation has been shown to contribute to atrial fibrillation.
Congestive Heart Failure
CHF increases the risk of afib by up to 6 times. CHF is also often an indicator of AF, and AF contributes to CHF.
Other conditions such as systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus or myocardial infarction (heart attack) are regarded as risk factors for atrial fibrillation but a significant relationship as contributing factors and indicators is yet to be verified.
Pursue your surgical options for eliminating your atrial fibrillation. Contact Western Cardiovascular Associates online or call us at 801-743-4750 today.