Atrial Fibrillation Video Series: Day Four
Don’t Ignore AF – Understanding the Risks
We’ve talked about what AF is and how it feels. Now you might wonder: if I can live with the flutters, why not just ignore it? The answer lies in the hidden risks of untreated atrial fibrillation. AF is more than just an irregular heartbeat – over time, it can lead to serious complications. I don’t say this to scare you, but to empower you. When you know why treatment and monitoring are important, it all makes more sense.
The biggest risk associated with AF is stroke. When your heart’s upper chambers (atria) quiver instead of beating effectively, blood can pool there, especially in a little pouch of the atrium called the left atrial appendage. Stagnant blood is prone to clotting. If a clot forms and later gets pumped out, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. In fact, people with untreated AF are about five times more likely to have a stroke than those without AF. Many strokes that occur in AF patients could be prevented with appropriate treatment (like blood thinners – we’ll cover that soon). Stroke can be devastating, causing paralysis, speech difficulties, or even threatening life, so this risk alone makes AF something to take seriously.
Another risk is heart failure. If AF causes your heart to beat very fast for prolonged periods, the heart muscle can weaken. Picture yourself sprinting non-stop – eventually, you’d exhaust yourself. The heart is similar; a continuously fast, irregular beat can lead to a condition called tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (a type of heart failure). Symptoms of heart failure include breathlessness, swelling of ankles, and fatigue. Treating AF can help prevent the heart from getting to that exhausted state.
Beyond stroke and heart failure, uncontrolled AF can lead to other issues. These include a decline in exercise capacity (you just can’t do as much as before), frequent hospital visits for heart rhythm or rate control, and a reduced quality of life from anxiety or depression (which we’ll discuss later in the emotional impact email). There’s also a small risk of developing blood clots elsewhere in the body (for example, causing organ damage) due to AF.
The silver lining is that knowing these risks means we can address them. Medications and procedures exist to dramatically lower the chance of a stroke and to keep your heart strong. So if you’ve been diagnosed with AF, it’s crucial to work with your healthcare team on a plan – even if you personally don’t feel bad from the AF. Prevention is our best tool here.
Next up: How do we actually detect and diagnose AF? In the next email, I’ll explain the tests and tools doctors use to catch AF and understand your heart rhythm.
