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Got FIB?
Introduction

FAST, IRREGULAR heartBEATS = FIB
FIB is short for “fibrillation
fibrillation,” or “quivering”
quivering of the
top two chambers of the heart (the atria)

Important that you understand:

 What atrial fibrillation (AF) is
 Warning
g signs
g & symptoms,
y p
and
risk factors for developing AFrelated stroke
 Alternatives for accessing care,
care
managing, and treating AF
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What is Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?



Normally, your heart contracts and relaxes to a
regular beat
AF is most common arrhythmia (rapid and
i
irregular
l heartbeat)
h
tb t) abnormality
b
lit in
i US
Nonvalvular AF is AF not due to faulty or
abnormal heart valve
Electrocardiogram (ECG) Results
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What happens in the heart with (AF)?

What happens in the heart with AF? (1 of 3)
 Electrical activity in your heart is disorganized and
disrupts its normal, coordinated response
 Special cells in the heart act as a natural pacemaker,
pacemaker
sending electrical signals that control your heart rate.
AF throws off the timing of those cells, making them
fire abnormally.
 Resulting irregular heart rhythm causes upper
chambers of the heart (the atria) to quiver or fibrillate
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
What happens in the heart with AF? (2 of 3)
 Atria pump blood rapidly, unevenly, and
inefficiently instead of beating effectively to move
blood into the ventricles (lower
(
chambers),
) which
move blood into the body
 Pulse becomes irregular
and your body may be left
starving
g for oxygen-rich
yg
blood, leaving you feeling
weak, tired, or even
incapacitated
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
Wh t h
What
happens iin th
the h
heartt with
ith AF? (3 of 3)
 Blood slows down or pools in the atria, which
increases the risk of clotting
 If clot breaks off, it can flow
g to
into in an arteryy leading
the brain, resulting in
stroke and death
Clotting
Risk
Here!
Clotting
Risk
Here!
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Why is knowing about AF important?

Why is knowing about AF
i
important?
t t? (1 of 2)
 AF more likely as we age
 3-6 million Americans
h
have
AF
 About 9% of people aged
65+ years have AF
 More
M
than
h 750,000
750 000
hospitalizations and an
estimated 130,000 deaths
occur each year because
of AF
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
Why is knowing about AF important? (2 of 2)
 Associated with increased risk of stroke, dementia,
heart failure, and death
 Increases a person’s risk for stroke by 4 to 5 times,
compared with those without AF—an increased risk of
about 5% per year
 Outcomes related to AF
have not improved
significantly, despite
improvements in healthcare
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How is AF diagnosed?

How is AF diagnosed?
 Symptoms may come and go or be chronic
 Routine exam may reveal the condition
 Can be found when a stroke occurs
 Tests, including electrocardiograms
((ECG),
) heart monitors, or
echocardiograms
 Some people with AF don’t
have any symptoms
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AF Warning Signs and Symptoms

Typical symptoms (1 of 2)
 Rapid and irregular heartbeat
palpitations
p
((sensation that heart is
 Heart p
skipping, fluttering, thumping, or pounding)
 Lightheadedness (or feeling dizzy or faint)
 Extreme fatigue or exhaustion, not being
able to complete normal activities, including fatigue
when
h exercising
i i
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AF Warning Signs and Symptoms

Typical symptoms (2 of 2)
 Shortness of breath and anxiety
 Sensation of “not feeling
g right”
g
 Chest pain
 Weakness
 Sweating
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What Does it Feel Like?

How patients described their feelings (1 of 2)
 “II was going up stairs and my heart skipped some
beats. It was scary.”
 “My heart was beating really fast, my stomach felt
queasy; I could
ld hardly
h dl breathe.”
b th ”
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
How p
patients described their feelings
g (2 of 2)
 “It felt like my heart skipped a couple of beats then
started racing.”
 “II had a lot of pressure in my chest and even up into
my throat. I wondered if I was having a heart attack.”
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Risk Factors for Developing AF

Risk factors as numerous as symptoms (1 of 2)
 Advanced age (average onset between 67 and 75
years for both men and women)
 Existing heart disease
disease, prior heart attack,
attack congestive
heart failure, or recent heart surgery
 Clogged arteries or vascular disease
 High blood pressure
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
Risk factors as numerous as symptoms (2 of 2)
 Chest pain (angina)
 Thyroid
y
problems, diabetes, and asthma
 European descent (vs. African American descent)
 Family history
 Over-exercising
O
i i
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If You Have AF Signs or Symptoms

How is AF treated?
 Medications
 Control heart rhythm and rate
 Prevent blood clots from forming and reduce stroke risk
 Surgery
 Medication combined with healthy
y lifestyle
y
changes to manage AF risk factors or underlying
conditions
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Managing Your Risk Factors








Reduce high blood pressure
Control cholesterol levels
Lose excess weight
Eat a heart-healthy diet
Avoid tobacco smoke
Drink alcohol in moderation
Enjoy regular physical activity
Schedule periodic visits with your doctor
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If You Have AF Signs or Symptoms

Communicate with your doctor
 Write down and share symptoms,
family history of heart disease,
stroke or high blood pressure
stroke,
 Share life changes or stress
 Provide a list of all medications
and supplements currently taking

Ask yourself: “Got FIB?”
Got FIB?
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Look for Signs of a Stroke (FAST)

Look for signs of a
stroke: F – A – S - T
 Face drooping
 Arm weakness
 Speech difficulty
 Time to call 9-1-1
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Conclusion


FAST, IRREGULAR heartBEATS = FIB
Symptoms include






Rapid, irregular heartbeat
Palpitations
Weakness, sweating, not feeling right
Shortness of breath, extreme fatigue
If you
you’ve
ve “Got
Got FIB,
FIB ” seek immediate medical
treatment
If yyou or a loved one show signs
g of a stroke
(F – A – S – T), call 9-1-1
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
Manage your risk factors
(like blood pressure,
cholesterol weight,
cholesterol,
weight tobacco
smoke, and alcohol)

For more information, review
materials on
d tfib
dontfibyourself.com
lf

“Don’t
Don t FIB yourself!
yourself!”
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Presented By
Some images in this presentation are a work of the National Institutes of Health, part of the
United States Department of Health and Human Services, and are part of the public domain.
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