According to the American Heart Association (AHA), atrial fibrillation (also referred to as AFib or AF), “is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.” The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports that an estimated 2.7 to 6.1 million Americans have been diagnosed with AFib.
During the month of September, health officials and healthcare providers nationwide are raising awareness about this very common disease that increases a person’s risk for a stroke by 4 to 5 times according to the CDC. AFib can be treated with medication to control the rhythm of the heart, blood thinning medication, surgery, and healthy lifestyle changes to reduce certain risk factors.
Advancing age and high blood pressure are the highest risk factors for AFib. Other risk factors include:
- European ancestry
- Heart failure
- Heavy alcohol use
Symptoms of AFib may include palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, feeling weak, or tired. Your healthcare provider can make a definitive diagnosis by ordering an EKG or ECG. To schedule an annual physical or to discuss your treatment options with a qualified healthcare professional, you may walk-in to any of our convenient Primary Medical Care Center community clinics, or you may schedule an appointment by visiting our website at www.primarymed.com, or call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic, or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic.