Cold Hearted: Freezing Atrial Fibrillation -- Research Summary
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that usually causes poor blood flow to the body. During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two upper chambers, the atria, beat chaotically and irregularly out of coordination with the two lower chambers, the ventricles, of the heart. Symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness. Episodes of atrial fibrillation can come and go, or a patient may have chronic atrial fibrillation. Although atrial fibrillation itself usually isn't life-threatening, it is a serious medical condition that sometimes requires emergency treatment. (SOURCE: www.mayoclinic.com)
TREATMENTS: Treatment for atrial fibrillation depends on how often the person has symptoms, how severe they are, and whether they already have heart disease. General treatment options include medicines, medical procedures, and lifestyle changes. One goal of treating AF is preventing blood clots from forming, which will lower the risk of stroke. Another goal is controlling how many times a minute the ventricles contract; this is called rate control. It’s important because it allows the ventricles enough time to completely fill with blood. Also, another goal is restoring a normal heart rhythm, which is called rhythm control. Rhythm control allows the atria and ventricles to work together to efficiently pump blood to the body. (SOURCE: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov)
NEW TREATMENT: A new, minimally invasive procedure for patients living with atrial fibrillation has been approved by the FDA. During this procedure called cryoablation, doctors insert a balloon catheter into a blood vessel in the upper leg and snake it through the circulatory system until it reaches the heart. Once in place, the cryoballoon is inflated and extremely cold energy flows through the catheter, freezing the heart tissue that is causing the irregular heartbeat. This new freezing system is a more straightforward way to treat atrial fibrillation. By using the freezing ablation on very specific areas, doctors can get the blood to flow and stop the electrical signals that cause the arrhythmia. (SOURCE: http://www.healthymagination.com) MORE ►
Cold Hearted: Freezing Atrial Fibrillation -- Research Summary | Medical News and Health Information: - Enviado mediante la barra Google
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Cold Hearted: Freezing Atrial Fibrillation | Medical News and Health Information: - Enviado mediante la barra Google
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Dana Wirth Sparks
Mayo Clinic Department of Public Affairs
Rochester, MN
Sparks.dana@mayo.edu
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