A person who has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation means that they have an issue with the rhythm of their heart which can either beat too fast, too slow, or very chaotic. Consequently, it leads to issues in blood pumping and can trigger many health issues, known as complications. Fortunately, there are treatments which can establish a normal heart rhythm and prevent any possible complications. Nevertheless, today we’re going to take a closer look at all possible complications of atrial fibrillation.

Complications of Atrial Fibrillation

Cardiomyopathy

Atrial fibrillation is a condition which causes the ventricles to beat faster in order to push blood out of the heart. If this continues over some time, the heart muscle becomes too weak and unable to pump enough blood to the body. This is a condition known as cardiomyopathy. To prevent cardiomyopathy, you should be taking medicines for atrial fibrillation, such as and calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers, which slow down the heart rate.

Stroke

When the heart beats, the two upper chambers, known as atria, squeeze and push blood into the two lower chambers, called ventricles. When atrial fibrillation occurs, the atria trembles rather than squeezing strongly and they push only some blood into the lower chambers. This can make blood enter the heart and some blood clots can form there. The clots can travel to the brain or get stuck in an artery. When this happened, it can block the blood flow and trigger a stroke. Again, atrial fibrillation medicines can help normalize the heart rhythm and prevent a stroke from happening. Moreover, in order to prevent stroke, a person should keep their blood pressure normal with a proper and nutrient-dense diet and regular exercise.

Heart Failure

When a person has atrial fibrillation, the heart isn’t able to push out blood properly which makes the heart weak and lowers its ability to push as much blood as a person needs. This condition is known as heart failure. Heart failure has a number of symptoms, including shortness of breath and fatigue. In order to lower the risks of heart failure, you should keep your blood pressure in a normal range, avoid smoking, control blood sugar, and have a healthy diet.

Memory Loss

Atrial fibrillation is one of those conditions which can trigger memory loss. In fact, dementia is a very common condition in people with atrial fibrillation. This health issue prevents the brain from getting enough blood and thus, affects the memory. Blood thinners, such as warfarin and aspirin, and lifestyle changes can protect your heart and brain.

Fatigue

In order to work properly, the body needs a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood. However, when this doesn’t happen, a person is prone to tiredness and fatigue. Fatigue can be managed with some simple lifestyle changes, such as plenty of rest, getting enough sleep, doing regular physical exercise, and strength training. Another reason why a person might experience exhaustion might be sleep apnea, which prevents proper breathing when a person sleeps and it’s quite common to happen together with atrial fibrillation. This condition can be easily managed with the use of CPAP, a machine which delivers air pressure without a face mask and keeps the airways open during sleep.

Ways to Prevent Complications of Atrial Fibrillation

Complications of atrial fibrillation can be prevented simply by making some simple lifestyle changes. Hence, you should consume a nutrient-packed diet and avoid saturated and trans fats. Moreover, you should do regular exercise, quit smoking, limit caffeine and alcohol intake and manage your cholesterol and blood pressure.