Lifestyle changes can help heart rhythms
DEAR DOCTOR: I’ve suffered from atrial fibrillation for several years now. I recently read that overall heart health could reduce the risk of the condition. Is it too late for me, considering I’ve already been diagnosed?
DEAR READER:
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, affects more than 2 million people in the United States, making it the most common heart-rhythm abnormality in the country.
The atria are the chambers of the heart that pump blood into the ventricles, which are the muscular chambers that then push blood out to the rest of the body. Injuries to the atria can happen for a variety of reasons, leading to abnormal electrical conduction and what is known as atrial fibrillation. In these circumstances, the atria quiver instead of contracting rhythmically, creating the possibility that the blood in the chambers will form a clot, travel to the brain and cause a stroke. In fact, 15 percent of all strokes are caused by AFib.
The new study you reference assessed ways
to prevent AFib. After adjusting for confounding factors, the authors found that people in average health had a 37 percent decreased risk of AFib compared to those in the inadequate health category. And those in the optimal health category had a 57 percent decrease in risk compared to those with inadequate health. Diet and cholesterol level did not appear to have any effect upon atrial fibrillation.
One problem with the study, however is that the authors didn’t explain how they adjusted for binge drinking, which is a major risk factor for this condition. In fact, AFib occurs in 60 percent of binge drinkers. But even moderate amounts can cause the abnormal rhythm.
If you have had atrial fibrillation for many years, it may be difficult for your heart to resume a normal rhythm.
But removing risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, sleep apnea and excessive alcohol consumption) can reduce the frequency of AFib.