Macon Times

Atrium Health Navicent issued the following announcement on Sept. 22. 

Atrium Health Navicent invites the community to observe Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month during September by learning about the condition which affects 2.7 million Americans.

Atrial Fibrillation, often called AFIB, is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. While some people may experience no symptoms, others experience irregular heartbeat, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, general fatigue, shortness of breath, anxiety, faintness, sweating, or chest pain.

The risk for AFIB increases as people get older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood pressure occurs in 1 in 5 people with AFIB. Other risk factors include obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease, heavy alcohol use, and smoking.

It’s important that AFIB patients reduce their risk for stroke and heart failure. The risk of stroke in AFIB patients is five times greater than that of a person without heart disease. Clinicians at Atrium Health Navicent remind the public to act FAST if they experience any of these signs or symptoms.

· F – Facial weakness (Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?)

· A – Arm or leg weakness (Can the person raise both arms?)

· S – Speech difficulty (Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?)

· T – Time to act (Seek medical attention immediately!)

“Atrial Fibrillation is an irregular rhythm that accounts for about a third of all strokes. Strokes due to AFIB are quite debilitating, but AFIB also represents one of the causes of stroke that is easily preventable by the use of blood thinners and other treatments recommended by your heart rhythm specialist,” said Dr. Felix Sogade, Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center’s AFIB medical director.

Medications, non-surgical procedures, and surgical procedures are available to patients with AFIB. Other ways for AFIB patients to reduce their risk for stroke include getting regular physical activity, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing blood pressure, avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine, quitting smoking, controlling cholesterol, and maintaining a healthy weight.

In observance of Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, Atrium Health Navicent has posted a virtual “Yoga for AFIB” video at https://youtu.be/PxBcCi2wHJg to help provide an opportunity for patients to help reduce their AFIB risk and promote healthy lifestyle choices for AFIB patients.

Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center has an American College of Cardiology Accredited AFIB program to ensure quality care is provided to AFIB patients. The hospital also participates in the American Heart Association’s “Get with the Guidelines — AFIB” program, which requires hospitals to audit AFIB patient records and report data to ensure that AFIB quality metrics are met.

To find a doctor, visit navicenthealth.org and click “Find a Doctor.”

Original source can be found here.