MercyOne Helps Heart Rhythm Disorder Patients Live Their Best Life

Atrial fibrillation is the number one cause of stroke and the most common heart rhythm disorder seen within adults.

Nearly 10% of people over 65 will develop a heart rhythm disorder, also known as atrial fibrillation (AFib).

“The main symptoms we look out for with atrial fibrillation are palpitations,” said Dr. Mohammad El Baba, electrophysiologist at MercyOne Siouxland Heart and Vascular Center. “A patient may experience rapid fluttering in their chest, also described as a thundering feeling in their chest.”

Other atrial fibrillation symptoms may include:

• Shortness of breath

• Fatigue

• Chest pains

• Lightheadedness

• Dizziness

“I had to have a friend come get me while on a bike ride around the lake because I just couldn’t catch my breath,” said Lisa Wieck. “Especially as a woman; all these thoughts went through my mind; am I just out of shape or was it my age catching up with me? Why was I so tired all the time? I knew I had to get checked out.”

AFib requires long term treatment that is split into two categories; stroke prevention and management of the arrhythmia itself to treat the symptoms.

“The most important part of managing AFib is protecting you from having a stroke if you are at risk,” said Dr. El Baba. “We start by working with you to eliminate some of the contributing factors like avoiding excessive alcohol intake, treating obstructive sleep apnea and other precipitative medical issues. We recommend rhythm control strategy to maintain normal rhythm. We can do so by either medications or by doing a procedure called ablation. Recently, a small mechanical device is being used to reduce stroke risk for patients who have high-risk of bleeding while on blood thinners to reduce stroke risk. We’ll consider all options as we work through your individual treatment plan.”

AFib symptoms resolve once a patient is brought back into normal heart rate or rhythm (NSR). Once a normal heart rhythm resumes, it can be determined that symptoms were due to atrial fibrillation and heart specialists can proceed with tailored treatment options.

Most cardiac and stroke events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes, including living a more active lifestyle, eating smart and managing blood pressure.

Find out how healthy your heart is by taking our heart health assessment quiz.