Atrial Fibrillation
Question 1
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common type of heart rhythm disorder that is characterized by a rapid and irregular heartbeat. The disease causes the two upper chambers of the heart, the atria, to start quivering instead of pumping efficiently and regularly, thus altering the normal rates of the heartbeats from 60 to 100 beats per minute to about 100 to 180 beats per minute. According to MyDr. (2020) atrial fibrillation is caused by underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, sleep apnea, and various lung and heart problems such as coronary artery diseases or cardiomyopathy. The common symptoms of atrial fibrillation include palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest discomforts, and general body weakness (MyDr, 2020). However, it is possible to have atrial fibrillation without having these usual symptoms. Atrial fibrillation decreases the quality of life, but the most significant health risk is its potential to cause a stroke or heart failure.
Question 2
Medications for atrial fibrillation are primarily administered to control the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. Medicines used to control heart rhythm in atrial fibrillation include antiarrhythmics drugs such as amiodarone. According to John (2020), amiodarone drugs work by blocking specific electrical signals in the heart that can cause an irregular heartbeat. Amiodarone drugs are available in most of the drug stores under different brand names such as Rithmik, Aratac, Cordarone X, Pacerone, and Nexterone. These drugs can be administered into the body by mouth or through injections. The dosage of the drug is dependent on age, duration of treatment, and severity of the disease.
Even though antiarrhythmic drugs like amiodarone have proven to be effective in controlling the irregular heart rhythm in patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, these drugs present specific minor and severe side effects. According to John (2020), the side effects of using amiodarone drugs include dizziness, headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, nausea, constipation, and taste disturbance. Other side effects are thyroid dysfunction, hypotension, an acute inflammatory disorder, eosinophilic pneumonia, chronic fibrotic, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. These side effects may be adverse on specific individuals, especially the elderly, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those using other medications. Therefore, all medication must be taken with the doctor’s prescription.
Question 3
- While under medication, avoid too much exposure to sunlight as it may cause photosensitivity.
- Avoid taking alcohol and drugs during the medication as it may hinder the effectiveness of the drug and even aggravate the condition.
- Take balanced meals and have enough rest to increase the performance of the drug as well as the overall health outcome.