SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – There are many factors that contribute to atrial fibrillation (also known as a-fib), the most common type of heart arrhythmia. Some, like age, are unpreventable. However, researchers have recently discovered more about how lifestyle factors such as drinking alcohol can trigger a-fib episodes.
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“There’s a growing recognition that atrial fibrillation may be preventable and that lifestyle factors in particular may be important,” said Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist, UCSF Health. He joined “As Prescribed” with KCBS Radio’s Alice Wertz for its latest episode.
According to UCSF, approximately 2.5 million people in the U.S. have a-fib. Risk of a-fib increases with age – 6% of patients affected by it are older than 65 and 10% are older than 80. By 2030, an estimated 12.1 million people in the U.S. will have a-fib, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Marcus – one of the authors of a study published this year on lifestyle factors that impact the condition – explained that a-fib refers to “a very rapid and chaotic quivering of the upper two chambers of the heart that creates this chaotic, rapid electrical signal that is transmitted to the lower chambers.”
These lower chambers are responsible for the pulse and blood flow to the rest of the body. People with atrial fibrillation will typically have rapid pulse and an irregular heartbeat. This can result in fatigue, discomfort in the chest, shortness of breath and feeling faint.
“Sometimes people will just feel a little off and not quite themselves,” said Marcus. “Importantly, atrial fibrillation can sometimes be asymptomatic,” even with patients who feel attuned to signs of an episode.
Examples of lifestyle factors researchers have linked to a-fib incidents include sleep and alcohol consumption.
“We’ve recently demonstrated, as have others, that alcohol may be an important trigger and we can talk more about that,” said Marcus. “There’s very strong evidence now that those who drink more alcohol are at a higher risk of eventually developing atrial fibrillation. And among those who have a-fib, even drinking one drink might trigger an episode.”
Listen to this week’s “As Prescribed” to learn more. You can also listen to last week’s episode to learn about UCSF doctors fighting our fear of needles here.
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