Tailored Care for AFib Focusing on Lifestyle Modifications May Decrease Risk
Atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, is a common heart condition that leads to an irregular heartbeat. This condition, which impacts over half a billion individuals worldwide, can cause blood clots that may travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
Beyond known factors connected with cardiovascular health, like physical activity, diet, and smoking, the presence of chronic health issues, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and mental health conditions, play a significant role in the risk of AFib.
A recent review published in a notable journal revealed evidence about lifestyle choices, comorbid conditions, and socioeconomic factors that could potentially affect the risk of AFib.
According to the review, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking can help reduce the risk of AFib. Conversely, unhealthy habits like excess alcohol consumption and poor sleep quality are associated with a higher chance of developing the condition.
People living with obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels are at a higher risk of experiencing poor AFib outcomes. When it comes to socioeconomic factors, better access to healthcare, higher levels of education, and a higher income may reduce the risk of AFib and related complications.
Dr. Stephen Tang, a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist, explained that managing AFib involves more than just oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention or rate or rhythm control with medication or ablation. He emphasized that this complex disease is driven by numerous risk factors and comorbidities. To control AFib over the long term, identifying and optimizing these risk factors is essential.
Tailoring care for each patient's unique risk factors is crucial since these can vary significantly from person to person. Dr. Nikhil Warrier, a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist, highlighted that the underlying risk factors that increase the likelihood of poor AFib-related outcomes can differ between every patient. A multidisciplinary approach that addresses key lifestyle factors, comorbid conditions, socioeconomic factors, and genetic predispositions is needed for effective management.
- The presence of chronic health issues, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels, significantly contribute to the risk of AFib and its unfavorable outcomes.
- A review published in a renowned journal indicated that lifestyle choices, like regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking, can potentially lower the risk of AFib.
- Science continues to uncover factors beyond traditional cardiovascular health measures, such as diet, physical activity, and smoking, that influence the risk of AFib.
- Socioeconomic factors, including access to healthcare, level of education, and income, may play a role in reducing the risk of AFib and related complications.
- Poor sleep quality and excess alcohol consumption have been associated with a higher chance of developing AFib, making overarching health-and-wellness a crucial factor to consider.
- In the realm of mental health, depression is among the comorbid conditions that could impact the risk of AFib and its outcomes.
- To effectively manage AFib over the long term, identifying and optimizing numerous risk factors, including nutrition, fitness-and-exercise, and genetic predispositions, is essential.
- Personal finance and financial stability could indirectly affect the management of AFib and related complications by impacting a person's access to healthcare and ability to maintain healthy lifestyle choices.
