what is the medical term;AF?

Question

pertains to the heart

Answer 1

It pertains to Atrial Fibrillation or A Fib.
Atrial fibrillation describes an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm. The irregular rhythm, or arrhythmia, results from abnormal electrical impulses in the heart. The irregularity can be continuous, or it can come and go.

Normal heart contractions begin as an electrical impulse in the right atrium. This impulse comes from an area of the atrium called the sinoatrial (SA) or sinus node, the "natural pacemaker."

* As the impulse travels through the atrium, it produces a wave of muscle contractions. This causes the atria to contract.

* The impulse reaches the atrioventricular (AV) node in the muscle wall between the 2 ventricles. There, it pauses, giving blood from the atria time to enter the ventricles.

* The impulse then continues into the ventricles, causing ventricular contraction that pushes the blood out of the heart, completing a single heartbeat.

In a person with a normal heart rate and rhythm the heart beats 50-100 times per minute.

* If the heart beats more than 100 times per minute, the heart rate is considered fast (tachycardia).

* If the heart beats less than 50 times per minute, the heart rate is considered slow (bradycardia).

In atrial fibrillation, multiple impulses travel through the atria at the same time.

* Instead of a coordinated contraction, the atrial contractions are irregular, disorganized, chaotic, and very rapid. The atria may contract at a rate of 400-600 per minute.

* These irregular impulses reach the AV node in rapid succession, but not all of them make it past the AV node. Therefore, the ventricles beat slower, often at rates of 110-180 beats per minute in an irregular rhythm.

* The resulting rapid, irregular heartbeat causes an irregular pulse and sometimes a sensation of fluttering in the chest.

Atrial fibrillation can occur in several different patterns.

* Intermittent (paroxysmal): The heart develops atrial fibrillation and typically converts back again spontaneously to normal (sinus) rhythm. The episodes may last anywhere from seconds to days.

* Persistent: Atrial fibrillation occurs in episodes, but the arrhythmia does not convert back to sinus rhythm spontaneously. Medical treatment is required to end the episode.

* Permanent: The heart is always in atrial fibrillation. Conversion back to sinus rhythm either is not possible or is deemed not appropriate for medical reasons.

Atrial fibrillation, often called A Fib, is a very common heart rhythm disorder.

* It affects about 1% of the population, mostly people older than 50 years. This amounts to more than 2 million people.

* The risk of developing atrial fibrillation increases as we get older. About 5% of people older than 80 years have atrial fibrillation.

For many people, atrial fibrillation may cause symptoms but does no harm.

* Complications can arise, but appropriate treatment reduces these risks.

* If treated properly, atrial fibrillation rarely causes serious or life-threatening problems.

Answer 2

Af Medical Term

Answer 3

AF means atrial fibrillation (atrium is the upper chambers of the heart), the Rt. atrium contain a node called SA node which acts as a pease maker for the heart beats, when the heart is not working so much good especially in an old patient the SA node (for too many reasons) gives extra beats to the heart rates which causes irregular heart beats diagnosed by ECG ( Electrocardiography) or auscultation.

Answer 4

Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm which involves the two upper chambers of the heart. In a normal heart rhythm, the impulse generated by the sinoatrial node spreads through the heart and causes contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood. In AF, the regular electrical impulses of the sinoatrial node are replaced by disorganized, rapid electrical impulses which result in irregular heart beats.

Answer 5

Atrial Fibrillation?

Answer 6

Aflatoxin: A toxin produced by mold that can damage the liver and may lead to liver cancer. Aflatoxins cause cancer in some animals. Affinity: In immunology, the strength of binding interaction between antigen and antibody molecules.

Answer 7

medical termaf

Answer 8

Darcy'S right!