Targeting Lifestyle Factors through Personalized Approach May Reduce AFib Risk
Atrial fibrillation, often abbreviated as AFib, is a common type of arrhythmia involving an irregular heartbeat. With a global prevalence exceeding, this condition poses a significant threat to overall health and wellbeing.
Besides well-known risk factors associated with cardiovascular health, such as physical activity, diabetes, obesity, and smoking, the presence of chronic health conditions like cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and mental health issues also increase the risk of AFib.
A recent review in medical literature identified lifestyle factors, comorbid conditions, and socioeconomic factors that may influence AFib risk. To effectively manage and reduce the risk of AFib, a multidisciplinary approach that is tailored to the individual patient is essential.
Physical activity, when performed regularly, reduces the risk of AFib incidence and complications. Regular moderate-to-vigorous exercise and high-intensity interval training are particularly effective for individuals living with AFib. Maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking are other important lifestyle changes that can lower the risk of AFib. While the impact of alcohol consumption on AFib risk is debated, limiting alcohol intake to one drink per day is generally advisable.
Chronic health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and mental health issues like depression and anxiety, are often found in patients with AFib and can increase the risk of complications. Managing these comorbid conditions is crucial for reducing the risk of AFib recurrence and complications such as stroke.
In addition to the well-known risk factors for AFib, socioeconomic status and ethnicity/race can also influence the risk. South Asian and African individuals are less likely to develop AFib compared to white individuals, but Asian individuals show a higher risk for other cardiovascular conditions. Regarding sex, while AFib is more common in men, women are at a higher risk of complications, including stroke and mortality.
The need for an individualized treatment plan emphasizes the importance of understanding a patient's underlying risk factors, lifestyle choices, and social circumstances. A collaborative approach between healthcare providers and patients is necessary to help manage and control AFib, improve quality of life, and prevent complications.
Dr. Nikhil Warrier, a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist, explains this need for individualized care: "The underlying risk factors that increase the likelihood of poor [AFib]-related outcomes can be different between every patient...At the same time, management strategies for [AFib] differ based on the persistence of the arrhythmia along with age and other modifiable risk factors of the patient."
Managing AFib requires a complete change of lifestyle and habits, making it challenging to implement in many patients. Dr. Stephen Tang, a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist, notes that, "The treatment goals of weight loss, heart-healthy eating, exercise, smoking and alcohol cessation, and treatment of sleep disorders are widely recommended by many doctors, but these are difficult to implement in many patients as it [is] require[s] a complete change in lifestyle and habits."
To overcome these challenges, it is vital to emphasize the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, educate patients on the benefits of managing their comorbid conditions, and encourage patients to seek support from healthcare providers and organizations dedicated to helping manage AFib.
- The presence of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common type of arrhythmia involving an irregular heartbeat, is a significant risk for overall health and wellbeing, especially in a global population.
- Apart from well-known risk factors associated with cardiovascular health, chronic health conditions like cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and mental health issues also increase the risk of AFib.
- Regular physical activity, including moderate-to-vigorous exercise and high-intensity interval training, can reduce the risk of AFib incidence and complications.
- Maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking are other important lifestyle changes that can lower the risk of AFib.
- Socioeconomic factors, ethnicity, and race can influence the risk of AFib, with South Asian and African individuals less likely to develop AFib compared to white individuals, but Asian individuals showing a higher risk for other cardiovascular conditions.
- Women are at a higher risk of AFib complications, including stroke and mortality, compared to men.
- To effectively manage and reduce the risk of AFib, a multidisciplinary approach that is tailored to the individual patient is essential.
- Managing AFib requires a complete change of lifestyle and habits, making it challenging to implement in many patients.
- To overcome these challenges, it is vital to emphasize the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, educate patients on the benefits of managing their comorbid conditions, and encourage patients to seek support from healthcare providers and organizations dedicated to helping manage AFib.
