Atrial fibrillation is a common heart disease that increases the risk of stroke and is increasingly affecting the health of people under 65.

Experts have long believed that A-fib, a type of arrhythmia, occurs primarily in people over 65 and that younger people with the disease are less likely to develop other heart problems. said specialist Dr. Aditya Bhonsale. Electrophysiologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

But in a new study published last week, Bonserre and colleagues looked at data on more than 67,000 A-fib patients treated at the center and found that nearly a quarter of them were under 65. Ta. These patients are at increased risk of death compared to those without symptoms. He also often has risk factors for his A-fib, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and sleep apnea, which can worsen cardiovascular health problems.

What is A-fib?

In A-fib, the heart’s upper and lower ventricles are not coordinated properly, so the heart beats chaotically, sometimes too slowly, sometimes too fast, and often just irregularly. People with this condition may experience palpitations or heart palpitations.

Dr. Jeffrey Burns, a cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at the University of Michigan Health, frequently sees patients who say their heart feels like it’s racing or skipping. He said he is doing so. People with A-fib may also experience shortness of breath and chest discomfort. Some people have episodes from time to time. Some people have persistent arrhythmias. Burns said people are often asymptomatic and don’t even know they have the disease.

Doctors say more patients are seeking treatment after smartwatches detect irregular heartbeats. Dr. Hugh Calkins, a professor of cardiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said this may help explain why more young people are being diagnosed. “The more you screen, the more you’ll find,” he said.

Doctors usually diagnose atrial fibrillation using an electrocardiogram (ECG) while considering medical and family history. In some cases, patients may be given a portable monitor that they can wear for up to a month to check for arrhythmias.

A-fib can cause blood clots to form in the heart, which travel to the brain and cause strokes even in young patients, Bonserre said. This condition can increase the risk of not only heart failure but also cognitive decline and dementia. In this study, researchers found that people under the age of 65 with A-fib had a significantly higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure, stroke, and heart attack compared to people without A-fib.

What is causing the increase in young people?

Atrial fibrillation may also be increasing in younger people because many of the risk factors for atrial fibrillation, such as pre-existing heart disease and diabetes, are also increasing in this age group, Bonsale said.

Nearly one in five A-fib patients in the study also had obstructive sleep apnea, a significant risk factor for the condition. People with sleep apnea stop and restart their breathing during the night. They have a hard time getting enough rest. This condition is often undiagnosed and is associated with a variety of cardiovascular problems.

Dr. Bradley Knight, chief of electrophysiology at Northwestern Medicine’s Bloom Heart and Vascular Institute, says there is a correlation between how much alcohol a person consumes and how likely they are to develop A-fib. Burns said smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes is also associated with an increased risk of A-fib.

Exercise in general is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, but extreme endurance exercise like marathons and triathlons are associated with an increased risk of A-fib, Calkins said.

How is A-fib treated?

Doctors work with patients to address factors that make A-fib more likely, such as making sure people with sleep apnea use CPAP and helping patients quit smoking. To do. In some cases, especially for younger patients, doctors may recommend a procedure called catheter ablation. This is used by doctors to remove tissue within the heart that may be causing irregular heartbeats.

Your doctor may also prescribe blood thinners to reduce your risk of stroke and other medications to manage your symptoms. These include drugs that help regulate heart rate and rhythm, Knight said. Medications can help reduce the frequency and duration of A-fib, but “drugs rarely eliminate A-fib,” he added. He tells patients that the disease is like high blood pressure and must be continuously managed.

“If you are diagnosed with A-fib at any age, but especially at a young age, you have a great opportunity to think about what you can do to better manage your health and reduce your chances of getting A-fib. Are there any problems later in life?” Burns said. “I think it’s almost like a wake-up call.”

This article was originally published in The New York Times.