What symptoms might I experience?

Fatigue, palpitations, a “butterfly” feeling in our heart, dizziness, difficulty breathing, chest pain and more rarely fainting.

“It should be mentioned that a percentage of people may not present particular symptoms and the diagnosis of arrhythmia is made by a random check. They are the category of patients with “silent” atrial fibrillation and they are at the same, perhaps even greater, risk of a stroke, compared to those who show symptoms as they do not receive the appropriate medication”, points out Mr. Charalambos Kossyvakis Director of Electrophysiology and Pacing at Metropolitan Hospital.

How is it diagnosed?

“The condition in question is diagnosed when the symptom appears. Then we will have to do a cardiogram, so that the diagnosis can be made. From there, if our symptom has passed and atrial fibrillation is not present on the cardiogram, our doctor should recommend a 24-hour holter rhythm,” he says.

How is it treated?

“As for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, it moves along two axes. Our first concern is to reduce the patient’s thrombophilic risk. Especially patients who suffer from diabetes, hypertension, or are women over 65, face an increased risk. These patients should receive oral anticoagulant medication.

Our second concern is to reduce symptomatology, and in this, interventional management has much better results than antiarrhythmic drugs. In recent years we have new technologies, which make the operation more effective and safer.

Of course, it is very important for the patient himself to reduce harmful habits, such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption and to include physical exercise in his daily life”, concludes Mr. Kossyvakis.

*The Metropolitan Hospital has a modern, fully equipped and organized Cardiology Clinic, worthy of the best cardiology centers abroad, certified according to ISO, which has now won the trust of the Greek area, since in practice for the last 15 years it has proven its scientific excellence in the care and treatment of difficult and complicated cardiac cases. With excellent scientific and nursing staff, advanced technology equipment, the Cardiology Clinic of the Metropolitan Hospital is at the disposal of patients at all times, ready to deal with, with exemplary comprehensiveness, any acute or chronic cardiac event 24 hours a day.