Sit down and take your pulse. How fast is your heart beating while at rest? If it’s between 60 and 100 beats per minute, that’s great, but if it’s racing like you just finished an intense workout, you’d better see your doctor.
An estimated 2.5 million Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat, and many of them have no idea they have it. However, this potentially life-changing cardiovascular condition is on the rise, according to experts, and is expected to more than double by 2050.
“Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow to the body,” said Kristy Chambers, chest pain coordinator at Ogden Regional Medical Center. “During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s two upper chambers beat chaotically and irregularly out of coordination with the two lower chambers of the heart.”
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