[Click! Health] Rising Risk of 'Simbang Sedong' During Seasonal Changes... Early Diagnosis and Management Are Crucial

Heart Beats Fast and Irregularly
3 Times Higher Risk of Heart Failure, 5 Times Higher Risk of Stroke
Rapid Increase in Patients Due to Aging Population... Frequent Drinking Also Risky

Medical staff are performing cryoballoon ablation on a patient with atrial fibrillation.
[Photo by Myongji Hospital]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] During the transitional season when the temperature difference between day and night widens significantly, the risk of heart disease increases sharply. This is because the body strains the heart while adapting to the colder weather. Among sudden deaths caused by acute heart disease, arrhythmia accounts for the largest cause. In particular, patients with atrial fibrillation, a condition where the heartbeat is irregular, have a 3 times higher risk of heart failure and a 5 times higher risk of stroke compared to the general population, so special caution is required.

The human heart consists of two atria and two ventricles. The atria and ventricles repeatedly contract and relax in a regular rhythm, supplying blood from the atria to the ventricles, and from the ventricles to organs and tissues. Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia in which abnormal electrical signals are generated in the atrial area, causing the heart to beat fast and irregularly. When blood flow becomes irregular, blood can stagnate in the atria, leading to the formation of blood clots. If a blood clot formed by atrial fibrillation blocks a cerebral blood vessel, it can cause complications such as cerebral infarction or, in severe cases, death.

Increasing Number of Atrial Fibrillation Patients

According to the National Health Insurance Service on the 19th, the number of atrial fibrillation patients increased by 35.3%, from 180,954 in 2016 to 244,896 in 2020. By age group, those in their 70s accounted for the largest proportion at 32.8% (80,305 patients), and the prevalence of atrial fibrillation increased with age. Hwang Ui-seok, Director of the Arrhythmia Center at Myongji Hospital (Cardiology), interpreted this as "the increase in atrial fibrillation patients is a result of Korea’s aging society, advancements in diagnostic technology, and increased awareness of atrial fibrillation and arrhythmia."

Treatment for atrial fibrillation is determined by comprehensively evaluating the patient's age, underlying diseases, and presence of symptoms. Drug therapy is prioritized, and if ineffective, interventional procedures such as radiofrequency catheter ablation or cryoballoon ablation are performed. The most widely known method, radiofrequency catheter ablation, is a treatment that ablates the area causing arrhythmia using radiofrequency energy. Since a catheter is inserted through the leg vein under local anesthesia, it causes less pain and has a low risk, but it takes a long time because the pulmonary vein entrance tissue is treated section by section.

Hwang Ui-seok, Head of the Arrhythmia Center at Myongji Hospital, is explaining atrial fibrillation.
[Photo by Myongji Hospital]

As a complementary treatment, cryoballoon ablation, which has recently attracted attention, involves attaching a specially designed balloon to the pulmonary vein entrance and rapidly cooling it to minus 40 to 50 degrees Celsius to block unnecessary electrical signals. Compared to conventional radiofrequency catheter ablation, the procedure time is reduced to less than half, allowing completion within 2 hours. This significantly reduces the risk of complications and speeds up recovery, improving patient satisfaction. Director Hwang explained, "Cryoballoon ablation is highly effective in treating early paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients," adding, "The procedure time is short, and the risk of sequelae and complications is low, resulting in high patient satisfaction."

Frequent Alcohol Consumption Increases Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is mainly caused by structural abnormalities of the heart, chronic lung disease, and thyroid disorders, but it can also occur in people without underlying diseases. Recent studies have shown that even healthy adults in their 20s and 30s who continue moderate or heavier alcohol consumption have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

As the number of patients continues to increase due to population aging, the importance of early diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation is growing. Atrial fibrillation often presents no symptoms or only mild symptoms such as palpitations. Therefore, even without clear symptoms, those aged 65 or older, or with hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, or a family history of heart disease, are recommended to undergo regular electrocardiogram examinations.

Additionally, chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia are factors that cause arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation, so they should be managed through a healthy diet and regular exercise. However, excessive exercise can worsen arrhythmia, so caution is necessary.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.