- Irregular heartbeats can indicate arrhythmias like AFib, experts warn.
- Doctors highlight risk factors, including age, obesity and caffeine intake.
- Early treatment can prevent complications; options include medication and lifestyle changes.
PROVO — Have you ever felt your heart skip a beat?
Usually, it's nothing to worry about, but sometimes, it can signal a heart rhythm disorder, also known as an arrhythmia.
"It can make your heartbeats go very slow, or go very fast and irregular," said Dr. Leenhapong Navaravong, an electrophysiologist at Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital.
Symptoms can include palpitations, extreme fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, and chest pain or discomfort.
The most common arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, or AFib.
"A lot of times, AFib becomes a wake-up call for some of our patients," said Dr. David Wang, an electrophysiologist at Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital.
Wang and Navaravong said several factors can raise your risk of AFib, including advancing age, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, sleep apnea and heavy alcohol use.
Wang warned that excessive amounts of caffeine — particularly from energy drinks — can trigger heart rhythm problems.
"That makes the heart quite unhappy," he said.
Experts predict AFib cases will rise more than 60% by 2050, and doctors say they're seeing it more often in younger patients.
"It's something to do with aging of the heart, not necessarily the chronological age, but sometimes the age has to do with the inflammation that one exposes the heart to," Wang said.
The good news: AFib is treatable.
Improving sleep, cutting back on alcohol and caffeine, exercising regularly, and maintaining a heart-healthy diet can all make a difference.
Treatment options can include medication, such as blood thinners, or minimally invasive procedures, like catheter ablation.
"We can start by prescribing medications to slow down the heart rate in AFib," Navaravong said.
"In this day and age, tolerating AFib is not necessary if you want to get it treated," Wang added.
Doctors say don't ignore the signs. If your symptoms are new or getting worse, or if a smartwatch alerts you to an irregular rhythm, talk with your health care provider. Early treatment can help prevent stroke and other serious complications.
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Emma Benson
