Atrial Fibrillation - Essay Example

"Atrial Fibrillation" is a wonderful example of a paper on the cardiovascular system.
Atrial Fibrillation, abbreviated as AF, refers to a medical condition that triggers a fast heartbeat in an erratic manner. Its treatment is meant to reduce the heart rate thus normalizing it. Warfarin is the drug that is used for this purpose. However, in elderly individuals, it has been observed that even after the treatment of the condition, it is only the rate of the heartbeat that reduces but the erratic rhythm persists thus leading to the condition of a stroke.

This medical condition causes stroke if it is not treated. Basing on the scientific research already conducted, results indicate that the erratic rhythm of the heart instigates turbulent flow of blood within the chambers of the heart. In most cases, this causes blood to clot in the chambers of the heart, though in small quantities (Kowey & Naccarelli, 2005). The resultant blood clot may then travel in the blood vessels ending up being trapped in small blood vessels found in the brain. Consequently, blood flow to the brain becomes partially hampered leading to stroke. As such, the main complication of this medical problem is the risk of stroke.

The category of people who stand the greatest risk of getting a stroke include those who have ever suffered from a blood clot before and the elderly aged 75 years or older. It is imperative that the condition goes hand in hand with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease such as peripheral, angina, and heart valve problem.

Researchers have managed to come up with a drug referred to as Warfarin to treat the above condition. This drug acts on the liver thus inhibiting the formation of some distinct proteins that deem significant in the formation of fibrin. In the absence of fibrin, which is the basic building block of a blood clot, blood clotting within the vessel is inhibited. In other words, warfarin serves as an anticoagulant that prevents blood clots from forming so easily. Generally, warfarin minimizes the risk of suffering from stroke by almost two-thirds. This implies that people suffering from atrial fibrillation, but are under the treatment with warfarin, are 6 to 10 times less likely to suffer from a stroke.

The use of warfarin has however been found to bear a number of side effects. The major risk associated with this drug is bleeding problems that ate attributed to the inability of blood to clot very well. Other effects, though in small magnitudes are diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (Royal College of Physicians, 2006 p.89). Therefore, the usage of this drug is more advisable amongst those individuals bearing the greatest risk of suffering from a stroke. However, people with a low risk of experiencing this condition, there are advised to use aspirin instead of warfarin. This recommendation is based on the logical fact that the benefit does not supersede the risks of bleeding problems associated with warfarin medication.

In conclusion, warfarin dose is very active in that it can cause excessive bleeding or causes bruises very easily. When one bleeds, it will be more involving to stop the blood and so this is its side effects. If you were unfortunate in that you encounter side effects of excessively bleeding, it is advisable to see a doctor very fast for there are no accurate measures of preventing the above side effect.