Overview
Brugada syndrome is a disease that can cause an abnormal rhythm in your heart’s lower chambers (ventricles). This irregular heart rhythm, ventricular fibrillation (v-fib), prevents your heart from pumping blood to your brain. When this happens, you faint.
V-fib can lead to sudden cardiac death. This often happens while you’re at rest or asleep. Out of all the sudden cardiac deaths that happen, researchers blame Brugada syndrome for 4% of them.
Brugada syndrome is rare. About 3 to 5 people in 10,000 have the condition.
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Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.
The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.
Prevention
Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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