Ankylosing Spondylitis

Overview

A healthcare provider will diagnose ankylosing spondylitis with a physical exam. They’ll examine your body and discuss your symptoms. Tell your provider when you first noticed pain or other symptoms, including if any time of day or activity makes them worse.

You might need to visit a rheumatologist, a healthcare provider who specializes in treating arthritis and similar conditions.

What tests do healthcare providers use to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis?

There’s no one test that can confirm you have AS. Your provider might use a few tests to help diagnose it, including:

Sacroiliac joint and spine X-rays to check for signs of arthritis.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can show more details than X-rays.
Blood tests to check for the mutated HLA-B27 gene.

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Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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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.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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