Zoonotic Diseases

Overview

Zoonotic diseases, or zoonoses, are infectious diseases that can spread between animals (vertebrates) and humans. Vertebrates are animals with a backbone, like cows, sheep, rats, dogs, cats, bats and birds. The way their bodies work is similar enough to ours that pathogens (germs) can sometimes adjust to live in both.

Some zoonotic diseases only spread from animals to humans and don’t spread from person to person. Others, like Ebola, spread from animals to humans and continue to spread in humans, causing periodic outbreaks of illness. Still others spread to humans and then mutate to only infect humans, like HIV and COVID-19. Once they only spread in humans, they’re no longer considered zoonotic (but other forms of the disease can still exist in animals).

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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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