Local hospitals reflect on A-FIB Awareness Month, bring awareness to heart condition

PERMIAN BASIN, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – When September ended Monday, so did Atrial Fibrillation (A-FIB) Awareness Month. Gracie Smith from Medical Center Hospital said her hospital spread awareness about the condition all month long.

“We handed out pamphlets on education for AFIB, what it is, how to prevent it, the signs of symptoms you would watch for and then treatment options,” she said. A lot of people don’t know they have it.”

The condition stems from an irregular heart rhythm that changes the effectiveness of pumping blood. Symptoms of A-FIB include fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations and chest pain. Medication, including blood thinner, is a common treatment option for A-FIB. Smith says the condition affects a surprising number of people nationally.

“There’s up to 6 million people in the U.S. that have AFIB,” she said. “Those numbers are expected to double by 2030.”

However, there are ways to lower your risk for the condition. Crystal Vejil from Midland Memorial Hospital said one way is to take dietary measures.

“We don’t want a lot of heavy butters and oils in your food,” she said. You want to focus more on your vegetables, your fruits and your lean proteins, so things such as chicken {and} fish.”

Vejil also said another possible indicator of A-FIB might come from a feature on an iPhone or an Apple Watch that will notify them if they have an irregular heart rhythm.

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