Ventricular fibrillation, called VFib or VF, is an extremely dangerousarrhythmia.
This article explores VFib, including how it develops and its symptoms and treatment.
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What Happens During Ventricular Fibrillation (VFib)?
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To best understand VFib, you must first understand what happens when the heart is innormal sinus rhythm.
While VFib is dangerous, causing sudden cardiac arrest, AFib is not generally considered life-threatening.
AFib is also more common than VFib, affecting up to 6 million adults in the United States.
Also, the ventricles quiver irregularly in VFib, whereas the ventricles usually contract regularly in V-tach.
Lastly, VFib is always life-threatening, leading to cardiac arrest and death if not treated immediately.
In contrast, V-tach is only considered life-threatening when sustained (lasting more than 30 seconds).
Sudden cardiac arrest means the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, causing the heart to suddenly stop beating.
If not treated immediately, death will occur within minutes.
These plaques can break open, and a blood clot can form.
Since VFib causes cardiac arrest within seconds, there is no time for a diagnostic evaluation.
What Is an AED?
VFib resembles chaotic, patternless waves or a thin, bumpy line on an ECG.
Moreover, the height of the waves distinguishes the two types of ventricular fibrillationcoarse and fine VFib.
Coarse VFib iswhere the ECG waves measure 3 millimeters (mm) or more.
Another primary goal is promptly treating the cause of the VFib.
Can VFib Be Prevented?
There is no surefire way to reverse or cure VFib once it has occurred.
AnICDis a small, battery-operated equipment surgically placed under the skin in a person’s chest or abdomen.
In addition, practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors can help prevent VFib episodes by controlling the conditions that cause it.
This care often involves oxygen therapy and cooling devices to lower the body’s temperature.
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