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What Is Ventricular Fibrillation?

Posted on Sat, 1 Oct 2016

Question: Hi This is XXXXX, just wanted to know what is "Ventricular fibrillation", who can get this and what are the causes, and how to diagnose this. Who can actually get this?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It is an electrical problem of the heart

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Anyone can get ventricular fibrillation but there needs to be some underlying electrical dysfunction of the heart for this to happen. The cause would primarily be a faulty short circuit wherein the electrical impulse (that makes the atrium and ventricle beat in synchrony) follows a bypass tract to enter the ventricle again and again such that the ventricle repeatedly contracts asynchronously. The person suffering from ventricular fibrillation is likely to complain of palpitations. The condition can easily be diagnosed by ECG (electrocardiogram).

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (43 minutes later)

I had palpitations once when i was going through depression,
even now i have anxiety problem and get slight palpitations,
my ECG was normal when it was checked. just wanted to
know if i have Ventricular fibrillation problem or is it just panic attack.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Not likely to be due to ventricular fibrillation.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for not being able to respond faster.

Palpitations in your case are most likely due to depression, anxiety and panic attacks. I do not think that ventricular fibrillation is applicable in your case. Had it been so, it would have shown up on the ECG.

Stay relaxed.

Regards

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar