AF - sympathetic response to?

[anurseuk]

Hi,

My mind just will not work properly today... just a quickie...

If a pt is in rapid AF do they still have a sympathetic responce to the high HR with the baroreceptors releasing adrenaline to cause vasoconstriction?

I know if low BP this will occur and increase the HR then adrenaline released. But if your heart rate is already very high which is not in relation to low bp, will it occur?

I'm a bit confused with the cardiac excellerater in relation to AF too.

Thanks in advance.

:bowingpur

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Hi,

If a pt is in rapid AF do they still have a sympathetic responce to the high HR with the baroreceptors releasing adrenaline to cause vasoconstriction?

I'm having trouble understanding your question, but if you are asking what I think you are asking, I would think that the decrease in cardiac output associated with atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response would result in baroreceptor stimulation leading to increased sympathetic tone and decreased parasympathetic tone.