Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots in the heart. A-fib increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
During atrial fibrillation, the heart's upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly — out of sync with the lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. For many people, A-fib may have no symptoms. However, A-fib may cause a fast, pounding heartbeat (palpitations), shortness of breath or weakness.
Episodes of atrial fibrillation may come and go, or they may be persistent. Although A-fib itself usually isn't life-threatening, it's a serious medical condition that requires proper treatment to prevent stroke.
Treatment for atrial fibrillation may include medications, therapy to reset the heart rhythm and catheter procedures to block faulty heart signals.
A person with atrial fibrillation may also have a related heart rhythm problem called atrial flutter. Although atrial flutter is a different arrhythmia, the treatment is quite similar to atrial fibrillation.
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Atrial fibrillation is a condition that disrupts your heartbeat. A glitch in the heart’s electrical system makes its upper chambers (the atria) beat so fast they quiver, or fibrillate. This causes the lower chambers (the ventricles) to beat out of sync.
AFib can be dangerous because it raises your risk of stroke and heart failure.
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Usually the atria and ventricles work together so the heart pumps blood in steady rhythm. But in AFib, they don't. The irregular beats can cause a fast, fluttering heart rate -- 100-175 beats per minute -- instead of the normal 60-100 beats per minute.
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For many people, AFib symptoms aren't obvious . But when there are, they'll often include:
When your heart is in AFib, your blood doesn't move well throughout your body. You may feel:
AFib isn't always a cause for alarm. But you should call 911 if you have:
When your heart isn't pumping like it should, the slow-moving blood can pool inside, which makes it easier for clots to form. If that happens, and a clot travels through the bloodstream to your brain and gets stuck, you could have a stroke. People with AFib are five times more likely to have one.
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The most common triggers are conditions that strain your heart, including:
It's also been linked to things you can do something about:
A coronary artery bypass or other type of heart surgery can trigger AFib. If it happens, you're more likely to have other complications, too. Fortunately, this type of AFib usually doesn't last long.
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The way to confirm AFib is with an electrocardiogram (EKG). The machine detects and records the electrical activity of your heart, so your doctor can see problems with its rhythm. You can do it in the doctor's office, or you may need to wear a device that keeps track of your heart's activity for a longer time to catch an episode. The device can be worn from 24 hours to 2 weeks, and sometimes longer.
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If your symptoms are mild, or if AFib comes back after cardioversion, you may be able to control it with medicine. Rhythm-control drugs help keep the pattern of your heartbeat steady. Rate-control medications keep your heart from beating too fast.
Daily aspirin or drugs called anticoagulants or blood thinners can help prevent clots and lower some people's chances of having a stroke.
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