Atrial fibrillation what is

Heart conditions - atrial fibrillation. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation AF?

Types of AF The three main types of AF are: one-off — the heart has a single episode of irregular beating this is sometimes due to excessive alcohol intake. Stroke is a possible complication of AF More persistent types of AF are associated with an increased risk of stroke. Causes of AF AF is commonly triggered by another chronic illness or event that irritates the heart. Medications to reduce the risk of stroke The use of anticoagulation medications blood thinners is the most important aspect of the treatment of AF.

Medications to slow the heart rate Medications to slow the heart rate include beta-blockers such as atenolol and metoprolol, amongst others , some calcium channel blockers diltiazem and verapamil and digoxin.

Options include: catheter ablation — in this procedure, a cardiologist first makes an incision in the upper thigh or groin. A thin tube catheter is inserted into a main blood vessel and pushed along until it reaches the heart. The tip of the catheter is fitted with an electrode. Once in position, the electrode is activated. Radio frequency waves destroy the small area of heart tissue responsible for causing the AF. Most commonly, this procedure is done as part of cardiac surgery performed for other reasons.

Changes to lifestyle with AF atrial fibrillation As described above, AF is strongly associated with hypertension high blood pressure , sedentary behaviour and obesity. Your doctor may suggest that you: take measures to control high blood pressure lose weight reduce alcohol consumption exercise regularly aim to best control diabetes quit smoking.

Atrial fibrillation , Heart Foundation. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Why Atrial Fibrillation Matters. Who is at Risk for Atrial Fibrillation? What are the Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation? Treatment and Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation. I had a really fast heartbeat and felt like I was gasping for air.

I discovered my AF at a regular check-up. As a result, the upper chambers shake quiver. The AV node is then bombarded with signals trying to get through to the lower heart chambers ventricles.

This causes a fast and irregular heart rhythm. The heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from to beats a minute. The normal range for a heart rate is 60 to beats a minute.

Problems with the heart's structure are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation. Possible causes of atrial fibrillation include:. In atrial fibrillation, the chaotic heart rhythm can cause blood to collect in the heart's upper chambers atria and form clots. If a blood clot in the left upper chamber left atrium breaks free from the heart area, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.

The risk of stroke from atrial fibrillation increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase your risk of a stroke due to A-fib , including:.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation. Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation. Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:.

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This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Atrial fibrillation Open pop-up dialog box Close. Atrial fibrillation In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal sinus node impulse.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Over time, it may happen more often and last longer. Treatment restores normal heart rhythms, helps control symptoms, and prevents complications.

Your doctor may recommend medicines, medical procedures, and lifestyle changes to treat your atrial fibrillation. Explore this Health Topic to learn more about atrial fibrillation, our role in research and clinical trials to improve health, and where to find more information.

Types - Atrial Fibrillation. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Persistent atrial fibrillation. Long-term persistent atrial fibrillation. With this condition, the abnormal heart rhythms last for more than a year without going away.

Permanent atrial fibrillation. Causes - Atrial Fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation. This image shows the electrical system of the heart during atrial fibrillation. Normally, an electrical signal at the sinoatrial SA node in the upper right chamber of the heart causes the upper chambers to contract and pump blood into the lower chambers.

The electrical signal travels down the heart and causes the lower chambers to contract. In atrial fibrillation, abnormal electrical signals in the upper chambers overwhelm the normal signal from the SA node and cause the upper chambers to beat irregularly.

This image includes a graphical representation of the EKG ECG showing the electrical impulses illustrated within the heart. Changes in heart tissue. Changes in electrical signaling. Look for. Treatment will discuss medicines and procedures that your doctors may recommend if you are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Risk Factors - Atrial Fibrillation. Family history and genetics. Lifestyle habits. Some lifestyle habits can raise or lower your risk of atrial fibrillation, including the following: Alcohol.

Drinking large amounts of alcohol, especially binge drinking, raises your risk of atrial fibrillation. Even modest amounts of alcohol can trigger atrial fibrillation in some people. Illegal drugs. Some street drugs, such as cocaine, can trigger atrial fibrillation or make it worse.

Physical activity. Some competitive athletes and people—men, in particular—participating in endurance sports or exerting themselves at work may have a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. At the same time, moderate physical activity can have a protective effect. Physical fitness appears to be linked to a lower risk of atrial fibrillation. Studies have found that smoking increases the risk of atrial fibrillation. The risk appears to be higher the longer you smoke and decreases if you quit.

Stressful situations, panic disorders, and other types of emotional stress may be linked to a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. Other medical conditions. Conditions that raise the risk of atrial fibrillation include: Chronic kidney disease Conduction disorders Congenital heart defects Diabetes Heart attack Heart failure Heart inflammation Heart tissue that is too thick or stiff Heart valve diseases High blood pressure Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid gland Ischemic heart disease Lung diseases, including COPD Obesity Sarcoidosis Sleep apnea Venous thromboembolism.

Race or ethnicity. Screening and Prevention - Atrial Fibrillation. Screening tests and results. Your doctor may check your pulse. Even without symptoms, your heart may have an irregular speed or faulty rhythm that your doctor can detect. If you have had a stroke and there is no clear cause, your doctor may recommend screening for atrial fibrillation with a Holter or event monitor or a loop recorder, which is a small monitor placed just under the skin of your chest.

These devices may also email the data to your doctor. Prevention strategies. Diagnosis will explain tests and procedures that your doctor may use to diagnose types of atrial fibrillation. Living With will discuss what your doctor may recommend to prevent your atrial fibrillation from recurring, getting worse, or causing complications. Research for Your Health will discuss how we are using current research and advancing research to prevent atrial fibrillation.

Participate in NHLBI Clinical Trials will explain our open and enrolling clinical studies that are investigating prevention strategies for atrial fibrillation. Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Atrial Fibrillation. Signs and symptoms. Other signs and symptoms include: Heart palpitations Difficulty breathing, especially when lying down Chest pain Low blood pressure Dizziness or fainting Keep track of when and how often your symptoms occur, what you feel, and whether these things change over time.

Some complications of atrial fibrillation include: Blood clots. With atrial fibrillation, the heart may not be able to pump the blood out properly, causing it to pool and form an abnormal blood clot in the heart. A piece of the clot—a type of embolus —can break off and travel through the blood to different parts of the body, blocking blood flow to the brain, lungs, intestine, spleen, or kidneys.

Atrial fibrillation may also increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, which is a blood clot that forms in a vein. Cognitive impairment and dementia. This may be due to blockages in the blood vessels of the brain or reduced blood flow to the brain. Heart attack. The risk of a heart attack from atrial fibrillation is highest among women and African Americans and especially in the first year after atrial fibrillation is diagnosed.

Heart failure. Atrial fibrillation raises your risk of heart failure because the heart is beating fast and unevenly. Atrial fibrillation may also make your heart failure symptoms worse.

If an embolus travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke. For some people, atrial fibrillation has no symptoms, and a stroke is the first sign of the condition. If you have atrial fibrillation, the risk of a stroke is higher if you are a woman.

Sudden cardiac arrest. With atrial fibrillation, there is an increased risk that the heart may suddenly and unexpectedly stop beating if you have another serious heart condition. Atrial fibrillation and stroke. The illustration shows how a stroke can occur during atrial fibrillation. A blood clot can form in the left atrium of the heart. If an embolus, or a piece of the clot, breaks off and travels to an artery in the brain, it can block blood flow through the artery.

The lack of blood flow to the portion of the brain fed by the artery causes a stroke. Diagnosis will explain tests and procedures used to detect signs of atrial fibrillation and help rule our other conditions that may mimic atrial fibrillation.

Treatment will discuss treatment-related complications or side effects. Diagnosis - Atrial Fibrillation. Medical history. Physical examination. Your doctor will do a complete examination of your heart and lungs, including: Checking for signs of too much thyroid hormone, such as a thyroid gland that is larger than normal Checking for swelling in your legs or feet, which could be a sign of heart failure or a heart that is larger than normal Checking your pulse to find out how fast your heart is beating Listening to the rhythm of your heartbeat Listening to your lungs to check for signs of heart failure or infection Measuring your blood pressure.

Diagnostic tests. If the diagnosis is unclear from the EKG or your doctor would like more information, your doctor may order additional testing: Blood tests to check the level of substances in the blood, such as potassium and thyroid hormone.

This can help find the cause of your atrial fibrillation and show how well your liver and kidneys are working, which can help your doctor decide which medicines are most appropriate. Echocardiography to show areas of poor blood flow to the heart, areas of heart muscle that are not contracting normally, and previous injury to the heart muscle caused by poor blood flow.

Other tests. These tests may include: Chest X-ray to look for signs of complications from atrial fibrillation, such as fluid buildup in the lungs or a heart that is larger than normal. Most portable monitors will send data directly to your doctor. Some loop recorder models are worn externally and some require minor surgery to place the device under the skin in the chest area.

Implanted devices can record data for months and are used to detect patterns in abnormal heart rhythms that do not happen very often. Sleep study to see if sleep apnea is causing your symptoms. If you cannot exercise, you may be given medicine to make your heart work hard and beat fast. It uses sound waves to take pictures of your heart through the esophagus. Walking test to measure your heart activity while you walk for six minutes.

This can help determine how well your body can control your heart rate under normal circumstances. Return to Risk Factors to review family history, lifestyle habits, or other medical conditions that increase your risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

Return to Signs, Symptoms, and Complications to review common signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation. Return to Screening and Prevention to review how to screen for atrial fibrillation. Treatment - Atrial Fibrillation. Lifestyle changes. Your doctor may recommend adopting heart-healthy lifestyle changes , such as the following: Heart-healthy eating patterns such as the DASH eating plan, which reduces salt intake to help lower blood pressure Being physically active Getting help if you are trying to stop using street drugs Limiting or avoiding alcohol or other stimulants that may increase your heart rate Managing stress Quitting smoking.

Although these resources focus on heart health, they include basic information about how to quit smoking. Aiming for a healthy weight to reduce the severity and number of episodes. Rate control is important because it allows the ventricles enough time to fill with blood completely.

With this approach, the abnormal heart rhythm continues, but you may feel better and have fewer symptoms. Beta blockers are usually taken by mouth, but they may be delivered through a tube in an emergency situation. If the dose is too high, it can cause the heart to beat too slowly. These medicines can also make COPD and arrhythmia worse.