Atrial fibrillation
What is atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition with irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.
A normal heart rate should be between 60 and 100 beats a minute when you’re resting, and is regular. You can measure your heart rate by feeling the pulse in your wrist or neck. In atrial fibrillation, the heart rhythm is irregular and the heart rate may be over 140 beats a minute, although it can be any rate.
Normal, (regular rhythm)
Atrial fibrillation (AF)
(Rapid irregular rhythm)
Atrial fibrillation, or AF, is the most common type of arrhythmia.
Classification of atrial fibrillation
- Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation – this comes and goes and usually stops within 48 hours without any treatment.
- Persistent atrial fibrillation – this lasts for longer than seven days (or less when it is treated).
- Longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation – this means you have had continuous atrial fibrillation for a year or longer.
- Permanent atrial fibrillation – atrial fibrillation is present all the time and no more attempts to restore normal heart rhythm will be made.
Symptoms of atrial fibrillation
Some people with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms and are unaware of their condition until it’s discovered during a physical examination for other purpose. Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may experience signs and symptoms such as:
- Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flip-flopping in your chest
- Weakness
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness, dizziness
- Confusion
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
Causes of atrial fibrillation
The cause is not fully understood, but it tends to occur in certain groups of people (see below) and may be triggered by certain situations, such as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, caffeine products.
Atrial fibrillation can affect adults of any age. It affects more men than women and becomes more common in aging population. It affects about 10% of people over 75.
Atrial fibrillation is associated or caused by
- Heart conditions
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart valve disease
- After heart surgery
- Heart failure
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congenital heart disease
- Non heart conditions
- Aging population.
- Obesity, sleep apnea.
- Diabetes
- Pulmonary embolism
- Chronic lung disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pericarditis
- Viral infection
In at least 10 percent of the cases, no underlying heart disease is found, a condition called lone atrial fibrillation. In lone atrial fibrillation, the cause is often unclear, and serious complications are rare. In these cases, AF may be related to alcohol or excessive caffeine use, stress, certain drugs, electrolyte or metabolic imbalances, severe infections, or genetic factors.
Atrial fibrillation Complications
AF has two major complications—stroke and heart failure.
- Stroke
During AF, There is stasis of blood in the heart’s upper chambers, the atria. A blood clot (also called a thrombus) can form. If the clot breaks off and travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke. - Heart Failure
Sustain rapid heart beat can cause weakening of the heart muscle. There is also fluid buildup in the body and in the lung causing heart failure symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, legs swelling and weight gain.
How Is Atrial fibrillation Diagnosed?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is diagnosed based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and the results from tests.
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
- EKG (ECG)
An EKG is a simple, painless test that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s the most useful test for diagnosing AF. An EKG shows how fast your heart is beating and its rhythm whether it is steady or irregular. - Standard 12 leads EKG as routinely done in the clinic or hospital.