Definition
Atrial fibrillation (A-Fib of AF) is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. Regular hearts contract and relax to a regular beat. However, for those with atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly (quiver) instead of beating effectively to move blood into the ventricles.
If a clot breaks off, enters the bloodstream and lodges in an artery leading to the brain, a stroke results. According to the American Heart Association, about 15–20 percent of people who have strokes have this heart arrhythmia. This clot risk is why patients with this condition are put on blood thinners.
Despite the increased risk of heart-related deaths, many A-Fib patients are unaware of the seriousness of this condition.
Blacks have a lower risk of developing A-Fib than whites. However, Blacks that are diagnosed with A-Fib have a higher risk of stroke than whites with the condition.
Causes
Although there is not one set cause for atrial fibrillation, it is often associated with the following conditions:
- After heart surgery
- Cardiomyopathy
- Chronic lung disease
- Congenital heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart failure
- Heart valve disease
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Pulmonary hypertension
Less common causes:
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pericarditis
- Viral infection
In a small 10% of cases, atrial fibrillation is not tied to any underlying heart disease. In these cases, A-Fib may be related to alcohol or excessive caffeine use, stress, certain drugs, electrolyte or metabolic imbalances, severe infections, or genetic factors. In some cases, no cause can be found. Those over the age of 60 also have an increased risk of A-Fib.
Symptoms
Some people can have atrial fibrillation without symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may experience the following: