Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a condition that occurs when there is a specific problem in the heart's electrical system.  This can cause the uppper part of the heart to quiver instead of beating efficiently.  Also referred to as "a-fib," atrial fibrillation is often associated with current heart problems, but other risk factors include uncontrolled high blood pressure, thyroid problems, and lung problems. While atrial fibrillation is rarely cured, it can usually be managed with proper treatment. Treatment options include medication and changes in diet and lifestyle.

 

Atrial Fibrillation: An Introduction

Atrial fibrillation is a type of abnormal heart rhythm -- also known as an arrhythmia. Sometimes, atrial fibrillation is called "a-fib" for short. Atrial fibrillation occurs when something goes wrong with the heart's electrical control system.
 
Because it can be scary to experience an episode of atrial fibrillation, a lot of people worry that they are having a heart attack, or will have one later. But atrial fibrillation is different from a heart attack. By itself, atrial fibrillation is rarely life threatening (although its complications can be), and having it doesn't mean that you will have a heart attack in the future.
 
Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of abnormal heartbeat. Each year, more than 2 million people in the United States are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Most of them find that their symptoms can be controlled with atrial fibrillation treatment. Atrial fibrillation is more common in men than in women. It is also more common in older people than the rest of the population.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD