What Is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is a type of abnormal heart rhythm -- also known as an arrhythmia. Sometimes, the condition is called "a-fib" for short. It 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 the condition 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 two million people in the United States are diagnosed with the condition. Most of them find that their symptoms can be controlled with proper treatment. Atrial fibrillation is more common in men than in women. It is also more common in older people than in the rest of the population.
Atrial fibrillation occurs when the electrical system that controls your heartbeat is no longer working properly
(see Human Heart). Normally, after an electrical signal is sent from the SA (sinoatrial) node, it travels across the atria and causes the muscles in both chambers to contract uniformly. In people who have atrial fibrillation, this signal from the SA node generates several more electrical signals that chaotically crisscross the atria, causing different patches of the atrial muscle to contract at different times. This causes the atria to quiver, or fibrillate, sometimes as fast as 350 to 700 times a minute -- much faster than a normal heart rate.
When atrial fibrillation occurs, there's a lack of coordination between the patches of muscle, which means that the whole chamber doesn't contract at the same time. As a result, less blood is squeezed into the ventricle from the atrium. Because of this, blood can get backed up in the atrium, then into the blood vessel that leads into it, and, with time, even farther back throughout the rest of the body.
Normally, the electrical signals from the SA node continue through the AV (atrioventricular) node to the ventricles, causing them to contract as well. But in atrial fibrillation, the signals to the ventricles are either irregular or incomplete, so the
contractions of the atria and the ventricles are no longer synchronized. This causes the ventricles to beat more rapidly and irregularly, too. They may contract before they have filled with blood, and this means that your body gets less oxygen and nutrients.
Atrial fibrillation can be fast or slow. The normal heart rate is considered to be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Usually, people with atrial fibrillation who have a heart rate below 100 beats per minute have fewer symptoms than those with heart rates greater than 100 beats per minute.
Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation can make it hard for the heart to pump enough blood to keep up with the body's demands.
Diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation
In order to make a definitive
atrial fibrillation diagnosis, a healthcare provider considers a person's symptoms and performs a complete physical exam. He or she will likely also order certain tests. Tests used to make a diagnosis include an EKG (electrocardiogram), blood tests, and a Holter monitor test.
Treating Atrial Fibrillation
While atrial fibrillation is rarely cured, it can often be managed with the proper treatment, which is aimed at:
- Restoring the normal rhythm and rate of the heart
- Preventing the formation of unwanted blood clots
- Treating any underlying health problems.
You and your healthcare providers should work together to design an
atrial fibrillation treatment plan that's right for you. Treatment may include a combination of one or more medications, changes to your diet and lifestyle, and possibly treatment with one of several procedures.
By following a proper treatment plan, many people can reduce their
symptoms of atrial fibrillation and prevent this condition from interfering with their daily activities. However, because atrial fibrillation puts you at an increased risk for developing serious health problems, it usually requires lifelong monitoring and treatment by your healthcare professional.
