Surgeries That May Cause Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation can also occur in people who have had surgery on their heart or lungs. Surgeries that can be a cause of atrial fibrillation include:
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
- Correction of heart defects
- Heart transplant.
Causes of Atrial Fibrillation: Other Medical Conditions
Other health conditions that can lead to atrial fibrillation include:
- Disorders of the thyroid gland
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a blood clot blocks off one of the arteries in the lungs
- Low levels of oxygen in the blood because of chronic lung problems, such as asthma and emphysema
- Diabetes
- Electrolyte imbalance, which occurs when your body isn't able to control the levels of certain chemicals in your body, like calcium and potassium
- Autonomic dysfunction, which is when the autonomic, or involuntary, part of the nervous system doesn't control the heart properly.
Causes of Atrial Fibrillation: Alcohol
In otherwise healthy people, causes of atrial fibrillation can include binge drinking or long-term, excessive drinking. Going through withdrawal from alcohol can also cause atrial fibrillation. Both overuse of and withdrawal from alcohol can cause someone who has
paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to develop a more severe form of the condition.
Smoking and Stimulant Chemicals as Causes of Atrial Fibrillation
Causes of atrial fibrillation can also include smoking and the use of stimulant chemicals, such as caffeine, cocaine, and those found in some over-the-counter decongestant medications.
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