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.
(Click Atrial Fibrillation for a detailed look at this condition, including risk factors and how it affects the heart.)
The causes of atrial fibrillation aren't always known, and many people who develop the condition already live a healthy lifestyle and don't have any other health concerns. In most cases, however, the cause is known. Some of the more common causes include:
- Heart problems
- Surgery
- Other medical conditions.
Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation
The most common symptoms of this condition are:
- Heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing or pounding)
- Feeling like your heart is fluttering
- An irregular heartbeat or pulse that is faster than normal
- Tightness or discomfort in your chest.
These symptoms occur because the electrical signals in your heart are causing it to beat at an unusually fast and irregular rate.
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