What is atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase your risk of strokes, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly.
Treatments for atrial fibrillation may include medications and other interventions to try to alter the heart's electrical system.
Symptoms
Some people with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms and are unaware of their condition until it's discovered during a physical examination.
Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may experience signs and symptoms such as:
- Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat
- Weakness
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
Atrial fibrillation may be:
- Occasional.
- Persistent.
- Long-standing persistent.
- Permanent.
Causes
The most common causes of atrial fibrillation are damage to the structure of the heart or pathologies.
Possible causes of atrial fibrillation include:
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Coronary artery disease
- Abnormal heart valves
- Heart defects you're born with (congenital)
- An overactive thyroid gland or other metabolic imbalance
- Exposure to stimulants, such as medications, caffeine, tobacco or alcohol
- Sick sinus syndrome — improper functioning of the heart's natural pacemaker
- Lung diseases
- Previous heart surgery
- Viral infections
- Stress due to surgery, pneumonia or other illnesses
- Sleep apnea
source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atrial-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-20350624
