![]() ![]() drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, particularly binge drinking.Sometimes there is a trigger to an episode of atrial fibrillation, including: Sometimes the cause can be idiopathic (no known cause) and can affect extremely athletic people. Not everyone with atrial fibrillation falls into one of the above groups. pulmonary embolism (a blockage in a blood vessel in your lungs).hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland).congenital heart disease (heart defects at birth)Ītrial fibrillation is also associated with other medical conditions such as:.People with other heart conditionsĪtrial fibrillation is common in people with other heart conditions, such as: The exact cause of atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown, but it becomes more common with age and affects certain groups of people more than others. A blood clot passing up to the arteries supplying the brain may cause a stroke.įor this reason, treatment may involve medication to control the heart rate or rhythm, and medication to prevent clots from forming in the blood.įind out how to treat atrial fibrillation and possible complications of having AF Clots from the atria may break off and go to other parts of the body. This is because when the atria in the heart do not contract properly there is a risk of blood clot formation. This condition increases your risk by about four to five times of having a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or stroke. The condition can affect adults of any age or gender but:Ītrial fibrillation is more likely to occur in people with other conditions, like:įind out more about the causes of atrial fibrillation and how it's diagnosed What is the outlook with atrial fibrillation?Ītrial fibrillation is generally not life threatening, many people live normal healthy lives with this condition, but it can be uncomfortable and often needs treatment. The cause of atrial fibrillation is not fully understood, but it tends to occur in certain groups of people and may be triggered by certain situations, such as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or smoking. Some people with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms and are completely unaware that their heart rate is irregular.įind out more about the symptoms of atrial fibrillation Why does atrial fibrillation happen and how common is it?Ītrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disturbance and affects up to 800,000 people in the UK. fast and irregular heartbeat (palpitations).What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?Ītrial fibrillation can lead to a number of problems, including: This reduces the heart's efficiency and performance and causes a highly irregular pulse rate. The atria contract randomly and sometimes so fast that the heart muscle cannot relax properly between contractions. These impulses override the heart's natural pacemaker, which can no longer control the rhythm of the heart. This process is repeated every time the heart beats.Ītrial fibrillation occurs when abnormal electrical impulses suddenly start firing in the atria (upper chambers of the heart). They then relax, so the heart can fill with blood again. When the heart beats normally, its muscular walls contract (tighten and squeeze) to force blood out and around the body. permanent atrial fibrillation - this is when atrial fibrillation is present all the time and no more attempts to restore normal heart rhythm will be made.longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation - this means you have had continuous atrial fibrillation for a year or longer.persistent atrial fibrillation - this lasts for longer than seven days, or less when it is treated.paroxysmal atrial fibrillation - this comes and goes, usually stopping within 48 hours without any treatment.How is atrial fibrillation defined?Ītrial fibrillation is defined in various ways, depending on how it affects you: In atrial fibrillation, it may be over 140 beats a minute. A normal heart rate, when you are resting, should be between 60 and 100 beats a minute. You can measure your heart rate by feeling the pulse in your wrist or neck. Most commonly, the heart rate will be unusually fast with this condition but it is possible for the heart rate to be within accepted limits or slower and still be in atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition that causes an irregular heart rate. ![]()
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