A major concern with atrial fibrillation is the potential to develop blood clots within the upper chambers of the heart. Doctors group AFib into types based on how often symptoms strike. As well as taking medication, living a healthy lifestyle can also reduce your risk of having a stroke. To help diagnose atrial fibrillation, your doctor will ask about your eating and physical activity habits, family history, and other risk factors for atrial fibrillation and heart disease. Your doctor may also treat you for an underlying disorder that is raising the risk of atrial fibrillation, such as overweight or obesity, sleep apnea, or an overactive thyroid gland. 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: Executive summary. Possible causes of atrial fibrillation include: However, some people who have atrial fibrillation don't have any heart defects or damage, a condition called lone atrial fibrillation. Women get AFib less often than men, but they're at higher risk for complications like heart attack and stroke from it. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/af/.

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"Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Data from a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator may also be helpful. Atrial fibrillation caused by a treatable condition may go away when the condition is treated. Not everyone wants to know their prognosis.

Saturdays 10am - 4pm, For all other enquiries please visit our Contact Us page, Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), Volunteer and power our life saving research, 10% student discount on pre-loved furniture and electrical items, Book a free furniture and electrical goods collection, Donate safely to our clothing and book shops, Donate safely using our house clearance service, Operating a safe delivery service for our home stores, Turning back the tide on heart and circulatory diseases, Respond to the comprehensive spending review, Research Excellence and Accelerator Awards, We fund research to save and improve lives, We work with patients and the public for better health and care, simple steps to reduce his risk of a stroke, didn’t let his diagnosis stop him doing what he enjoyed, Speak to others with heart conditions by joining a. Atrial fibrillation research is a major focus of NHLBI funding and the source of findings with important consequences for clinical care. See if you or someone you know is eligible to participate in our clinical trials. This is especially significant for African Americans. Instead of pumping efficiently, the atria just quiver.

It can affect adults of any age, but it's more common in older people. American Heart Association. We are committed to advancing science and translating discoveries into clinical practice to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders including atrial fibrillation. Restoring a Normal Heart Rhythm When Atrial Fibrillation Recurs. The sinus node produces the signal that normally starts each heartbeat. Sleep Apnea and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Atrial fibrillation can be defined in various ways, depending on the degree to which it affects you. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Atrial fibrillation affects the atria. The atrial fibrillation treatment that is most appropriate for you will depend on how long you've had atrial fibrillation, how bothersome your symptoms are and the underlying cause of your atrial fibrillation. For example, strokes are also a concern in someone with atrial flutter. Accessed April 1, 2019. Atrial fibrillation. Normally, the muscular walls of the atria contract at the same time, pumping blood into the lower two chambers (the ventricles). Catheter ablation is considered to be the best treatment for atrial flutter, whereas medicine is often the first treatment used for atrial fibrillation. "Modifiable Risk Factors and Atrial Fibrillation." American Heart Association. This study is located in Rochester, Minnesota. How often you need to see your doctor for follow-up care will depend on your symptoms and treatment. Also, the ventricles sometimes pump when they don't have much blood in them. ablation. The movement of the signal causes your heart to squeeze (contract), sending blood to your heart and body. Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flip-flopping in your chest, 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, Stress due to surgery, pneumonia or other illnesses, Limiting or avoiding caffeine and alcohol, Reducing stress, as intense stress and anger can cause heart rhythm problems, Using over-the-counter medications with caution, as some cold and cough medications contain stimulants that may trigger a rapid heartbeat. This reduces the heart's efficiency and performance. Your age. Read how Andrew, who was diagnosed with AF aged 60, didn’t let his diagnosis stop him doing what he enjoyed. For the heart to work efficiently, the atria need to pump first, followed by the ventricles.

The several different blood thinning drugs all have a risk: a drug that reduces the tendency of blood to clot thereby increases the risk of bleeding (since clots are a protective mechanism the body uses to try to stop bleeding). To help prevent a repeat episode of atrial fibrillation, your doctor may recommend the following: Atrial fibrillation can lead to serious complications such as sudden cardiac arrest and stroke. Even without symptoms, your heart may have an irregular speed or faulty rhythm that your doctor can detect. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation, In Brief - Your Guide to Living Well with Heart Disease, Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart, Surgery no better than medication at preventing serious complications of atrial fibrillation, Webinar Series on Research Priorities in Atrial Fibrillation to Advance Population, Clinical and Basic Research: Ablation, Get the latest public health information from CDC, Get the latest research information from NIH, Get the latest information and resources from NHLBI, NIH staff guidance on coronavirus (NIH Only), Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity.

Non-drug ways you can manage your condition.

Another treatment option is electrical cardioversion: a small shock is delivered to the chest, and the electricity can "re-set" the heart to a normal rhythm. It may pass without symptoms, or you may feel it strongly. This study is located in Madison, Wisconsin. A normal heartbeat is 60 to 100 beats per minute, and very regular: beat...beat...beat...beat. Allscripts EPSi. For the average person with atrial fibrillation, large studies have found that rhythm control and rate control have approximately the same long-term consequences: one is not superior to the other.

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation can happen repeatedly.

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The diagnosis of atrial fibrillation is usually confirmed with an electrocardiogram (EKG).