Most often, damage to the heart is the result of other conditions such as high blood pressure and ischemic heart disease. Other factors can also raise your risk of atrial fibrillation.
Usually the cells of the heart fire and contract together. However, when aging, heart disease, infection, genetics , or other factors change heart tissue, that pattern breaks down. This can happen because of fibrosis , inflammation , a thinning or thickening of the heart walls, lack of blood flow to the heart, or an abnormal buildup of proteins, cells, or minerals in heart tissue.
Usually, a trigger heartbeat sets off atrial fibrillation. Electrical signals from this trigger may then cause the heart to beat slower or faster than usual because of changes in heart tissue. Sometimes, the signals create an atypical loop, telling the heart to contract over and over. This can create the fast, chaotic beating that defines atrial fibrillation.
Age, family history and genetics, lifestyle, heart disease or other medical conditions, race, sex, and a history of surgery can all raise your risk of developing the structural and electrical anomalies that cause atrial fibrillation. Even in a healthy heart, a fast or slow heart rate—from exercising or sleeping, for example—can trigger atrial fibrillation.
The risk of atrial fibrillation increases as you age, especially after age Atrial fibrillation is rare in children, but it does occur, especially in boys and in children who have obesity. If someone in your family has had atrial fibrillation, you have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation, too. Scientists have found some genes with mutations that raise the risk of atrial fibrillation. Some of these genes influence fetal organ development or heart cell ion channels.
Sometimes these genetic patterns are also linked to heart disease. Some genetic factors may raise the risk of atrial fibrillation in combination with such factors as age, weight, or sex.
Some lifestyle habits can raise or lower your risk of atrial fibrillation, including the following:. Many other medical conditions can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation, especially heart problems. As you age, having more than one condition may increase your risk. Conditions that raise the risk of atrial fibrillation include:.
Although people of European ancestry are more likely to develop the condition, African Americans with atrial fibrillation are more likely to have complications such as stroke, heart failure, or ischemic heart disease.
You may be at risk for atrial fibrillation in the early days and weeks after surgery of the heart, lungs, or esophagus. Surgery to correct a congenital heart defect can also raise the risk of atrial fibrillation. This can happen years after a childhood surgery or when you have surgery as an adult to correct a lifelong condition. Typically doctors screen for atrial fibrillation only when you have risk factors.
However, your doctor may check for signs of atrial fibrillation as part of your regular medical care. Your doctor may recommend healthy lifestyle changes to help you lower your risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Screening may be part of your regular care if you are 65 or older or if you have other risk factors.
To help you lower your risk of atrial fibrillation, your doctor may recommend certain heart-healthy lifestyle changes , including aiming for a healthy weight, being physically active, controlling your blood sugar, limiting alcohol, lowering your blood pressure, managing stress, and quitting smoking.
In addition, some illegal drugs, such as cocaine, can trigger atrial fibrillation or make it worse. Ask your doctor for help avoiding these triggers to prevent arrhythmia. If you are having heart surgery, your medical team will monitor you.
To prevent arrhythmia, your doctor may recommend antiarrhythmic medicine or treatment to maintain or supplement electrolyte levels during or after the procedure. You may or may not notice atrial fibrillation. It often occurs with no signs or symptoms.
If you do have symptoms, you may notice something that occurs only occasionally. Or, your symptoms may be frequent or serious. If you have heart disease that is worsening, you may notice more symptoms of atrial fibrillation. If your atrial fibrillation is undetected or left untreated, serious and even life-threatening complications can arise. They include stroke and heart failure. The most common symptom of atrial fibrillation is fatigue. Other signs and symptoms include:.
Keep track of when and how often your symptoms occur, what you feel, and whether these things change over time. They are all important clues for your doctor. When it is undetected or untreated, atrial fibrillation can lead to serious complications.
This is especially significant for African Americans. Even though whites have atrial fibrillation at higher rates, research has found that many of its complications—including stroke, heart disease, and heart failure—are more common among African Americans.
Some complications of atrial fibrillation include:. A doctor will diagnose atrial fibrillation based on your medical and family history, a physical exam, the results from an electrocardiogram EKG , and possibly other tests and procedures. If you have atrial fibrillation, your doctor will also look for any disease that may be causing it and assess your risk of developing dangerous blood clots. This will help him or her plan the best way to treat you.
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 ask whether you have any other signs or symptoms. This information can help your doctor determine whether you have complications or other conditions that may be causing you to have atrial fibrillation.
Data from a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator may also be helpful. If the diagnosis is unclear from the EKG or your doctor would like more information, your doctor may order additional testing:. Your doctor may order other tests to record abnormal heart rhythms that happen under specific conditions or outside of the clinic, confirm whether you have atrial fibrillation or another arrhythmia, and figure out which treatment is best.
These tests may include:. 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. Your doctor may recommend adopting heart-healthy lifestyle changes , such as the following:. Your doctor may recommend treatments for an underlying cause or to reduce atrial fibrillation risk factors.
For example, he or she may prescribe medicines to treat overweight and obesity, an overactive thyroid, lower high blood pressure, manage high blood cholesterol, control or prevent diabetes, or help you quit smoking. Your doctor may recommend a procedure, especially if lifestyle changes and medicine alone did not improve your symptoms.
Typically, your doctor will consider a surgical procedure to treat your atrial fibrillation only if you will be having surgery to treat some other heart condition.
If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, it is important that you continue your treatment. Follow-up care can help your doctor check your condition and talk to you about how to prevent repeat events and what to do in an emergency. Sometimes, atrial fibrillation may go back to a normal heart rhythm without treatment.
How often you need to see your doctor for follow-up care will depend on your symptoms and treatment. Return to Treatment to review possible treatment options for your atrial fibrillation. Regular visits to the clinic give your doctor a chance to see how well medicines are controlling your atrial fibrillation, monitor your ongoing risks of clotting or bleeding, and see how well you are healing from any procedures.
Your doctor may also ask you to wear a heart rhythm monitor and send data in between visits to see how well your treatment is working and to detect any repeat events. 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.
Risks of treatment with blood thinners include severe bleeding in the brain. If you suspect any of the following in you or someone else, call right away:. 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. Learn about current and future NHLBI efforts to improve health through research and scientific discovery.
Atrial fibrillation research is a major focus of NHLBI funding and the source of findings with important consequences for clinical care. Learn about the following ways the NHLBI continues to translate current research into improved health for people with atrial fibrillation. Learn about some of the pioneering research contributions we have made over the years that have improved clinical care. In support of our mission , we are committed to advancing atrial fibrillation research in part through the following ways.
We lead or sponsor many studies on atrial fibrillation. See if you or someone you know is eligible to participate in our clinical trials. Learn more about participating in a clinical trial. View all trials from ClinicalTrials. After reading our Atrial Fibrillation Health Topic, you may be interested in additional information found in the following resources. Atrial Fibrillation. Also known as A-fib , AF. Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common types of arrhythmias, which are irregular heart rhythms.
Atrial fibrillation causes your heart to beat much faster than normal. When this happens, the lower chambers do not fill completely or pump enough blood to your lungs and body. This can make you feel tired or dizzy, or you may notice heart palpitations or chest pain.
Blood also pools in your heart, which increases your risk of forming clots and can leads to strokes or other complications. Atrial fibrillation can also occur without any signs or symptoms. Untreated fibrillation can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. Sometimes atrial fibrillation goes away on its own. For some people, atrial fibrillation is an ongoing heart problem that lasts for years. Over time, it may happen more often and last longer. Treatment restores normal heart rhythms, helps control symptoms, and prevents complications.
Your doctor may recommend medicines, medical procedures, and lifestyle changes to treat your atrial fibrillation. Explore this Health Topic to learn more about atrial fibrillation, our role in research and clinical trials to improve health, and where to find more information. Types - Atrial Fibrillation. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Persistent atrial fibrillation. Long-term persistent atrial fibrillation. With this condition, the abnormal heart rhythms last for more than a year without going away.
Permanent atrial fibrillation. Causes - Atrial Fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation. This image shows the electrical system of the heart during atrial fibrillation. Normally, an electrical signal at the sinoatrial SA node in the upper right chamber of the heart causes the upper chambers to contract and pump blood into the lower chambers. The electrical signal travels down the heart and causes the lower chambers to contract. In atrial fibrillation, abnormal electrical signals in the upper chambers overwhelm the normal signal from the SA node and cause the upper chambers to beat irregularly.
This image includes a graphical representation of the EKG ECG showing the electrical impulses illustrated within the heart. Changes in heart tissue. Changes in electrical signaling. Look for. Treatment will discuss medicines and procedures that your doctors may recommend if you are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Risk Factors - Atrial Fibrillation. Family history and genetics. Lifestyle habits. Some lifestyle habits can raise or lower your risk of atrial fibrillation, including the following: Alcohol.
Drinking large amounts of alcohol, especially binge drinking, raises your risk of atrial fibrillation. Even modest amounts of alcohol can trigger atrial fibrillation in some people. Illegal drugs. Some street drugs, such as cocaine, can trigger atrial fibrillation or make it worse. Physical activity. Some competitive athletes and people—men, in particular—participating in endurance sports or exerting themselves at work may have a higher risk of atrial fibrillation.
At the same time, moderate physical activity can have a protective effect. Physical fitness appears to be linked to a lower risk of atrial fibrillation. Studies have found that smoking increases the risk of atrial fibrillation.
The risk appears to be higher the longer you smoke and decreases if you quit. Stressful situations, panic disorders, and other types of emotional stress may be linked to a higher risk of atrial fibrillation.
Other medical conditions. Conditions that raise the risk of atrial fibrillation include: Chronic kidney disease Conduction disorders Congenital heart defects Diabetes Heart attack Heart failure Heart inflammation Heart tissue that is too thick or stiff Heart valve diseases High blood pressure Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid gland Ischemic heart disease Lung diseases, including COPD Obesity Sarcoidosis Sleep apnea Venous thromboembolism. Race or ethnicity. Screening and Prevention - Atrial Fibrillation.
Screening tests and results. Your doctor may check your pulse. Even without symptoms, your heart may have an irregular speed or faulty rhythm that your doctor can detect. If you have had a stroke and there is no clear cause, your doctor may recommend screening for atrial fibrillation with a Holter or event monitor or a loop recorder, which is a small monitor placed just under the skin of your chest.
Serious complications include heart failure and stroke. Medications and lifestyle habits can both help prevent these in people with AFib. A stroke happens as a result of a blood clot in the brain. This deprives your brain of oxygen, which can lead to permanent damage. Strokes can also be fatal. Heart failure occurs when your heart can no longer function properly. AFib can wear down the heart muscle, as the ventricles in the lower chambers attempt to work harder to make up for the lack of blood flow in the upper chambers.
In people with AFib, heart failure develops over time. Take all your medications as prescribed by a doctor, and learn about possible AFib complications and their symptoms. There are different types of surgeries that target the heart muscle to help it pump blood more efficiently. Surgery may also help prevent heart damage. In catheter ablation, a catheter delivers radio waves to the heart to destroy the abnormal tissue that sends out irregular impulses. Radio waves destroy the AV node, which connects the atria and ventricles in this procedure.
Then the atria can no longer send signals to the ventricles. A doctor might also recommend other procedures to treat underlying health conditions, such as thyroid or heart diseases, which might be causing your AFib. Surgery is one treatment method for AFib. Still, medications and lifestyle changes are recommended as first lines of treatment.
Your doctor may recommend surgery if your condition is severe. Most cases of atrial fibrillation can be managed or treated. But atrial fibrillation tends to reoccur and get worse over time. Fish is also a good source of protein, and its omega-3 fatty acid content makes it especially good for the heart.
An AFib diet is much like any heart-healthy diet. It focuses on nutrient-rich foods while avoiding irritating substances and low-density foods. Talk with a doctor about an eating plan for your condition. Talk with a doctor before taking any additional supplements because these could have side effects or interact with medications. Some of the supplements used for AFib include:.
Other natural treatments for AFib include healthy lifestyle habits, like exercise and stress reduction. High intensity exercises, like running, might be too much for people with AFib. But moderate to lower intensity activities, like walking, swimming, and cycling, can still burn calories, strengthen your heart, and alleviate stress.
Deep breathing exercises can alleviate everyday stresses, while a yoga class can help you achieve a deeper meditative state with the bonus of muscle and flexibility. Even making the time to enjoy a favorite hobby can help you achieve more relaxation and improve heart health. More research is needed to determine whether alternative treatments can help alone, so stick to your medical plan.
Talk with a doctor how you can effectively incorporate natural treatments into your current AFib treatment plan. The official guidelines for AFib, according to the American Heart Association , outline the treatment options based on your existing condition and medical history. In atrial fibrillation, the heart's upper chambers atria contract randomly and sometimes so fast that the heart muscle cannot relax properly between contractions.
This reduces the heart's efficiency and performance. Atrial fibrillation happens when abnormal electrical impulses suddenly start firing in the atria. These impulses override the heart's natural pacemaker, which can no longer control the rhythm of the heart. This causes you to have a highly irregular pulse rate. The cause is not fully understood, but it tends to affect certain groups of people, such as older people and people living with long-term chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or obesity.
It may be triggered by certain situations, such as drinking too much alcohol or smoking. Atrial fibrillation can be defined in various ways, depending on the degree to which it affects you. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, affecting around 1. It can affect adults of any age, but it's more common in older people. Atrial fibrillation is more likely to occur in people with other conditions, such as high blood pressure hypertension , atherosclerosis or a heart valve problem.
Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support.
0コメント