- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia, a disturbance in the heart’s rate or rhythm.
- In atrial fibrillation, the electrical signal that normally causes the atria (the heart’s upper
chambers) to contract in an organized fashion circles through the muscles of the atria in
an uncoordinated manner. This causes the atria to quiver, sometimes more than 400
times per minute, without contracting. At the same time, this might drive the rate of the
ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart), resulting in an irregular fast heart rate. - Left untreated, AF can lead to cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), heart failure, or stroke.
- Treatment of AF aims to eliminate the factors that could be causing the AF, control the
heart rate, maintain heart rhythm, and prevent strokes. Treatment for atrial fibrillation
includes medication (pharmacologic) and non-pharmacologic methods such as
interventional procedures or surgery.
