Atrial Fibrillation - Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

What is Atrial Fibrillation? Atrial fibrillation, commonly referred to as AFib, is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. This irregular rhythm occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat out of coordination with the lower chambers (or the ventricles). So, how does that happen? Well, Your heart is a finely tuned machine with an electrical system that keeps it beating in a regular rhythm. In a healthy heart, electrical signals travel through the atria, causing them to contract and push blood into the ventricles. The ventricles then contract, pumping blood out to the rest of the body. However, in atrial fibrillation, these electrical signals become disorganized. Instead of a steady, rhythmic beat, the atria quiver or fibrillate. This chaotic activity leads to an irregular and often rapid heart rate, which can significantly affect the heart’s efficiency in pumping blood. This condition is quite common, especially among older adults. It’s estimated that around 2.7 to 6.1 million people in the United States alone have AFib. The prevalence increases with age, affecting about 9% of people over the age of 65.
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