Atrial fibrillation—also known as AFib—is a cardiovascular condition that causes the heart to beat in irregular (arrhythmic) flutters. Although it is a common heart condition that affects as many as 6.1 million people in the U.S., AFib can lead to life-threatening side effects if not properly treated. Speak to a Bayhealth heart and vascular expert about AFib.
What is AFib?
The human heart comprises four chambers, two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). These chambers work in harmony with each other, rhythmically contracting in order to pump blood through the heart and into the rest of the body.
AFib occurs when the electrical impulses that cue these contractions begin to malfunction, causing the atria to contract rapidly—400 times per minute or more. This prompts the ventricles to try and keep up, pumping faster and becoming overwhelmed. Without proper medical treatment, blood could pool in these chambers, forming clots that cause strokes.
Learn more about heart rhythm disorders.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of AFib include the following.
- Quivering, fluttery heart beat, also known as palpitations
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Weakness or fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest
Risk Factors and Prevention
Common causes of AFib include the following.
- Advanced Age: The risk of developing AFib increases with age, with roughly 10% of the population experiencing the condition by 80 years old.
- Gender: Because women tend to live longer than men on average, they’re also more likely to develop AFib at some point in their life.
- Heart Health: Pre-existing heart conditions can increase the risk of developing AFib later in life. Those conditions include diseases of the heart, heart valve, heart muscle and coronary artery. Congenital heart defects can also lead to AFib.
- Obesity: Excessively high body weight has been known to contribute to AFib and other conditions by putting strain on the heart.
- Alcohol Use: Risk of developing AFib increases if you regularly binge drink, which means consuming as many as five drinks in two hours.
- Other Conditions: Health complications that can increase the risk of developing AFib later in life include diabetes, chronic kidney disease, sleep apnea, a blood clot in your lung (pulmonary embolism), and long-term lung disease such as COPD.
If you already have AFib, these factors can also trigger flare ups.
How We Diagnose AFib
Our heart and vascular experts may use the following procedures to diagnose AFib.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG): Electrical pulses generated by your heart are measured and evaluated to determine if any abnormalities or unusual conditions are present.
- Echocardiogram: Sound waves are directed to your heart through a device held up to your chest. This creates a pattern that allows your physician to determine if the valves and other parts of your heart are operating properly.
- Ultrasound: Doppler ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the heart and blood vessels.
- Holter Monitoring: A small device that must be worn over the chest, the Holter monitor records your heart’s electrical activity for a period of 24 hours or more.
- Stress Test: This test compares cardiac function during exercise and a period of rest.
- Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE): An imaging tube is passed through your throat and esophagus to provide the most accurate view of your heart.
- Tilt Table Test: Your blood pressure and heart rate are measured during changes of posture while you are lying on an adjustable table.
- Electrophysiology Study: Narrow tubes (catheters) are inserted into your heart through your veins in order to measure and record electrical signals and abnormal rhythms.
- Implantable Loop Recorder: A device is surgically inserted under the skin (in the chest area) to record abnormal rhythms for an extended period of time.
Learn more about diagnostic procedures at Bayhealth.
Treatment Options
The following treatments and procedures may be used to address AFib.
- Medication: Depending on the type of AFib you have, our experts may recommend drug therapy to manage your condition or reduce your risk of blood clots.
- Cardioversion: Low-energy electrical shocks return your heart to a normal rhythm.
- Catheter Ablation: A narrow tube (catheter) is guided to your heart, where it either uses radiofrequency energy or a refrigerant-filled balloon to disable unwanted electrical signals that contribute to arrhythmia. Learn more about catheter ablation.
- Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Closure: Through minimally invasive means (Watchman procedure) or during open-heart surgery, our experts close off the LAA, which is where many AFib-related blood clots can form. This reduces your risk of stroke.
- Maze Procedure: A surgeon makes a series of incisions throughout the upper chambers of your heart, altering the electrical signals that contribute to arrhythmia.
- Pacemaker: This device, implanted in your chest, is designed to deliver electrical impulses whenever your heartbeat slows to an unacceptable level.
Learn more about heart and vascular procedures at Bayhealth.