Atrial Fibrillation: A Common Arrhythmia - What You Need to Know
Learn more about this common arrhythmia, associated signs & symptoms, risks and treatment modalities.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is when your heart beats too slowly, too fast, or in an irregular way. When a patient has AF, the normal beating in their upper chambers of the heart is irregular, so that blood doesn’t flow as well as it should to the lower chambers of the heart.
AF could occur in brief episodes, or be a permanent condition. Healthcare professionals are aware that some patients with AF don’t even know they have it and may not have symptoms. Other patients with AF may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Irregular heartbeat
Heart palpitations (rapid, fluttering, or pounding)
Lightheadedness
Extreme fatigue
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Because AF cases increase with age and women generally live longer than men, more women than men experience atrial fibrillation.
Risk Factors
The risk for AF increases with age. High blood pressure accounts for about 1 in 5 cases per the CDC. Other risk factors include:
European ancestry
Obesity
Diabetes
Heart failure
Ischemic heart disease
Hyperthyroidism
Chronic kidney disease
Moderate to heavy alcohol use
Smoking
Enlargement of the chambers on the left side of the heart
What is the relationship between AF and stroke?
Atrial fibrillation increases a patient’s risk for stroke, this is due to the rhythm irregularity, which causes blood flow through the heart to tend to be more turbulent. This in turn increases the likelihood of forming a thrombus (blood clot), which could dislodge and cause a stroke. When standard stroke risk factors were accounted for, AF was associated with a fivefold increased risk of ischemic stroke (CDC).
It’s important to note that the risk for CVA in AF patients can be reduced significantly by provider prescribed anticoagulation with adjunct rate/rhythm therapy (NIH 2021).
Treating AF
When treating AF healthcare providers often prescribe medicines to help control the heart rhythm and rate. Other options include:
Blood-thinners
Surgery
Healthy lifestyle changes
Clinical Quick Reference
Atrial Fibrillation facts can get complicated. Refer back to this quick reference below, or make a copy.
Medical Concepts to Keep In Mind
With ^ age there tends to be ^ prevalence of AF
most catastrophic complication of AF being an acute ischemic stroke
d/t irregularity of the atria, as blood flow through these chambers becomes turbulent, leading to thrombus formation
thrombus may dislodge and in turn, embolize to the brain or other areas
most common site for this embolus is the atrial appendage
NOTE:
It is essential for the patient to seek medical care immediately if they are experiencing chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, severe sweating, or extreme dizziness
Medical Terminology
Getting to know some medical terminology will help reinforce the above material.
Atrial appendage (LAA) - finger-like extension originating from the main body of the left atrium -
EKG Insights
Remember: differing presentations on ekg are a cornerstone in establishing etiology of AF.
atrial fibrillation has a distinctive irregularly irregular rhythm with absent P-waves
most common sustained arrhythmia in clinical practice
Don’t Forget to Like, Share, & Subscribe!
Subscribe at no charge to receive all of our alerts, study materials, and updates. If you think the work we do is important consider a donation, or help a friend by sharing a post!
This study guide resource listing of medications is not intended to be used as medical advice. Note that products used tend to vary from institution to institution. Always pursue and follow the advise of your healthcare provider, facility protocols or supervising agency in matters of health issues or problems. Call 911 in case of acute emergency.