Overview
A disease of the heart characterized by irregular and often faster heartbeat.
Symptoms
If you’re experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider.
Most people with atrial fibrillation show no symptoms. Some of the noted symptoms include:
- Heart palpitations feeling of the heart racing or beating irregularly
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- Reduced ability to be physically active
- Lightheadedness and dizziness
- Confusion
- Chest pain
→ Common treatment options
→ How is this diagnosed?
Causes
– The major cause for the AF is damaged heart’s electrical system and other causes include:
- Family history
- Abnormal or damaged structure of the heart either at birth or during the life time
- Improper functioning of the heart’s natural pacemaker, the sinus node
- High blood pressure
- Heart attacks
- Coronary heart disease or disease of blood vessels of the heart
- Abnormal heart valves
- Metabolic disorders such as overactive thyroid gland, diabetes
- Exposure to stimulants including certain medications and tobacco
- Previous heart surgeries
- Stress
- Sleep apnea or Sleep disorders
- Lung and kidney diseases
- Viral infections
- Obesity
- Alcohol consumption
– Risk factors include:
- Age older the age higher the risk
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Heart diseases
- Alcohol consumption
- Obesity
- Hereditary
→ Do you have a health question on your mind for atrial fibrillation? Ask professionals from across the world
→ Interested to know more? Check out the full article here
More Stories
‘Cherished and adored’: Family pays tribute to young woman who died after ‘short and hard fight’ against meningococcal
New study into therapeutic cannabis finds 96pct of participants report benefits in medical conditions
‘The worst it’s been’: Shortage of estrogen patch causing anxiety for Kiwis who rely on it daily