Atrial Fibrillation - The Common Arrhythmia

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Home > Professional Education > AFib 360 > AFib - The Common Arrhythmia

Atrial Fibrillation - The Common Arrhythmia

Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs when electrical signals that coordinate the muscle of the upper chambers (atria) of the heart become rapid and disorganized, resulting in an irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) often greater than 300 beats per minute. AF is not life threatening if treated properly, but it can lead to other serious conditions such as chronic fatigue and congestive heart failure.

AF-related hospitalizations are predicted to climb to over 3.3 million by 2025, and will be a "staggering burden" on public health and patients' quality of life. Older Americans are most at risk of developing AF. After age 65, over six percent of people suffer from AF. After age 75, this figure increases to 11 percent.

While AF alone is a serious public health concern, it also increases the risk for stroke by about 15 percent to 20 percent and is a contributing factor for stroke recurrence and stroke severity. AF may have no known cause, or it may be related to coronary artery disease, thyroid disease, high blood pressure, structural defects of the heart and its valves, lung disease or other disorders.

Signs and Symptoms

Shortness of breath
Weakness and difficulty exercising
Chest pain
Sweating
Dizziness
Fainting

Diagnosis and Treatment

AF is diagnosed by en electrocardiogram (ECG), or with devices that are worn by the patient to monitor the heart over time.

Treatment options for AFib

Pharmacologic Therapy

Anti-arrhythmia medications that can help slow and stablize the irregular heartbeat and prevent reoccurance.
Oral medications such as beta-blockers, calcium antagonists and digitalis that can also help slow the heart rate during AFib.
Medications such as aspirin and warfarin can be prescribed to prevent blood clot formation.

Medical Intervention

Electrical cardioversion that can restore the heart's normal rhythm by delivering electric shock to the heart.
A cardiac catheter ablation where radiofrequency energy is deployed to disrupt tissues that trigger the abnormal electrical signals responsible for the irregular heartbeat.
Atrial pacemakers that are permanently implanted under the skin to regular the heart.

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Fuster V, Rydén LE, Asinger RW, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: executive summary a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines and Policy. Circulation 2001;104:2118-50.

Go, AS, Hylek, EM, Phillips KA, Chang, Y, Henault LE, Selby JV, Singer DE. Prevalence of diagnosed atrial fibrillation in adults. National implications for rhythm management and stroke prevention: the Anticoagulation and Risk Factors In Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Study. JAMA 2002;285:2370-2375.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2006 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Circulation.2006;113:e85-e151.

Wendy A. Wattigney, George A. Mensah, and Janet B. Croft. Increasing Trends in Hospitalization for Atrial Fibrillation in the United States, 1985 Through 1999: Implications for Primary Prevention. Circulation 2003; 108: 711-716.

NHANES: 1999–2002. Source: CDC/NCHS, NHLBI. Thom, T. et al. Circulation 2006;113:e85-151e.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2006 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Circulation. 2006;113:e85-e151.