Atrial Fibrillation: Causes, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

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What is the Atrial

The atrium is the part of the heart that accepts blood from the rest of the body at the end of the cycle of circulation. The ventricle is the part that pumps the blood out for the beginning of the next cycle of circulation. Humans possess two atria, called the right atrium and the left atrium, and two ventricles, the right ventricle and the left ventricle. The right atrium receives blood that has already traveled around the body, giving up oxygen to cells throughout the body. The left atrium receives the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs. The blood from the right atrium goes to the right ventricle from where it is pumped out to the lungs to be oxygenated. The blood from the left atrium, now rich in oxygen, goes to the left ventricle that pumps it to the rest of the body via the aorta.

What is Fibrillation

Fibrillation is an uncoordinated quivering of muscle tissue instead of a strong, coordinated contraction. Atrial fibrillation is when the upper chambers of the heart present an erratic jerking, rather than the forceful, regular heartbeat that propels the blood on its journey. Normal heartbeat is regulated by electrical impulses from the sinoatrial node that fires off an impulse for the heart to contract around 60 to 100 times per minute in a healthy adult. When irregular electrical impulses from the atria and pulmonary veins interfere with the conduction of the electrical impulses from the sinoatrial node, the resulting irregular atrial fibrillation can predispose a person to various complications. The contractions of the atria and the ventricles are no longer synchronized. The resulting contractions are too rapid, between 100 to 175 times per minute.

People with atrial fibrillation may experience blood clots, chest pains congestive heart failure, heart palpitations, fainting, shortness of breath or stroke. On the other hand, sometimes the condition is asymptomatic and the person is not even aware that his or her heart has been beating erratically for days, weeks or years.

Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation

Some people with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms and are unaware of their condition until it’s discovered during a physical examination. Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may experience:

Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flopping in your chest
Decreased blood pressure
Weakness
Lightheadedness
Confusion
Shortness of breath
Chest pain

What Causes Atrial Fibrillation

There are various causes of atrial fibrillation. In some instances, the cause of atrial fibrillation is unknown. But often it is a result of high blood pressure or coronary heart disease. Other risk factors are heart failure, high- dose steroid treatment, congenital heart defects, diabetes, mitral valve disorders, lung disease, obesity, rheumatic heart disease and sleep apnea. Ways to prevent atrial fibrillation include eating a heart-healthy diet that is low in fat and cholesterol, exercising regularly and not smoking. In addition, limiting alcohol intake and lowering blood pressure, controlling blood sugar and triglycerides, reducing stress and maintaining an appropriate weight are factors that influence heart health.

List of possible causes of atrial fibrillation

High blood pressure
Heart attacks
Abnormal heart valves
Congenital heart defects
Emphysema or other lung diseases
Previous heart surgery
Viral infections
Stress due to pneumonia, surgery or other illnesses
Sleep apnea
An overactive thyroid or other metabolic imbalance
Exposure to stimulants such as medications, caffeine or tobacco, or to alcohol
Sick sinus syndrome — improper functioning of the heart’s natural pacemaker

Atrial fibrillation may be

Occasional. In this case it’s called paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. You may have symptoms that come and go, lasting for a few minutes to hours and then stopping on their own.

Chronic. With chronic atrial fibrillation, symptoms may last until they’re treated.

Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation

Treatment for atrial fibrillation includes lifestyle changes, such as the ones mentioned above, medicines (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers or digitalis) to control the heart rhythm or medical procedures such as low doses of electrical shock (electrical cardioversion). If blood cots are present, they need to be removed with blood thinning medication before electrical cardioversion is performed. Catheter ablation is another option, wherein radiofrequency (RF) energy is sent through a long, thin, flexible tube that is threaded into the heart via a blood vessel from the neck, groin or arm. The heat produced by the RF energy destroys those areas in the heart that are sending the irregular electrical impulses. If the atrioventricular node is destroyed, a pacemaker (a small device that prompts the heart with electrical pulses) is surgically implanted in order to regulate heart rhythm.

A person experiencing atrial fibrillation does not prevent his or her enjoying an active, normal life. Taking one’s medication, following the doctor’s advice and making whatever lifestyle changes are needed can lengthen one’s life and improve the quality of that life.

Risk Factors of Atrial Fibrillation

Age The older you are, the greater your risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

Heart disease Anyone with heart disease, including valve problems, history of heart attack and heart surgery, has an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

High blood pressure Having high blood pressure, especially if it’s not well controlled with lifestyle changes or medications, can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation.

Other chronic conditions People with thyroid problems, sleep apnea and other medical problems have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

Drinking alcohol For some people, drinking alcohol can trigger an episode of atrial fibrillation. Binge drinking may put you at higher risk.

Family history An increased risk of atrial fibrillation runs in some families.

Resources about Atrial Fibrillation

Mayo Clinic information about Atrial Fibrillation

American Heart Association facts about Atrial Fibrillation

MedicineNet Information on atrial fibrillation (abnormality in the heart rhythm) produced by medical author: Dennis Lee, MD, and medical editors: Daniel Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI, and Jay W. Marks, MD

Resource by B.Sobey

I am a recent masters graduate from FL. I enjoy the beach, traveling, and writing. I just moved to South Carolina in hopes to find a job as a journalist.

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