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| | {{SI}} |
| | {{Infobox medical condition |
| | | name = Atrial fibrillation |
| | | image = [[File:Afib_ecg.jpg|250px]] |
| | | caption = ECG showing atrial fibrillation |
| | | field = [[Cardiology]] |
| | | symptoms = [[Palpitations]], [[fainting]], [[shortness of breath]], [[chest pain]] |
| | | complications = [[Stroke (medicine)|Stroke]], [[heart failure]] |
| | | onset = Sudden or gradual |
| | | duration = Can be [[paroxysmal]], [[persistent]], or [[permanent]] |
| | | causes = [[High blood pressure]], [[valvular heart disease]], [[coronary artery disease]], [[hyperthyroidism]], [[alcohol use disorder]] |
| | | risks = [[Age]], [[hypertension]], [[diabetes mellitus]], [[heart disease]], [[obesity]], [[sleep apnea]] |
| | | diagnosis = [[Electrocardiogram|ECG]], [[Holter monitor]], [[event monitor]] |
| | | differential = [[Atrial flutter]], [[supraventricular tachycardia]], [[ventricular tachycardia]] |
| | | treatment = [[Rate control]], [[rhythm control]], [[anticoagulation]] |
| | | medication = [[Beta blockers]], [[calcium channel blockers]], [[digoxin]], [[antiarrhythmic drugs]], [[warfarin]], [[direct oral anticoagulants]] |
| | | prognosis = Variable, depends on underlying conditions and treatment |
| | | frequency = Common, especially in older adults |
| | }} |
| __NOTOC__ | | __NOTOC__ |
| [[File:Afib ecg.jpg|thumb|Atrial fibrillation]] | | '''Atrial fibrillation''' (AF or Afib) is a type of [[arrhythmia]] characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm that originates in the [[atria]], the upper chambers of the [[heart]]. This abnormal rhythm can impair the heart's ability to efficiently pump blood, increasing the risk of serious complications such as [[stroke]], [[heart failure]], and [[blood clots]]. |
| Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat in which the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat inconsistently and rapidly.
| | [[File:Afib ecg.jpg|left|thumb|Electrocardiogram showing atrial fibrillation]] |
| | | == Types of Atrial Fibrillation == |
| ==Types of atrial fibrillation==
| | Atrial fibrillation can be classified into four major types based on duration and response to treatment: |
| Atrial fibrillation is a type of [[arrhythmia]]. There are four main types of atrial fibrillation—paroxysmal, persistent, long-term persistent, and permanent atrial fibrillation. The type of atrial fibrillation that you have depends on how often atrial fibrillation occurs and how it responds to treatment.
| | === [[Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation]] === |
| | | Paroxysmal AF occurs intermittently and resolves spontaneously within 7 days, often within 24 hours. It may be asymptomatic or cause noticeable palpitations. When paroxysmal AF alternates with bradycardia, the condition is called [[tachybrady syndrome]]. |
| =====Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation===== | | === [[Persistent atrial fibrillation]] === |
| | | This type of AF persists for more than 7 days and typically requires medical intervention, such as cardioversion, to restore normal rhythm. |
| ===* You may experience a brief event—a paroxysm—of atrial fibrillation. It may pass without symptoms, or you may feel it strongly. It usually stops in less than 24 hours but may last up to a week. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation can happen repeatedly. You may need treatment or your symptoms may go away on their own. When this kind of atrial fibrillation alternates with a heartbeat that is slower than normal, it is called tachybrady syndrome.===
| | === [[Long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation]] === |
| | | AF that continues for more than 12 months. It is often resistant to treatment and may lead to structural changes in the heart. |
| =====Persistent atrial fibrillation===== | | === [[Permanent atrial fibrillation]] === |
| Persistent atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the abnormal heart rhythm lasts for more than a week. It may ultimately stop on its own but probably will need treatment.
| | When AF cannot be restored to normal rhythm despite attempts at treatment or when the decision is made not to pursue rhythm control, it is termed permanent. |
| | | == Causes == |
| =====Long term persistent atrial fibrillation===== | | [[File:Atrial Fibrillation.jpg|left|thumb|Heart changes associated with AF]] |
| With this condition, the abnormal heart rhythms last for more than a year without going away.
| | AF results from abnormalities in the heart's electrical conduction system and structural changes in cardiac tissue. Common causes include: |
| | | * [[Hypertension]] |
| =====Permanent atrial fibrillation===== | | * [[Ischemic heart disease]] |
| Sometimes atrial fibrillation does not get better, even when you have tried several times to restore a normal heart rhythm with other medicines or other treatments. At this point, your atrial fibrillation is considered permanent.
| | * [[Heart valve disease]] |
| | | * [[Cardiomyopathy]] |
| ==Cause of atrial fibrillation== | | * [[Congenital heart defect]] |
| [[File:Atrial Fibrillation.jpg|thumb|Atrial fibrillation heart]] | | * [[Hyperthyroidism]] |
| Changes to the heart’s tissue and to its electrical signals most often cause atrial fibrillation. To understand atrial fibrillation, it helps to know how the heart works. When the heart’s tissue or signaling is damaged, the regular pumping of the heart muscle becomes fast and irregular. Most often, damage to the heart is the result of other conditions such as high blood pressure and ischemic heart disease. Other factors can also raise your risk of atrial fibrillation.
| | * [[Sleep apnea]] |
| | | * Alcohol abuse ("[[Holiday heart syndrome]]") |
| =====Changes to the heart tissue=====
| | * Postoperative changes (especially after [[cardiac surgery]]) |
| Usually the cells of the heart fire and contract together. However, when aging, heart disease, infection, genetics, or other factors change heart tissue, that pattern breaks down. This can happen because of fibrosis, inflammation, a thinning or thickening of the heart walls, lack of blood flow to the heart, or an abnormal buildup of proteins, cells, or minerals in heart tissue.
| | * [[Pericarditis]] or [[myocarditis]] |
| | | * Aging-related fibrosis |
| =====Changes in the electrical signal to the heart=====
| | == Risk Factors == |
| Usually, a trigger heartbeat sets off atrial fibrillation. Electrical signals from this trigger may then cause the heart to beat slower or faster than usual because of changes in heart tissue. Sometimes, the signals create an atypical loop, telling the heart to contract over and over. This can create the fast, chaotic beating that defines atrial fibrillation.
| | Several risk factors are associated with increased likelihood of developing AF: |
| | | * Advanced age (especially >65 years) |
| Variations in the heart’s electrical signaling can be due to differences in heart anatomy, premature or extra heartbeats, normal heart rate adjustments, patches of faster or slower tissue, and repeated stimulation of certain tissue patches.
| | * Family history |
| | | * [[Obesity]] |
| {{facts}}
| | * [[Diabetes mellitus]] |
| =====In the United States:===== | | * [[Chronic kidney disease]] |
| | | * [[Pulmonary diseases]] (e.g., [[COPD]]) |
| *An estimated 2.7–6.1 million people in the United States have AFib. With the aging of the U.S. population, this number is expected to increase. | | * Excessive alcohol or stimulant use |
| *Approximately 2% of people younger than age 65 have AFib, while about 9% of people aged 65 years or older have AFib. | | * Sedentary lifestyle or extreme endurance training |
| *African Americans are less likely than those of European descent to have AFib.
| | * [[Thyroid disorders]] |
| *Because AFib cases increase with age and women generally live longer than men, more women than men experience AFib.
| | == Signs and Symptoms == |
| | | Symptoms of AF vary in severity and may include: |
| ==Costs and consequences== | | * Palpitations |
| | | * Fatigue |
| According to the [https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_atrial_fibrillation.htm CDC], >750,000 hospitalizations occur each year because of AFib in the United States. The condition contributes to an estimated 130,000 deaths each year. The death rate from AFib as the primary or a contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.
| | * Shortness of breath |
| | | * [[Dizziness]] or [[syncope]] |
| AFib costs the United States about $6 billion each year. Medical costs for people who have AFib are about $8,705 higher per year than for people who do not have AFib
| | * [[Chest pain]] |
| | | * [[Hypotension]] |
| ==Risk factors for atrial fibrillation==
| | Some patients may remain asymptomatic, and AF is discovered incidentally. |
| | | == Diagnosis == |
| *Age - The risk of atrial fibrillation increases as you age, especially after age 65. Atrial fibrillation is rare in children, but it does occur, especially in boys and in children who have obesity. | | Diagnosis of AF typically involves: |
| *Family history and genetics - If someone in your family has had atrial fibrillation, you have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation, too. Scientists have found some genes with mutationsthat raise the risk of atrial fibrillation. Some of these genes influence fetal organ development or heart cell ion channels. Sometimes these genetic patterns are also linked to heart disease. Some genetic factors may raise the risk of atrial fibrillation in combination with such factors as age, weight, or sex. | | * [[Electrocardiogram]] (ECG) – confirms the absence of P waves and irregularly irregular ventricular response. |
| *Lifestyle habits - Some lifestyle habits can raise or lower your risk of atrial fibrillation, including the following:
| | * [[Echocardiography]] – assesses structural abnormalities, thrombus formation. |
| **'''[[Alcohol]].''' Drinking large amounts of alcohol, especially binge drinking, raises your risk of atrial fibrillation. Even modest amounts of alcohol can trigger atrial fibrillation in some people.
| | * [[Holter monitor]] – records rhythm over 24–48 hours. |
| **'''Illegal drugs.''' Some street drugs, such as cocaine, can trigger atrial fibrillation or make it worse. | | * [[Event monitor]] or [[implantable loop recorder]] – for intermittent symptoms. |
| **'''Physical activity.''' Some competitive athletes and people—men, in particular—participating in endurance sports or exerting themselves at work may have a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. At the same time, moderate physical activity can have a protective effect. Physical fitness appears to be linked to a lower risk of atrial fibrillation. | | * [[Blood tests]] ‚Äì to assess thyroid function, electrolytes. |
| **'''[[Smoking]].''' Studies have found that smoking increases the risk of atrial fibrillation. The risk appears to be higher the longer you smoke and decreases if you quit. Exposure to secondhand smoke, even in the womb, can increase a child’s risk of developing atrial fibrillation. | | * [[Transesophageal echocardiography]] (TEE) ‚Äì to detect atrial thrombi before cardioversion. |
| **'''[[Stress]].''' Stressful situations, panic disorders, and other types of emotional stress may be linked to a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. | | == Complications == |
| *Other medical conditions - Many other medical conditions can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation, especially heart problems. As you age, having more than one condition may increase your risk. Conditions that raise the risk of atrial fibrillation include: | | AF increases the risk of several complications: |
| **Chronic kidney disease | | * [[Stroke]] – due to thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage. |
| **Conduction disorders
| | * [[Heart failure]] – from prolonged rapid ventricular response. |
| **Congenital heart defect
| | * [[Cognitive impairment]] – from cerebral hypoperfusion. |
| **[[Diabetes]]
| | * [[Sudden cardiac arrest]] – rarely. |
| **[[Heart attack]]
| | == Treatment == |
| **[[Heart failure]]
| | Management goals include stroke prevention, rate or rhythm control, and treatment of underlying conditions. |
| **Heart inflammation | | === Stroke Prevention === |
| **Heart tissue that is too thick or stiff | | * [[Anticoagulation]] therapy (e.g., [[warfarin]], [[dabigatran]], [[rivaroxaban]], [[apixaban]]) |
| **Heart valve disease | | * [[CHA2DS2-VASc score]] guides anticoagulation decisions. |
| **[[High blood pressure]] | | === Rate Control === |
| **Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid gland
| | * [[Beta-blockers]] (e.g., metoprolol) |
| **[[Ischemic heart disease]]
| | * [[Calcium channel blockers]] (e.g., diltiazem) |
| **Lung diseases, including COPD | | * [[Digoxin]] |
| **[[Obesity]]
| | === Rhythm Control === |
| **[[Sarcoidosis]]
| | * [[Antiarrhythmic drugs]] (e.g., amiodarone, flecainide) |
| **[[Sleep apnea]]
| | * [[Electrical cardioversion]] |
| **[[Venous thromboembolism]]
| | * [[Catheter ablation]] – for drug-refractory or symptomatic patients |
| *Race or ethnicity - In the United States, atrial fibrillation is more common among whites than among African Americans, Hispanic Americans, or Asian Americans. Although people of European ancestry are more likely to develop the condition, African Americans with atrial fibrillation are more likely to have complications such as stroke, heart failure, or ischemic heart disease. | | === Surgical Options === |
| *Surgery - You may be at risk for atrial fibrillation in the early days and weeks after surgery of the heart, lungs, or esophagus. Surgery to correct a congenital heart defect can also raise the risk of atrial fibrillation. This can happen years after a childhood surgery or when you have surgery as an adult to correct a lifelong condition. | | * [[Maze procedure]] |
| | | * [[Left atrial appendage closure]] – e.g., Watchman device |
| ==Screening for atrial fibrillation==
| | == Prevention == |
| Typically doctors screen for atrial fibrillation only when you have symptoms. However, your doctor may check for signs of atrial fibrillation as part of your regular medical care. Screening tests include checking your pulse or recording your heart’s electrical activity. Your doctor may recommend healthy lifestyle changes to help you lower your risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
| | Preventive strategies include: |
| | | * Managing [[blood pressure]], [[lipid disorders]], and [[diabetes]] |
| Screening may be part of your regular care if you are 65 or older or if you have other risk factors.
| | * Maintaining a healthy weight |
| | | * Limiting alcohol and stimulant use |
| *Your doctor may check your pulse. Even without symptoms, your heart may have an irregular speed or faulty rhythm that your doctor can detect.
| | * Treating sleep apnea |
| *If you have had a stroke and there is no clear cause, your doctor may recommend screening for atrial fibrillation with a Holter or event monitor.
| | * Smoking cessation |
| *Several devices are now available to detect and record your heart’s rhythm similar to an electrocardiogram (EKG). These devices may also email the data to your doctor.
| | == Epidemiology == |
| | | * Affects 2.7–6.1 million people in the U.S. |
| To help you lower your risk of atrial fibrillation, your doctor may recommend certain heart-healthy lifestyle changes, including aiming for a healthy weight, being physically active, controlling your blood sugar, limiting alcohol, lowering your blood pressure, managing stress, and quitting smoking.
| | * Increases with age: ~9% prevalence in adults ‚â•65 |
| | | * More common in males and individuals of European descent |
| In addition, some illegal drugs, such as cocaine, can trigger atrial fibrillation or make it worse. Ask your doctor for help avoiding these triggers to prevent arrhythmia.
| | == See Also == |
| | | * [[Arrhythmia]] |
| If you are having heart surgery, your medical team will monitor you. To prevent arrhythmia, your doctor may recommend antiarrhythmic medicine or treatment to maintain or supplement electrolyte levels during or after the procedure.
| | * [[Heart failure]] |
| | | * [[Stroke]] |
| ==Prevention of atrial fibrillation==
| | * [[Cardiac electrophysiology]] |
| [[Image:Afib.jpg|right|thumb]]To help prevent a repeat episode of atrial fibrillation, your doctor may recommend the following:
| | == References == |
| | | <references /> |
| *'''Medicine that you can take at home''' as needed to correct your heart rhythm. Before giving you this medicine, the doctor will ask you to take a dose and try to trigger an event to see if the medicine prevents it effectively. You can take this medicine if you start feeling symptoms of atrial fibrillation.
| | == External Links == |
| *'''Treatment for an underlying condition,''' such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
| | * [https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation American Heart Association – Atrial Fibrillation] |
| *'''Heart-healthy lifestyle changes,''' including aiming for a healthy weight. Combining weight loss with physical activity and the management of other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, alcohol use, and smoking, can improve symptoms more than weight loss alone.
| | * [https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_atrial_fibrillation.htm CDC Factsheet on AFib] |
| | | * [https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation NIH – Atrial Fibrillation] |
| ==Signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation==
| |
| The most common symptom of atrial fibrillation is fatigue. Other signs and symptoms include:
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| *Heart palpitations
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| *Difficulty breathing, especially when lying down
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| *[[Chest pain]]
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| *[[Hypotension]], or low blood pressure
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| *[[Dizziness]] or fainting
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| Keep track of when and how often your symptoms occur, what you feel, and whether these things change over time. They are all important clues for your doctor.
| |
| | |
| ==Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation==
| |
| A doctor will diagnose atrial fibrillation based on your medical and family history, a physical exam, the results from an electrocardiogram (EKG), and possibly other tests and procedures. If you have atrial fibrillation, your doctor will also look for any disease that may be causing it and assess your risk of developing dangerous blood clots. This will help him or her plan the best way to treat you.
| |
| | |
| Your doctor will do a complete examination of your heart and lungs, including:
| |
| | |
| *Checking for signs of too much thyroid hormone, such as a thyroid gland that is larger than normal
| |
| *Checking for swelling in your legs or feet, which could be a sign of heart failure or a heart that is larger than normal
| |
| *Checking your pulse to find out how fast your heart is beating
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| *Listening to the rhythm of your heartbeat
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| *Listening to your lungs to check for signs of heart failure or infection
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| *Measuring your blood pressure
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| | |
| ==Diagnostic tests for atrial fibrillation==
| |
| To diagnose atrial fibrillation, your doctor will likely do an EKG first to record your heart’s electrical activity. If the diagnosis is unclear from the EKG or your doctor would like more information, your doctor may order additional testing:
| |
| | |
| *'''Blood tests''' to check the level of substances in the blood such as potassium and thyroid hormone.
| |
| *'''[[Echocardiography]]''' to show areas of poor blood flow to the heart, areas of heart muscle that are not contracting normally, and previous injury to the heart muscle caused by poor blood flow. It may also identify harmful blood clots in the heart’s chambers.
| |
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| =====Other tests=====
| |
| | |
| *Your doctor may order other tests to record abnormal heart rhythms that happen under specific conditions or outside of the clinic, confirm whether you have atrial fibrillation or another arrhythmia, and figure out which treatment is best. These tests may include:
| |
| **'''Chest X-ray''' to look for signs of complications from atrial fibrillation, such as fluid buildup in the lungs or a heart that is larger than normal.
| |
| **'''Electrophysiology study (EPS)''' to record your heart’s electrical signals if your doctor wants more detail about what is causing a particular EKG reading or to distinguish among possible types of arrhythmias.
| |
| **'''Holter and event monitors''' to record your heart’s electrical activity over long periods of time while you do normal, day-to-day activities. These portable EKG monitors can help assess the cause of symptoms, like palpitations or feeling dizzy, that happen outside the doctor’s office. Most portable monitors will send data directly to your doctor.
| |
| **'''Loop recorder''' to record the heart’s electrical activity. Some loop recorder models are worn externally and some require minor surgery to place the device under the skin in the chest area. Implanted devices can record data for months and are used to detect patterns in abnormal heart rhythms that do not happen very often.
| |
| **'''Sleep study''' to see if sleep apnea is causing your symptoms.
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| **'''Stress test or exercise stress test''' to look at changes in your heart’s activity that occur with increase in heart rate, and recovery after exercise. If you cannot exercise, you may be given medicine to make your heart work hard and beat fast.
| |
| **'''Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)''' to detect blood clots that may be forming in the heart’s upper chambers because of atrial fibrillation. It uses sound waves to take pictures of your heart through the esophagus.
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| **'''Walking test''' to measure your heart activity while you walk for six minutes. This can help determine how well your body can control your heart rate under normal circumstances.
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| ==Treatment of atrial fibrillation==
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| Atrial fibrillation is treated with lifestyle changes, medicines, procedures, and surgery to help prevent blood clots, slow your heart beat, or restore your heart’s normal rhythm.
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| Your doctor may also treat you for an underlying disorder that is causing or raising the risk of atrial fibrillation, such as sleep apnea or an overactive thyroid gland.
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| =====Lifestyle changes=====
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| Your doctor may recommend adopting heart-healthy lifestyle changes, such as the following:
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| *'''Heart-healthy eating patterns''' such as the DASH eating plan, which reduces salt intake to help lower blood pressure
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| *'''Being physically active'''
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| *Getting help if you are trying to stop using street drugs
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| *Limiting or avoiding alcohol or other stimulants that may increase your heart rate
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| *'''Managing stress'''
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| *'''Quitting smoking.'''
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| =====Medications=====
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| Your doctor may consider treating your atrial fibrillation with medicines to slow your heart rate or to make your heart’s rhythm more even:
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| | |
| *'''Beta blockers,''' such as metoprolol, carvedilol, and atenolol, to help slow the rate at which the heart’s lower chambers pump blood throughout the body. Rate control is important because it allows the ventricles enough time to fill with blood completely. With this approach, the abnormal heart rhythm continues, but you may feel better and have fewer symptoms. Beta blockers are usually taken by mouth, but they may be delivered through a tube in an emergency situation. If the dose is too high, it can cause the heart to beat too slowly. These medicines can also make COPD and arrhythmia worse.
| |
| *'''Blood thinners''' to prevent blood clots and lower the risk of stroke. These medicines include warfarin, dabigatran, heparin, and clopidogrel. You may not need to take blood thinners if you are not at risk of a stroke. Blood-thinning medicines carry a risk of bleeding. Other side effects include indigestion and heart attack.
| |
| *'''Calcium channel blockers''' to control the rate at which the heart’s lower chambers pump blood throughout the body. They include diltiazem and verapamil.
| |
| *'''Digitalis, or digoxin''', to control the rate blood is pumped throughout the body. It should be used with caution, as its use can lead to other arrhythmias.
| |
| *'''Other heart rhythm''' '''medicines''' to slow a heart that is beating too fast or change an abnormal heart rhythm to a normal, steady rhythm. Rhythm control is an approach recommended for people who continue to have symptoms or otherwise are not getting better with rate control medicines. Rhythm control also may be used for people who have only recently started having atrial fibrillation or for highly physically active people and athletes. These medicines may be used alone or in combination with electrical cardioversion. Or your doctor may prescribe some of these medicines for you to take on an as-needed basis when you feel symptoms of atrial fibrillation. Some heart rhythm medicines can make arrhythmia worse. Other side effects include effects on the liver, lung, and other organs, low blood pressure, and indigestion.
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| Your doctor may recommend treatments for an underlying cause or to reduce atrial fibrillation risk factors. For example, he or she may prescribe medicines to treat an overactive thyroid, lower high blood pressure, or manage high blood cholesterol.
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| =====Procedures=====
| |
| Your doctor may recommend a procedure or surgery, especially if lifestyle changes and medicine alone did not improve your symptoms. Typically, your doctor will consider a surgical procedure to treat your atrial fibrillation only if you will be having surgery to treat some other heart condition.
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| | |
| *'''Catheter ablation''' to destroy the tissue that is causing the arrhythmia. Ablation is not always successful and in rare cases may lead to serious complications, such as stroke. The risk that atrial fibrillation will reoccur is highest in the first few weeks after the procedure. If this happens, your doctor may repeat the procedure. In some cases, your doctor will place a pacemaker at the time of the procedure to make sure your heart beats correctly once the tissue causing problems is destroyed.
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| *'''Electrical cardioversion''' to restore your heart rhythm using low-energy shocks to your heart. This may be done in an emergency or if medicines have not worked.
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| *'''Pacemaker''' to reduce atrial fibrillation when it is triggered by a slow heartbeat. Typically, a pacemaker is used to treat atrial fibrillation only when it is diagnosed along with another arrhythmia. For example, if you are diagnosed with a slow heart rate or sick sinus syndrome, a pacemaker implanted for that condition can also prevent atrial fibrillation. If you have surgery for a pacemaker, you will need to take blood-thinning medicines.
| |
| *'''Plugging, closing, or cutting off the left atrial appendage''' to prevent clots from forming in the area and causing a stroke. Your doctor may do this at the same time as surgical ablation. It can be difficult to close off the appendage entirely, and leaking can contribute to ongoing clotting risk.
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| *'''Surgical ablation''' to destroy heart tissue generating faulty electrical signals. The surgeon usually does surgical ablation at the same time as surgery to repair heart valves, but in some cases, surgical ablation can be done on its own.
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| ==Complications of Atrial fibrillation==
| |
| When it is undetected or untreated, atrial fibrillation can lead to serious complications. This is especially significant for African Americans. Even though whites have atrial fibrillation at higher rates, research has found that many of its complications—including stroke, heart disease, and heart failure—are more common among African Americans. Some complications of atrial fibrillation include:
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| *'''[[Blood clots]].''' With atrial fibrillation, the heart may not be able to pump the blood out properly, causing it to pool and form an abnormal blood clot in the heart. A piece of the clot—a type of embolus—can break off and travel through the blood to different parts of the body, blocking blood flow to the brain, lungs, intestine, spleen, or kidneys. Atrial fibrillation may also increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, which is a blood clot that forms in a vein.
| |
| *'''[[Cognitive impairment]] and [[dementia]].''' Some studies suggest that impaired cognition, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia occur more often among people with atrial fibrillation. This may be due to blockages in the blood vessels of the brain or reduced blood flow to the brain.
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| *'''[[Heart attack]].''' The risk of a heart attack from atrial fibrillation is highest among women and African Americans and especially in the first year after atrial fibrillation is diagnosed.
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| *'''[[Heart failure]].''' Atrial fibrillation raises your risk of heart failure because the heart is beating fast and unevenly. The heart’s chambers do not fill completely with blood and cannot pump enough blood to the lungs and body. Atrial fibrillation may also make your heart failure symptoms worse.
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| *'''[[Stroke]].''' If an embolus travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke. For some people, atrial fibrillation has no symptoms, and a stroke is the first sign of the condition. If you have atrial fibrillation, the risk of a stroke is higher if you are a woman.
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| *'''[[Sudden cardiac arrest]].''' With atrial fibrillation, there is an increased risk that the heart may suddenly and unexpectedly stop beating if you have another serious heart condition.
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| {{stub}}
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| [[Category:Cardiology]]
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| {{Circulatory system pathology}} | | {{Circulatory system pathology}} |
| [[Category:Cardiac arrhythmia]] | | [[Category:Cardiac arrhythmia]] |
| | [[Category:Cardiology]] |
| | [[Category:Electrophysiology]] |
