Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder with one in two of us at risk of developing it during our lifetime
AF is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. A normal heart rate should be between 60 to 100 beats a minute when resting.
In atrial fibrillation, the heart rate is irregular and can sometimes be very fast. In some cases, it can be considerably higher than 100 beats a minute. This can cause problems including dizziness, shortage of breath and tiredness.
You may be aware of noticeable heart palpitations where your heart feels like it’s pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly, often for a few seconds or, in some cases, a few minutes. But sometimes atrial fibrillation does not cause any symptoms and a person who has it is completely unaware that their heart rate is irregular.
It is therefore worth checking your pulse from time to time to check that it is regular and if you have any concerns visit your doctor. If your doctor considers you may have AF, he/she will organise an ECG (Electrocardiogram). This is a simple process where sensors are attached to your arms, legs and chest to record the electrical signals from your heart. The machine produces a printout showing your heart rate and rhythm.
This is important because people with AF are five times more likely to have a stroke. Statistics provided by the AF Association suggest that 80% of strokes could be avoided if the underlying cause was detected. Their mantra is “Know your pulse to know your heart rhythm – it could save your life”.
What causes AF?
When the heart beats normally, its muscular walls tighten and squeeze (contract) to force blood out and around the body.
They then relax so the heart can fill with blood again. This process is repeated every time the heart beats.
In atrial fibrillation, the heart’s upper chambers (atria) contract randomly and sometimes so fast that the heart muscle cannot relax properly between contractions. This reduces the heart’s efficiency and performance.
Atrial fibrillation happens when abnormal electrical impulses suddenly start firing in the atria.
These impulses override the heart’s natural pacemaker, which can no longer control the rhythm of the heart. This causes you to have a highly irregular pulse rate.
The cause is not fully understood, but it tends to affect certain groups of people, such as older people and people living with long-term (chronic) conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or obesity.
It may be triggered by certain situations, such as drinking too much alcohol or smoking.
Treating AF
Atrial fibrillation is not usually life threatening, but it can be uncomfortable and often requires treatment.
Treatment may involve:
- medicines to prevent a stroke (blood thinners)
- medicines to control the heart rate or rhythm
- cardioversion – where the heart is given a controlled electric shock to restore normal rhythm
- catheter ablation – where the area inside the heart that’s causing the abnormal heart rhythm is destroyed using radiofrequency energy; afterwards you may then need to have a pacemaker fitted to help your heartbeat regularly