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By Catherine Bennet Updated on 03/11/2021

Atrial Fibrillation: The Basics

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia and affects an estimated 2-6 million Americans. In Afib, the top chambers of the heart beat quickly and irregularly and it is random as to which heartbeat from the atria will signal the ventricles to beat. Normally, the heart beats in a regular rhythm such that each time the top chambers of the heart (the atria) beat, the bottom chambers (the ventricles) beat.

Atrial fibrillation

Afib can be a problem for a number of reasons. First, when the heart is beating quickly and irregularly, blood doesn’t move through the heart normally. In fact, blood can pool and form clots in the heart. There is a risk that these clots can travel out of the heart and cause stroke and other problems. Given this, patients with Afib are often recommended to start a blood thinner. You and your doctor will need to discuss the pros and cons of starting a blood thinner given your individual risk factors for stroke. Second, atrial fibrillation tends to cause the heart to beat quickly. This is a problem as it shortens the time the heart has to fill with blood and therefore the amount of blood that can be pumped to the rest of the body. It can also cause the heart to fatigue leading to heart failure. Given this, treatments for atrial fibrillation focus on both slowing the heart rate down and trying to get the heart back into normal sinus rhythm. Again, your doctor will advise as to the best strategy for your individual case.

Risk factors for Afib

Advancing age
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Heart failure
Sleep apnea
Obesity
Excessive alcohol use
Smoking
Lung disease
Hyperthyroidism
Coronary artery disease
Valvular heart disease

Symptoms of Afib

Some people have no symptoms at all
Heart palpitations / irregular heart beat
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness / dizziness
Chest pain
Fatigue / weakness

Catherine Bennet, MD

Dr. Bennet is board-certified in cardiology. She is among the top rated cardiologists in the area and sees patients with all cardiac conditions. Dr. Bennet received her medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed her residency training in internal medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She has published multiple peer reviewed articles and presented at national meetings on topics in international cardiology and quality improvement in cardiovascular care delivery. She is an active member and fellow of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and is on the board of the Maryland Chapter of the ACC.