Health Information
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Understanding This Symptom
Medical Definition
Subject Matter Expert Verified
Atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) is an irregularly irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) originating from the atria, where disorganized electrical signals cause the upper chambers to quiver instead of contracting effectively.
This tachyarrhythmia reduces cardiac output, increases stroke risk 5-fold, and is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide.
AF affects over 33 million people globally and prevalence increases with age.
Quick Facts
What Optimal Health Looks Like
Understanding how your body functions when healthy helps identify dysfunction
A healthy heart maintains normal sinus rhythm through: (1) Organized electrical conduction - the sinoatrial (SA) node initiates each heartbeat at 60-100 beats per minute, with signals traveling through the atrioventricular (AV) node to the ventricles; (2) Effective atrial contraction - the atria contract synchronously, pumping 15-25% of ventricular fill volume (atrial kick); (3) Regular R-R intervals - each heartbeat is evenly spaced, allowing optimal ventricular filling and cardiac output; (4) Intact autonomic regulation - sympathetic and parasympathetic systems appropriately adjust heart rate based on physiological demands; (5) Normal PR interval (120-200ms), QRS complex (<120ms), and QT interval (440-460ms for males, 460-470ms for females).
Healthy Function
Your body is designed to maintain balance and self-regulate
How This Develops
Triggered activity - rapid ectopic beats, often from pulmonary vein sleeves, initiate and sustain AF; (
Atrial remodeling - structural changes including fibrosis, dilation, and inflammation create a vulnerable substrate for re-entrant wavelets; (
Multiple wavelet re-entry - fractionated signals propagate randomly through the atria, preventing organized contraction; (
Autonomic nervous system imbalance - increased sympathetic and parasympathetic tone can both precipitate AF; (
RAAS activation - angiotensin II promotes atrial fibrosis and remodeling; (
Oxidative stress and inflammation - increased ROS and inflammatory cytokines (IL-
Ion channel dysfunction - altered potassium and sodium channel expression disrupts normal conduction; (
Endothelial dysfunction - AF causes atrial endothelial damage, promoting thrombus formation and thromboembolism
Understanding the mechanism helps us target the root cause rather than just treating symptoms.
What Happens If Left Untreated
Understanding the consequences helps you make informed decisions about your health
Short-Term Consequences
Days to weeks
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Time Matters
Don't wait for symptoms to worsen. Early intervention leads to better outcomes.