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Atrial fibrillation

Definition - Atrial fibrillation is a particular type of heartbeat (arrhythmia) characterized by an extremely fast irregular rhythm. When at rest, the healthy heart beats between 60 and 90 times a minute, with the atria (the two upper chambers of the heart) beating slightly earlier than the ventricles (the two lower chambers of the heart). The rate and timing of contractions (beats) are regulated by electrical impulses generated by the sinoatrial node (a specialized group of cells that produce small amounts of electrical energy).

In atrial fibrillation this orderly sequence of events is interrupted. As a result, the heart quivers or fibrillates (beats faster and irregularly), with the atria contracting up to 500 times a minute, and the ventricles contracting up to 180 times.

People with atrial fibrillation are five (5) times more likely to have a stroke. atrial fibrillation causes the heart to lose efficiency. The irregular beating of the atria and ventricles means the volume of blood pumped with each heartbeat varies causing pooling, stagnation and thickening of the blood. This thickening (coagulation) forms blood clots that can travel from the heart to the brain causing an embolic stroke.

Persons with atrial fibrillation should ask their doctors about the risks that accompany their arrhythmia and should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the available treatment strategies for preventing embolic strokes.

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