Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the most commonly treated form of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. Over 5 million people in the United States are living with AFib, and more than 12 million Americans are projected to have it by 2030.
Researchers are calling AFib the “new cardiovascular disease epidemic of the 21st century.” Why? Older age is a leading risk factor for the condition, and as aging populations continue to increase, so do the number of AFib diagnoses.
At Sunnyvale Cardiology in Sunnyvale, Texas, our board-certified cardiologists specialize in providing comprehensive, life-protecting care for people with AFib. In this month’s blog, we answer one of the first questions among newly diagnosed patients: What caused my AFib?
AFib is a heart arrhythmia that occurs when dysfunction in the organ’s electrical system causes many electrical impulses to fire rapidly, randomly, and simultaneously — instead of the steady, regular pattern of impulses that powers a normal heart rhythm.
The resulting fast, irregular rhythm begins in the heart’s upper chambers (atria), impairing their ability to pump blood into the lower chambers (ventricles). This makes ventricles contract irregularly in response, giving rise to a rapid, irregular heartbeat.
With AFib, it’s as if your heart’s electrical system splinters from a single, cohesive “rhythm conductor” into several conductors that are directing your heartbeat simultaneously. The “musician” heart chambers that keep the beat don’t know which conductor to follow, so their steady rhythm becomes erratic.
AFib can happen in brief episodes, or it can be an ongoing condition. It can also be mild and “silent,” occurring without symptoms, or it can emerge with greater intensity.
When the upper chambers of your heart are beating chaotically out of sync with the lower chambers, you may experience:
AFib is dangerous because it increases the risk of blood clot formation, makes you 5 times more likely to have a stroke, and inflicts lasting damage that can lead to heart failure.
While the direct cause of AFib is damage to heart tissue and its electrical system, this damage often occurs as a complication of existing coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, or high blood pressure — which causes 20% of AFib cases.
Other conditions that can stress your heart and set the stage for AFib include:
Your AFib risk increases substantially as you get older (aged 65+), especially if you have high blood pressure or heart disease. Genetic predisposition, or family history of AFib and/or related heart conditions, makes AFib more likely, too — especially if it occurs in combination with other risk factors.
Often, a prematurely triggered heartbeat (which feels like a skipped beat) causes atrial fibrillation to begin. This scenario is most common in the presence of underlying high blood pressure or heart disease, but many factors can contribute to AFib emergence, including:
AFib risk is also higher in the days and weeks following surgery on your heart, lungs, or esophagus. Taking antiarrhythmic medication before such procedures may help prevent the problem, however.
Once AFib exists — even if it’s well-controlled by medication — arrhythmia episodes can still sometimes be triggered by some of the same factors that prompt its development. Common AFib episode triggers include alcohol, caffeine, dehydration, intense exercise, increased stress, and lack of sleep.
Sometimes, AFib happens for no obvious reason, meaning there’s no clear, identifiable cause. Even in a healthy heart, a faster or slower heart rate — from exercising or sleeping, for example — can sometimes trigger AFib.
Most of the time, however, our team can determine the likely cause of AFib, as well as identify possible contributing factors. More importantly, we can create a comprehensive treatment plan to restore regular heart rhythms and protect your long-term health.
Do you have questions about AFib? We have answers. Call or message us to schedule an appointment at Sunnyvale Cardiology in Sunnyvale, Texas, today.
