Understanding Atrial Fibrillation

Gain a clear understanding of atrial fibrillation (AFib), including its causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options, so you can make informed decisions about your heart health with confidence.

What is Atrial Fibrillation?

Understanding the mechanics behind the irregular heartbeat

An Electrical Disruption in Your Heart

Atrial fibrillation is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

Normally, your heart contracts and releases to a regular beat. In AFib, the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly and out of sync with the lower chambers (the ventricles), causing chaotic electrical signals that disrupt normal blood flow.

During AFib, the atria can beat as fast as 300 to 600 times per minute, compared to a normal resting heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Four Clinical Stages of AFib

Arrhythmias progress differently for each patient

Paroxysmal

Episodes that come and go spontaneously. They usually stop on their own within 7 days (often within 24 hours).

Persistent

Episodes that last longer than 7 days continuously. This type requires medical intervention (drugs or cardioversion) to stop.

Long-Standing

Continuous AFib that has lasted for more than 12 months. The heart is in a constant state of irregular rhythm.

Permanent

The patient and doctor have decided to stop trying to restore a normal rhythm. Management shifts entirely to rate control.

Common AFib Symptoms

AFib symptoms can vary from subtle and occasional to intense and disruptive

Heart Palpitations

A sudden sensation of fluttering, racing, pounding, or irregular thumping in the chest.

Fatigue & Weakness

Feeling exceptionally tired during routine daily tasks or experiencing a generalized lack of energy.

Shortness of Breath

Difficulty catching your breath, especially during mild physical exertion or exercise.

Dizziness & Lightheadedness

Feeling faint or unstable on your feet due to temporary reductions in cardiac output.

Chest Pain or Pressure

A feeling of discomfort or tightness. Any chest pain should be evaluated immediately by professionals.

Reduced Exercise Capacity

Inability to maintain standard physical workouts or active routines without feeling winded.

Mental Confusion

Difficulty focusing or feeling temporary brain fog during active episodes of rapid arrhythmia.

Irregular Pulse

A rapid, chaotic pulse that skips beats and feels highly inconsistent to the touch.

Causes vs Risk Factors

What triggers AFib and who is most likely to develop it

Direct Underlying Causes

AFib is typically triggered by damage or structural changes to the heart's electrical signaling network. Key causes include:

Long-standing high blood pressure (Hypertension)
Heart valve disease or coronary artery damage
Previous heart attacks or surgeries
Overactive thyroid gland (Hyperthyroidism)
Congenital heart defects
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Major Risk Factors

Certain lifestyle behaviors, demographics, and clinical conditions heighten your statistical probability of developing AFib:

Advanced age (especially 60 and older)
Obesity and metabolic syndrome
Family genetic history of cardiac arrhythmias
Frequent alcohol consumption
Severe untreated Sleep Apnea
Type 2 Diabetes

How AFib is Diagnosed

Accurate clinical detection is key to establishing an effective therapy pathway

ECG / EKG

The primary tool. Recreates the heart's electrical activity over several seconds to identify abnormal waveforms.

Holter Monitor

A portable ECG worn for 24 hours to multiple weeks to capture transient AFib episodes that occur outside the clinic.

Echocardiogram

An ultrasound of the heart to examine structural health, valve function, and detect blood clots in the atria.

Blood Tests

Conducted to rule out thyroid imbalances, metabolic abnormalities, or electrolyte issues that might trigger arrhythmia.

AFib Treatment Pathways

Therapies focus on stroke prevention, rate control, and rhythm normalization

Medications

First-line pharmaceutical therapy

Procedures

Advanced cardiac interventions

Lifestyle Changes

Holistic self-care management

Can AFib be cured?

A person’s chances of developing AFib increase with certain lifestyle behaviors. For example – smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy eating patterns, and little to no engagement in heart healthy exercise may all increase the onset of AFib. Connecting with an electrophysiologist who works together with patients to choose the best treatment options, based on the patient’s values and preferences is the optimum therapy for AFib.

At the Fix AFib clinic, we create collaborative partnerships with each patient to customize a unique treatment plan for their condition. Our exceptional team of world-renowned providers have a statistically higher success rate for treating AFib patients than other hospitals and programs.

Contact us today to start your journey back to wellness – simply complete the form to the right.

Living Well With AFib

Practical guidelines for daily life, risk reduction, and proactive safety

Daily Management Tips

Keep a detailed journal of trigger events (like dehydration or lack of sleep), stay physically active under clinical supervision, and meticulously adhere to prescribed medications.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Immediately go to the ER if you experience chest pain, sudden severe shortness of breath, sudden numbness or weakness in the face/limbs, or a fainting spell (syncope).

Continuous Monitoring

Modern consumer smartwatches can track irregular rhythms, but they should only be used as supportive tools alongside formal cardiology diagnostic hardware.