Is atrial fibrillation a type of heart disease?

Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots in the heart. A-fib increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

Is atrial fibrillation considered to be heart disease?

Atrial fibrillation is a progressive disease, so it is not uncommon for people with paroxysmal AF to develop persistent or permanent AF over time.

What type of disease is atrial fibrillation?

Afib stands for atrial fibrillation (AF), which is a type of arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat. Afib is caused by extremely fast and irregular beats from the upper chambers of the heart (usually more than 400 beats per minute). A normal, healthy heartbeat involves a regular contraction of the heart muscle.

Is arrhythmia considered heart disease?

Millions of people experience irregular or abnormal heartbeats, called arrhythmias, at some point in their lives. Most of the time, they are harmless and happen in healthy people free of heart disease. However, some abnormal heart rhythms can be serious or even deadly.

What is the most common cause of atrial fibrillation?

Problems with the heart's structure are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation. Possible causes of atrial fibrillation include: Coronary artery disease. Heart attack.

How atrial fibrillation affects heart failure

Does AFib damage the heart?

Answer :Atrial fibrillation can result in permanent heart damage, although that's fairly uncommon. The situation in which atrial fibrillation can cause permanent heart damage is if a patient develop atrial fibrillation and the heart rate ends up being very very rapid for a long period of time.

Can atrial fibrillation go away?

When you have atrial fibrillation, or AFib, your heart has an irregular, sometimes quick rhythm. The condition can boost your chances for a stroke, heart failure, or other heart problems. Right now, there's no cure for it. But certain treatments can make symptoms go away for a long time for some people.

Does AFib always lead to heart failure?

AFib can lead to heart failure, and heart failure puts you at greater risk for AFib. When you have both, which is common, symptoms tend to be worse than when you have just one or the other.

Is atrial fibrillation a serious problem?

Atrial fibrillation isn't usually life-threatening or considered serious in people who are otherwise healthy. However, atrial fibrillation can be dangerous if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or other diseases of the heart. Either way, this condition needs to be properly diagnosed and managed by a doctor.

What should you not do if you have atrial fibrillation?

If you have A-fib , it's also important to know which foods and drinks to avoid. For example, your care provider may recommend that you limit or avoid alcohol. Alcohol can cause health issues in some people. People with atrial fibrillation often take blood thinners to prevent blood clots.

What is the most common treatment for atrial fibrillation?

Heart rate medicines: The most common way to treat atrial fibrillation is with drugs that control your heartbeat. These slow your rapid heart rate so your heart can pump better. You may need other drugs. Some are called beta-blockers.

What is the most common complication of atrial fibrillation?

People with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of having a stroke. In extreme cases, atrial fibrillation can also lead to heart failure.

What is the drug of choice for atrial fibrillation?

A beta blocker, such as bisoprolol or atenolol, or a calcium channel blocker, such as verapamil or diltiazem, will be prescribed. The medicine you'll be offered will depend on what symptoms you're having and your general health. A medicine called digoxin may be offered if other drugs are not suitable.

How long can your heart stay in AFib?

Paroxysmal Afib lasts less than one week and usually stops on its own without treatment. (Paroxysmal is pronounced par-ək-ˈsiz-məl.) Persistent Afib lasts more than one week and needs treatment. Long-standing persistent Afib lasts more than a year and is sometimes difficult to treat.

Does AFib get worse over time?

Atrial fibrillation is a progressive condition that tends to worsen over time. It's important to know that atrial fibrillation sometimes causes no symptoms at all.

How do you stop atrial fibrillation permanently?

There is no cure for persistent atrial fibrillation. But treatment can slow or prevent symptoms, making it easier for you to manage the condition. Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol can also help reduce abnormal heart rhythms and prevent complications.

How do you know if your atrial fibrillation is permanent?

In persistent AFib, your symptoms last longer than seven days, and your heart's rhythm isn't able to regulate itself anymore. The other two main types of AFib are: paroxysmal AFib, in which your symptoms come and go. permanent AFib, in which your symptoms last for more than a year.

Does a pacemaker help atrial fibrillation?

Some people who have atrial fibrillation need a pacemaker. The pacemaker does not treat atrial fibrillation itself. The pacemaker is used to treat a slow heart rate (bradycardia) that happens in some people who have atrial fibrillation. There are two basic types of pacemakers.

Can you live a long normal life with AFib?

The good news is that although AF is a long-term condition, if managed correctly, you can continue to lead a long and active life. There are a number of steps you can take that will help you manage your condition, lower your risk of stroke and relieve any worries you may have.

What causes AFib to worsen?

“But poor sleep is just one of many triggers for Afib,” said Ghannam, noting alcohol, excessive exercise, dehydration, stress and consuming large meals as some of the more common ones.

Do people with AFib live a normal life?

With proper treatment, individuals with atrial fibrillation can live normal and active lives. Atrial fibrillation, commonly referred to as AF or a-Fib, is the most commonly occurring arrhythmia, or heart rhythm problem. AF is characterized by an abnormal or irregular heart rhythm that causes a rapid heart rate.

How common is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib or AF, is a condition that causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat irregularly and extremely fast (about 500–600 beats per minute). AFib is the most common type of irregular heartbeat, affecting more than 5 million adults in the United States.

Which is the best blood thinner for atrial fibrillation?

How long do you have to be in AFib before clot forms?

The ASSERT study basically said that it takes around 24 hours of silent A-Fib to develop a serious clot/risk of stroke (on average 3.1%).

What is the major health risk for patients with atrial fibrillation?

People with Afib have a significantly higher risk of stroke than the average population. They also tend to have more severe strokes with more serious complications and a higher chance of death from stroke.