Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. A normal heart rate should be regular and between 60 and 100 beats a minute when you're resting. You can measure your heart rate by checking your pulse in your wrist or
neck. In atrial fibrillation, the heart rate is irregular and can sometimes be very fast. In some cases, it can be considerably higher than 100 beats a minute. This can cause problems including dizziness, shortness
of breath and tiredness. You may be aware of noticeable heart palpitations, where your heart feels like it's pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly, often for a few seconds or, in some cases, a few minutes. Sometimes atrial fibrillation does not cause any symptoms and a person who has it is completely unaware that their heart rate
is irregular. See a GP or call 111 if:
It's important to get medical advice to make sure it's nothing serious. Urgent advice: Call 999 if:You have sudden chest pain that:
You could be having a heart attack. Call 999 immediately as you need immediate treatment in hospital. What causes atrial fibrillation?When the heart beats normally, its muscular walls tighten and squeeze (contract) to force blood out and around the body. They then relax so the heart can fill with blood again. This process is repeated every time the heart beats. In atrial fibrillation, the heart's upper chambers (atria) contract randomly and sometimes so fast that the heart muscle cannot relax properly between contractions. This reduces the heart's efficiency and performance. Atrial fibrillation happens when abnormal electrical impulses suddenly start firing in the atria. These impulses override the heart's natural pacemaker, which can no longer control the rhythm of the heart. This causes you to have a highly irregular pulse rate. The cause is not fully understood, but it tends to affect certain groups of people, such as older people and people living with long-term (chronic) conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or obesity. It may be triggered by certain situations, such as drinking too much alcohol or smoking. Atrial fibrillation can be defined in various ways, depending on the degree to which it affects you. For example:
Who's affectedAtrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, affecting around 1.4 million people in the UK. It can affect adults of any age, but it's more common in older people. More men than women have atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is more likely to occur in people with other conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), atherosclerosis or a heart valve problem. Information: Social care and support guideIf you:
Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support. Treating atrial fibrillationAtrial fibrillation is not usually life threatening, but it can be uncomfortable and often requires treatment. Treatment may involve:
Atrial flutterAtrial flutter is less common than atrial fibrillation, but shares the same symptoms, causes and possible complications. Some people with atrial flutter also have atrial fibrillation. Atrial flutter is similar to atrial fibrillation, but the rhythm in the atria is more organised and less chaotic than the abnormal patterns caused by atrial fibrillation. Treatment for atrial flutter is also slightly different. Catheter ablation is considered to be the best treatment for atrial flutter, whereas medicine is often the first treatment used for atrial fibrillation. Page last reviewed: 17 May 2021 How do you treat atrial fibrillation and flutter?How is atrial flutter treated?. Medicines to slow your heart rate. They may also help relieve your symptoms. ... . Blood-thinning medicines to help prevent stroke. ... . Electrical cardioversion to stop atrial flutter. ... . Catheter ablation to stop atrial flutter.. What is the best initial treatment for atrial flutter?Initial treatment is directed at controlling the ventricular rate, most often with a calcium channel blocker, a beta blocker, or digoxin. Medical or electrical cardioversion to restore sinus rhythm is the next step in patients who remain in atrial fibrillation.
Can you have atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter at the same time?Sometimes a person may have episodes of both atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. People with atrial flutter may not have symptoms. However, the disorder can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure and other complications.
What is the drug of choice for atrial flutter?Dofetilide is effective in 70-80% of patients with atrial flutter. This drug should be initiated in an inpatient setting. Ibutilide [17, 18, 19, 20] is also effective, converting recent-onset atrial flutter to sinus rhythm in 63% of patients with a single infusion.
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