Atrial fibrillation, also called AFib, is an irregular beating of the heart, caused by the atria and ventricles, the chambers of the heart, not pulsating in synchronization. More specifically, the electrical impulses that are discharged from different areas in the atria, which are the top chambers, are emmitted in a chaotic way that causes them to move spasmodically. This results in a fast and irregular heartbeat.
In general, our heart beats between 60 to 100 times per minute, but for individuals with atrial fibrillation, the range increases to about 100 to 175 beats per minute. Atrial fibrillation may increase your risk of stroke and other heart related conditions, such as heart failure. The risk of stroke increases with age and other factors like having high blood pressure or diabetes. Atrial fibrillation might weaken the heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure.
There are many causes of the condition, but abnormalities or injury to the heart muscle are the most prevalent. Other potential causes include elevated blood pressure, viral infections, lung diseases, sleep apnea, or stimulants such as caffeine or alcohol. Signs of the condition include heart palpitations, weakness, fatigue, confusion, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, breathlessness, and feeling lightheaded or dizzy. Symptoms may last a few minutes, several hours or they can come and go.
1. High Blood Pressure
Long-term high blood pressure that’s not treated is one of the most frequent causes of atrial fibrillation. Your chances of having both conditions simultaneously increase as you age. The additional force of blood flow caused by high blood pressure accelerates normal wear and tear. In addition, the extra pressure against your artery walls creates cracks where plaque buildup can form, eventually narrowing the artery and cutting blood flow.
This damage can lead to conditions like atrial fibrillation, as the heart won’t function properly and its regular pattern will be interrupted. If you have elevated blood pressure and atrial fibrillation at the same time, your risk of having a stroke increases significantly. If your blood isn’t flowing properly, it can pool and form a bloodclot, that can move throughout your body. If the clot is in an artery that supplies blood to the brain, it can cause a stroke. In addition, the damage to arteries caused by high blood pressure weakens them, making them more susceptible to rupturing. If this happens in your brain, it will cause a stroke.
2. Heart Attacks
The symptoms of atrial fibrillation are similar to those of a heart attack, but AFib doesn’t cause heart attacks or increase the risk of them happening. On the contrary, heart attack survivors are more susceptible to developing AFib, and those that do, have an increased risk of death, especially for those that developed AFib more than 30 days afterward. A heart attack is the result of the coronary artery, which is the artery that supplies blood to the heart, becoming blocked, whereas AFib is an irregular heart rhythm caused by abnormal electrical signals. When the blocked artery causing a heart attack is the same artery that provides blood to the atria, the loss of blood flow to the atria could cause damage to its tissues, which could lead to AFib.
3. Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is a cardiovascular disease, while atrial fibrillation is a form of cardiac arrhythmia. However, they have common risk factors, and inflammation is a factor in both diseases. Risk factors for both include hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and older age. People with atrial fibrillation are more likely to have coronary artery disease, and the percentage of patients with both ranges from 18 to 47%.
The prevalence of AFib in patients with coronary artery disease is very low, below 5%. AFib is common after cardiac surgeries and also for about 20 to 40% of patients after undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Overall, for patients that have this disease simultaneously with atrial fibrillation, their prognosis will be worse, with an increased risk of complications.
4. Abnormal Heart Valves
Valve disease is one of the most common causes of atrial fibrillation. There are two main types of the disease, regurgitation and stenosis. Regurgitation puts a strain on the heart muscle because it has to work harder than normal, and it may become swollen. This is a major risk factor for developing AFib. The other type of valve disease also creates conditions where AFib can occur. Mitral valve stenosis brings about a blockage of blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. This in turn causes an increase in pressure in the left atrium, leading to enlargement of the heart muscle, which is when atrial fibrillation can occur.
5. Heart Defects
Heart defects or damage to the heart muscle are the most frequent cause of atrial fibrillation. Some of the known causes of congenital heart defect are genes, other birth defects, maternal illness, medication and drugs, alcohol, maternal health, and maternal age. Five common heart defects are ventricular septal defect, transposition of the great vessels, coarctation of aorta, tetralogy of fallot, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
Some other possible causes of AFib related to heart defects or damage include elevated blood pressure, heart attacks, coronary artery disease, and abnormal heart valves. However, some people with AFib don’t have any heart defects or damage, and the cause in these cases are often uncertain. This condition is called lone atrial fibrillation, and patients suffering from this type rarely have any serious complications.
6. Overactive Thyroid Gland
Hyperthyroidism is not a common cause of atrial fibrillation, but it is one of the underlying causes, and as such should be ruled out by your physician. An overactive thyroid puts extra strain on the heart, by increasing the heart rate and cardiac production. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart condition for people with an overactive thyroid. The extra amount of unnecessary hormone produced by hyperthyroidism is an impediment to the heart’s natural electric impulses, and it causes arrhythmia. Other effects of an overactive thyroid gland include fatigue, increased appetite, and hand tremors. Treating thyroid abnormalities will in turn make atrial fibrillation easier to manage.
7. Exposure to Stimulants
A variety of stimulants are known to increase the risk of AFib or trigger an episode. These include certain medications, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol. Research and studies have shown that moderate to high alcohol intake can increase the risk of triggering symptoms of AFib, even a few beers or cocktails, particularly for patients aged 55 or older. Caffeine is acceptable in normal amounts for most people with Afib. Caffeine can be found in many foods and drinks other than coffee, tea and soda.
Although its been found that caffeine can be dangerous in very high doses and in very unusual circumstances. The combination of alcohol and caffeine can cause dehydration, and this extreme change in bodily fluids can affect your normal bodily functions and bring on an AFib episode. Other stimulants that affect heart rate are some over-the-counter medications, especially those containing pseudoephedrine. This stimulant may cause an AFib event and should be used with caution and medical advice.
