{"id":2354,"date":"2022-11-23T18:51:34","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T18:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/?page_id=2354"},"modified":"2025-03-21T16:53:57","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T16:53:57","slug":"atrial-fibrillation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/atrial-fibrillation\/","title":{"rendered":"Atrial fibrillation"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2354\" class=\"elementor elementor-2354\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-03895c1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"03895c1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c8b06e4\" data-id=\"c8b06e4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-810ccb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"810ccb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Arrhythmias<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73175005 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"73175005\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Atrial fibrillation<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0a7fb78\" data-id=\"0a7fb78\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a4529bd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a4529bd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b4e7f8c\" data-id=\"b4e7f8c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82848d2 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"82848d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-484850f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"484850f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What is atrial fibrillation?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7b8109fb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7b8109fb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5932d612\" data-id=\"5932d612\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efacf9c elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"efacf9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Heart contractions: Atrial fibrillation vs normal<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f8763f elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"0f8763f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe \n    width=\"400\" \n    height=\"554\"\n    data-static=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/stats\/b\/b4_01_004.gif\"\n    data-animated=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/anims\/b4_01\/b4_01_004.html\"\n    src=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/stats\/b\/b4_01_004.gif\"\n    frameborder=\"0\" \n    title=\"animation of a beating heart\">\n<\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4632323b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4632323b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Atrial fibrillation<\/strong>, or <strong>AFib<\/strong> as it is generally known, is the most common type of arrhythmia. It is estimated that, by the age of 80, more than 15% of Americans either have, or have had, <strong>AFib<\/strong>.<\/p><p>If you have <strong>AFib<\/strong>, the two upper chambers of your heart (the atria) contract very rapidly and irregularly, either all the time or sometimes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1d4670 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b1d4670\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A normal resting heart rate is 60 \u2013 100 beats per minute, but fibrillating atria can beat 300 times or more per minute. When they are fibrillating, the atria are quivering rather than squeezing, and they don\u2019t empty properly.<\/p><p>Most of the atrial impulses are blocked before they reach the ventricles, so the ventricles, which do the heart\u2019s real pumping work, don\u2019t beat as rapidly as the atria, but the resting heart rate of a person with AFib may still rise to 140 \u2013 200 beats per minute.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3e258153\" data-id=\"3e258153\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5c6976 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f5c6976\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Even though a pulse rate of 200 beats per minute sounds alarming, many people with AFib don\u2019t know that they have it, especially if their hearts are only fibrillating occasionally, not all the time.<\/p><p>Symptoms of <strong>AFib<\/strong>, when they do occur, include dizziness and weakness, and people also describe a feeling of having a racing, fluttering heart (palpitations).<\/p><p><strong>AFib<\/strong> can cause serious health problems if left untreated. It can damage your heart and lead to heart failure, especially <a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/left-heart-failure\/\">left heart failure<\/a>, and, importantly, it can raise your risk of having a stroke.<\/p><p>Stroke is a worry because the fast, shallow atrial contractions allow blood to pool in the atria instead of completely emptying into the ventricles. This pooled blood can then clot, and if a blood clot breaks off and travels to your brain it can cause a stroke.<\/p><p>If you want to learn more about a normal heartbeat and how your heart pumps take a look at our Your heart: The basics.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a06350 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0a06350\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61f9f56 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"61f9f56\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Blood clot forming in a fibrillating atrium<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0edfb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"b0edfb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe \n    width=\"400\" \n    height=\"400\"\n    data-static=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/stats\/b\/b4_01_002.gif\"\n    data-animated=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/anims\/b4_01\/b4_01_002.html\"\n    src=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/stats\/b\/b4_01_002.gif\"\n    frameborder=\"0\" \n    title=\"animation of a beating heart\">\n<\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-17634c2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"17634c2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b52fd00\" data-id=\"b52fd00\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ba5889 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7ba5889\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-576f820 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"576f820\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What causes atrial fibrillation?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e783de0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e783de0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-76d0e9a\" data-id=\"76d0e9a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0628f1 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b0628f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"whatmakesyourheartbeat\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The pumping mechanism of your heart is regulated by complex electrical signals.<\/p><p>These signals control your heart&#8217;s rate and rhythm, and are, in turn, controlled by\u00a0the heart\u2019s sinoatrial (SA) node, which is in the right atrium.<\/p><p>With each heartbeat, the SA node fires an electrical pulse that spreads down through the heart to the atrioventricular (AV) node. The AV node then passes the signal on to the ventricles and this causes your heart to beat in an organized way.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e81a2c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4e81a2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38a113a elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"38a113a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Electrical signals: Atrial fibrillation vs normal<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df63c57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"df63c57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe \n    width=\"400\" \n    height=\"554\"\n    data-static=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/stats\/b\/b4_01_001.gif\"\n    data-animated=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/anims\/b4_01\/b4_01_001.html\"\n    src=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/stats\/b\/b4_01_001.gif\"\n    frameborder=\"0\" \n    title=\"animation of a beating heart\">\n<\/iframe>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-06b0610\" data-id=\"06b0610\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5414ece elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5414ece\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In <strong>AFib<\/strong>, the SA node is no longer in full control and the electrical signals fire rapidly and chaotically \u2013 often more than 300 times per minute \u2013 from lots of different places in the atria.<\/p><p>The AV node blocks some of these signals, so the ventricles, which do the heart\u2019s real pumping work, will typically contract only 140 \u2013 200 times per minute, but the heart\u2019s upper and lower chambers can no longer coordinate properly and the result is a fast and very irregular heartbeat.<\/p><p>Usually, <strong>AFib<\/strong> is the result of some kind of heart damage or structural problem, which can have a wide range of causes, from heart failure to infections. Anything that enlarges or distorts the left atrium can result in <strong>AFib<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Common causes of <strong>AFib<\/strong> include:<\/p><ul><li>Heart failure, particularly <a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/left-heart-failure\/\">left heart failure<\/a><\/li><li>Inflammations like pericarditis<\/li><li>Serious left-sided heart valve disorders, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/mitral-valve-stenosis\/\">mitral valve stenosis<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/mitral-valve-regurgitation\/\">mitral valve regurgitation<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/aortic-valve-stenosis\/\">aortic valve stenosis<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/aortic-valve-regurgitation\/\">aortic valve regurgitation<\/a><\/li><li>Thyroid disease<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/hypertension\/\">Hypertension<\/a><\/li><li>Sleep apnea<\/li><li>Heart damage as a result of stress, stimulant drugs, acute alcohol intoxication, or normal aging<\/li><\/ul><p>If you want to learn more about how your heart works, take a look at our <a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/your-hearts-electrical-system\/\">Your heart&#8217;s electrical system<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-46311ff elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"46311ff\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e0f9e29\" data-id=\"e0f9e29\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54ac8be elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"54ac8be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0950977 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0950977\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c309642 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c309642\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-12ce814\" data-id=\"12ce814\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-896b83a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"896b83a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Some people with <strong>AFib<\/strong> have no symptoms and may not know that anything is wrong.<\/p><p>When symptoms do occur, they can vary from person to person, but they usually include palpitations, tiredness, and shortness of breath.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b86efd9\" data-id=\"b86efd9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dea4cc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dea4cc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Here\u2019s a list of common symptoms of <strong>AFib<\/strong>:<\/p><ul><li>A fluttering feeling in the chest (palpitations)<\/li><li>A racing and\/or irregular heartbeat<\/li><li>Shortness of breath<\/li><li>Dizziness<\/li><li>Chest discomfort<\/li><li>Extreme tiredness<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f2c09ab elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f2c09ab\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ebac9a1\" data-id=\"ebac9a1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1993c20 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1993c20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54183f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"54183f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>How is atrial fibrillation treated?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-04063a0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"04063a0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-52833aa\" data-id=\"52833aa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4e999f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a4e999f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment for your <strong>AFib<\/strong> depending on its severity and the potential impact on your health.<\/p><p>First, you will probably be prescribed medications that will slow and control your heart rate, such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, or a drug with anti-arrhythmic properties.<\/p><p>Then, if you are at risk of having a stroke (especially if you have other disorders that raise that risk), you will also be prescribed a blood-thinning medication to prevent clots.<\/p><p>If necessary, your doctor may recommend resetting your heart\u2019s rhythm using cardioversion, which involves delivering a small shock to your chest, or a catheter-based procedure called cardiac ablation, which involves deactivating the damaged tissue that is disrupting your heart\u2019s normal electrical signaling.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae5a754\" data-id=\"ae5a754\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e66acf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e66acf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Treatments for <strong>AFib<\/strong> include:<\/p><ul><li>Medications to control your heart rate<\/li><li>Blood-thinning medication to prevent clots and strokes<\/li><li>Cardioversion (a small shock to the chest that resets the heart\u2019s rhythm)<\/li><li>Medications that help to maintain your heart\u2019s normal rhythm<\/li><li>A catheter-based procedure called cardiac ablation (if medications and cardioversion don\u2019t help)<\/li><li>Avoiding stimulants like caffeine and decongestants<\/li><li>Maintaining a healthy lifestyle to help control blood pressure, body weight, and stress levels<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f7884b4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f7884b4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f7f2d4e\" data-id=\"f7f2d4e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7ad936 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"b7ad936\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cbe7e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5cbe7e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What are the aims of treatment?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-167480a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"167480a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2c59b33\" data-id=\"2c59b33\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7624009 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7624009\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The immediate aims of treatment for <strong>AFib<\/strong> are to reset the rhythm of your heart and slow and control your heart rate.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-db5a5b0\" data-id=\"db5a5b0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b3ce90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b3ce90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The ultimate aim is to prevent damage to your heart, which can lead to heart failure, and lower your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arrhythmias Atrial fibrillation What is atrial fibrillation? Heart contractions: Atrial fibrillation vs normal Atrial fibrillation, or AFib as it is generally known, is the most common type of arrhythmia. It is estimated that, by the age of 80, more than 15% of Americans either have, or have had, AFib. If you have AFib, the two [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2354","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2354"}],"version-history":[{"count":1366,"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2354\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17002,"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2354\/revisions\/17002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}