Atrial fibrillation or AFib is a type of heart rhythm abnormality. Early warning signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Treatment for atrial fibrillation includes medical procedures, surgery, and medication. Read more: Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Symptoms and Signs Article
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Heart Healthy Diet: 25 Foods You Should Eat
What foods are heart healthy? Learn what foods help protect your cardiovascular system from heart attack, coronary heart disease,...
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Atrial Fibrillation: Heart Symptoms, Diagnosis, & AFib Treatment
AFib symptoms like heart racing, fluttering, and irregular heart beat may be caused by heart disease, obesity, alcohol use,...
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Heart Disease: Causes of a Heart Attack
Heart disease prevention includes controlling risk factors like diet, exercise, and stress. Heart disease symptoms in women may...
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Heart Disease: Symptoms, Signs, and Causes
What is heart disease (coronary artery disease)? Learn about the causes of heart disease, arrhythmias and myopathy. Symptoms of...
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Am I Having a Heart Attack? Symptoms of Heart Disease
Heart attacks symptoms vary greatly for men and women, from anxiety and fatigue to nausea and sweating. Learn the warning signs...
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Heart Disease: How to Help Prevent an AFib Attack
These simple things can make a flare-up of atrial fibrillation less likely.
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High-Fiber Super Foods: Whole Grains, Fruits, & More
Learn about high-fiber foods. From fresh fruits to whole grains, these fiber-rich foods can lower cholesterol, prevent...
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Heart Disease: Alternative Treatments for AFib
Medication and surgery aren't the only things that can improve or prevent your AFib symptoms. Talk to your doctor about these...
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Food Swaps for Meals and Snacks for Heart Health in Pictures
Explore 10 food swaps for heart-wise dining. Learn what food to buy and how to cook in order to make a big difference for your...
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Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): Tips for Living with Atrial Fibrillation
Learn how to live easier with atrial fibrillation. What is AFib? Find out the symptoms and causes of this heart condition....
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Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
Learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments of the common heart abnormality known as atrial fibrillation (A-fib).
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Heart Disease Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
Take our Heart Disease Quiz to get answers and facts about high cholesterol, atherosclerosis prevention, and the causes,...
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Picture of Heart Detail
The heart is composed of specialized cardiac muscle, and it is four-chambered, with a right atrium and ventricle, and an...
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Picture of Heart
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QUESTION
Atrial fibrillation is a(n) ... See AnswerRelated Disease Conditions
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Heart Attack Symptoms and Early Warning Signs
Recognizing heart attack symptoms and signs can help save your life or that of someone you love. Some heart attack symptoms, including left arm pain and chest pain, are well known but other, more nonspecific symptoms may be associated with a heart attack. Nausea, vomiting, malaise, indigestion, sweating, shortness of breath, and fatigue may signal a heart attack. Heart attack symptoms and signs in women may differ from those in men.
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Blood Clots (in the Leg)
Blood clots can form in the heart, legs, arteries, veins, bladder, urinary tract, and uterus. Risk factors include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history. Symptoms and treatment depend on the location of the clot.
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Stroke
A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain caused by either a blood clot (ischemic) or bleeding (hemorrhagic). Symptoms of a stroke may include weakness, numbness, double vision or vision loss, confusion, vertigo, difficulty speaking, or understanding speech. A physical exam, imaging tests, neurological exam, and blood tests may be used to diagnose a stroke. Treatment may include administration of clot-busting drugs, supportive care, and in some instances, neurosurgery. The risk of stroke can be reduced by controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and stopping smoking.
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Chest Pain
Chest pain is a common complaint by a patient in the ER. Causes of chest pain include broken or bruised ribs, pleurisy, pneumothorax, shingles, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, angina, heart attack, costochondritis, pericarditis, aorta or aortic dissection, and reflux esophagitis. Diagnosis and treatment of chest pain depends upon the cause and clinical presentation of the patient's chest pain.
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How the Heart Works
The heart is a very important organ in the body. It is responsible for continuously pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body to sustain life. It is a fist-sized muscle that beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping a total of five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day.
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Fainting (Syncope)
Fainting, also referred to as blacking out, syncope, or temporary loss of consciousness has many causes. Often a person will have signs or symptoms prior to the fainting episode. Diagnosis and treatment depends upon the cause of the fainting or syncope episode.
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Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
A heart attack occurs when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. Learn about warning signs, causes, complications, risk factors, and treatment.
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Heart Disease
Heart disease (coronary artery disease) occurs when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the heart. Heart disease can lead to heart attack. Risk factors for heart disease include: Smoking High blood pressure High cholesterol Diabetes Family history Obesity Angina, shortness of breath, and sweating are just a few symptoms that may indicate a heart attack. Treatment of heart disease involves control of heart disease risk factors through lifestyle changes, medications, and/or stenting or bypass surgery. Heart disease can be prevented by controlling heart disease risk factors.
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14 Warning Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke FAST
Stroke is a serious medical condition. If you think you or someone you know is having a stroke call 911 immediately. There are two main types of strokes, hemorrhagic and ischemic (the most common type). A hemorrhagic stroke occurs due to a blood vessel rupture in the brain. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot becomes lodged in a blood vessel in the brain, which causes a loss of blood supply to the brain, possibly causing brain tissue death. FAST is an acronym that helps people identify stroke signs and symptoms so they can act fast and call 911. Face drooping, Arm weakness, and Speech difficulty are indicators that a person may be having a stroke and it is Time to seek emergency medical treatment. Additional signs and symptoms of stroke may include weakness, difficulty walking, blurred vision, dizziness, headache, confusion, difficulty speaking, and loss of sensation. Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the U.S. Early identification and treatment of stroke helps reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality.
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Arrhythmias (Heart Rhythm Disorders)
Heart rhythm disorders vary from minor palpitations, premature atrial contractions (PACs), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), sinus tachycardia, and sinus bradycardia, to abnormal heart rhythms such as tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular flutter, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, brachycardia, or heart blocks. Treatment is dependent upon the type of heart rhythm disorder.
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Atrial Flutter vs. Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation (AFib) are two types of a heart problem called atrial tachycardia. Both of these conditions involve the heart's electrical activity, but they are not the same disease. Both diseases are serious and need medical treatment. Common symptoms of these diseases are similar and include: Fatigue Blurry vision Lightheadedness Palpitations Feeling like you may faint Serious symptoms of both conditions are similar and include: Fainting Sweating Severe shortness of breath Chest pain Atrial flutter and AFib are heart conditions that require medical diagnosis (ECG) and treatment by a doctor or other medical health-care professional.
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Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Treatment Drugs
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a heart rhythm disorder that causes irregular and often rapid heartbeat. The medications to treat AFib include beta-blockers, blood thinners, and heart rhythm drugs. Atrial fibrillation drugs can cause serious side effects like seizures, vision changes, shortness of breath, fainting, other abnormal heart rhythms, excessive bleeding while coughing or vomiting, blood in the stool, and bleeding into the brain.
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Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
Atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) is an abnormality in the heart rhythm, which involves irregular and often rapid beating of the heart. Symptoms may include heart palpitations, dizziness, fainting, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Atrial fibrillation treatment may include medication or procedures like cardioversion or ablation to normalize the heart rate.
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Atrial Flutter: ECG, Symptoms, and Treatments
Atrial flutter is a problem with the atria of the heart. In atrial flutter the atria of the heart rapidly and repeatedly beat due to an anomaly in the electrical system of the heart. It is a type of arrhythmia and can be dangerous because complications can develop easily. Signs and symptoms of atrial flutter include near fainting, palpitations, mild shortness of breath, and fatigue. While the exact cause of atrial flutter is not clearly understood, it's most likely related to your health, what medical conditions you certainly have, poor diet, lack of exercise, and drinking too much alcohol. Atrial flutter is diagnosed by physical examination, medical history, and a sawtooth ECG wave pattern.
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Atrial Fibrillation vs. Ventricular Fibrillation (AFib vs VFib Symptoms, ECG Strips)
Atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) is an abnormality in the heart rhythm which involves irregular and often rapid beating of the heart. Symptoms may include heart palpitations, dizziness, fainting, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Atrial fibrillation treatment may include medication or procedures like cardioversion or ablation to normalize the heart rate. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) and ventricular fibrillation (VFib) are problems with the heart that cause abnormal heart rhythms. Causes of these heart conditions include, heart disease, drugs and medications, excessive alcohol consumption, high cholesterol, advancing age, a diet that contains high levels of animal meat (fat), high blood pressure, stress, stimulants like caffeine, nicotine. Ventricular fibrillation is the more serious of the conditions because if it isn't treated immediately the person will likely die. Symptoms of AFib are confusion, anxiety, fatigue, a fluttering in the chest, and the feeling that you may pass out or faint. Atrial fibrillation is treated with medications, cardioversion therapy, and surgery. If a person with ventricular fibrillation does not seek medical help immediately they will mostly likely suffer from sudden cardiac arrest or sudden death.
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Palpitations
Palpitations are uncomfortable sensations of the heart beating hard, rapidly, or irregularly. Some types of palpitations are benign, while others are more serious. Palpitations are diagnosed by taking the patient history and by performing an EKG or heart monitoring along with blood tests. An electrophysiology study may also be performed. Treatment of palpitations may include lifestyle changes, medication, ablation, or implantation of a pacemaker. The prognosis if palpitations depends on the underlying cause.
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Arrhythmia
An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. With an arrhythmia, the heartbeats may be irregular or too slow (bradycardia), to rapid (tachycardia), or too early. When a single heartbeat occurs earlier than normal, it is called a premature contraction.
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33 Causes of Chest Pain: Signs and Symptoms
Chest pain may be caused by many conditions. Learn when chest discomfort, pressure, and tightness is a medical emergency. Find out the most likely causes of left-sided chest pain and chest pain when breathing. Read about potential underlying causes of chest pain including muscle pain, coronary artery disease, coronary artery dissection, esophageal conditions, gallbladder problems, GERD, heart attack, lung problems, and more. Discover how chest pain in women differs from that in men.
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What are the Most Common Causes of Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by an irregular and fast heartbeat. The upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat chaotically, and can cause pooling and clotting of blood in the atria, instead of it emptying into the lower chamber (ventricles). AF can lead to stroke, heart failure, blood clots, and heart-related complications. Atrial fibrillation is classified into three types: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, persistent atrial fibrillation, and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.
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What Rate is Considered RVR?
RVR stands for a rapid ventricular response and it can be triggered by atrial fibrillation. A ventricular rate higher than 100 beats per minute is considered rapid ventricular response.
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Heart Attack Prevention
Heart disease and heart attacks can be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle with diet, exercise, and stress management. Symptoms of heart attack in men and women include chest discomfort and pain in the shoulder, neck, jaw, stomach, or back.
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Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease in women has somewhat different symptoms, risk factors, and treatment compared to heart disease in men. Many women and health professionals are not aware of the risk factors for heart disease in women and may delay diagnosis and treatment. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, tobacco use, overweight/obesity, stress, alcohol consumption, and depression influence heart disease risk in women. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes also increase women's risk of heart disease. Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), stress-ECG, endothelial testing, ankle-brachial index (ABI), echocardiogram, nuclear imaging, electron beam CT, and lab tests to assess blood lipids and biomarkers of inflammation are used to diagnose heart disease. Early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women saves lives. Heart disease can be prevented and reversed with lifestyle changes.
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Stress and Heart Disease
The connection between stress and heart disease is not clear. Stress itself may be a risk factor, or high levels of stress may make risk factors for heart disease worse. The warning signs of stress can be physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral. Reducing stressors in an individuals life not only can lead to a more productive life, but may also decrease the risk for heart disease and causes of heart disease.
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What Is the Most Common Cause of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib, AF)?
Atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF) refers to abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that causes quivering or irregular heartbeats. It is a serious medical condition that may further lead to stroke and heart failure. The heart is a muscular organ roughly the size of a closed fist. It has two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. The flow of blood into the heart, within the heart chambers, and from the heart is guarded by the four valves present in the heart.
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Smoking and Heart Disease
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease in women and men. Nicotine in cigarettes decrease oxygen to the heart, increases blood pressure, blood clots, and damages coronary arteries. Learn how to quit smoking today, to prolong your life.
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Is AFib With RVR Life Threatening?
Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response (RVR) is one of the most common types of arrhythmia. While AFib alone is not fatal, it's still a critical medical condition that must be treated appropriately.
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Stroke Prevention
Stroke is the third leading killer in the United States. Some of the warning signs of stroke include sudden confusion, trouble seeing with one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of balance, and more. Stroke prevention and reatable risk factors for stroke include lowering high blood pressure, quit smoking, heart disease, diabetes control and prevention.
Treatment & Diagnosis
Medications & Supplements
- Anticoagulants (Anticoagulant Drug Class)
- Beta Blocker Side Effects (Adverse Effects)
- Digoxin vs. metoprolol
- Coumadin vs. Plavix (Differences and Similarities)
- Eliquis (apixaban)
- rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
- Camzyos (mavacamten)
- Types of Atrial Fibrillation Medications
- Multaq (dronedarone)
- Sotylize (sotalol hydrochloride)
- Brevibloc (esmolol hydrochloride) Injection
- Side Effects of Pronestyl (procainamide)
- Digitek (digoxin)
Prevention & Wellness
- Heat Waves Tied to Climate Change Are Upping U.S. Heart Deaths
- Firefighters Face Higher Odds for Heart Trouble
- High-Tech Devices May Interfere With Your Implanted Defibrillator
- Newly Diagnosed With A-Fib? Here Are Your Options
- Knowing Your A-Fib Triggers Could Help You Avoid It: Study
- Your Morning Cup of Coffee Can Affect Your Heart's Rhythms
- People With Diabetes Less Likely to Spot Dangerous A-Fib: Study
- Heart Defibs in Schools Are Saving Staff Lives: Study
- 'Holiday Heart': When Drinking Triggers Dangerous A-fib
- Can You Exercise Your A-fib Away?
- Working Night Shifts Could Raise Odds for A-Fib
- Athletes Face Twice the Odds for A-Fib
- Surgical Snip Might Prevent Stroke in People With A-fib
- Could High-Dose Fish Oil Raise Odds for AFib?
- AHA News: Waist Size May Better Predict AFib Risk in Men
- Got A-Fib? It Could Increase COVID Risks
- Big Babies May Face Higher Lifelong A-Fib Risk
- A-Fib Treatment Reduces Patients' Dementia Risk
- Quit Smoking to Cut Risk of Death From A-Fib
- The Fitter Do Better After an A-Fib Treatment
- Intensive Blood Pressure Control Reduces A-Fib Risk: Study
- Necklace Spots A-Fib in Just Over 30 Seconds
- AHA News: More Intense Blood Pressure Control May Lower Irregular Heartbeat Risk
- Certain Cancers Linked to Higher A-Fib Risk, Study Finds
- Could Your E-Cig Disrupt Your Pacemaker?
- Living Healthier Can Help Shield You From A-fib: AHA
- What's the Best Blood Thinner If You Have A-Fib?
- One Way to Help Ease A-Fib: Give Up Drinking
- AHA News: Sisters Bound By Deadly Family Legacy – and By Lifesaving Transplants
- Obesity Might Weaken Some Drugs' Effectiveness Against AFib
- AHA News: Erectile Dysfunction May Up the Odds for Irregular Heartbeat
- Could Short People Have an Advantage When It Comes to A-Fib?
- Artificial Intelligence Uses ECGs to Predict A-Fib Risk
- Does Parents' Smoking Raise Future Heart Risks for Kids?
- AHA News: Study of Skiers Holds Surprises About A-Fib, Stroke and Intense Exercise
- AHA News: New Heart Saved Her - and It Came With the Name of Teen Who Gave It
- 'No Quick Fix' for A-Fib, But Cardiologist Says You Can Help Prevent It
- Former NFL Players Have Higher Odds for Dangerous A-Fib
- A-Fib Can Raise Dementia Risk, Even in Absence of Stroke
- Another Use for Beta Blockers? Curbing A-fib
- 'Zap' Ear Clip May Ease A-Fib
- Weight-Loss Surgery Boosts Success of Procedure to Fix A-Fib
- Should You Get Pills or Surgery for A-Fib?
- AHA News: Opioid Crisis Brings Concerns About Heart Dangers
- Low-Carb Diets Linked to Higher Odds for A-Fib
- Everyday 'Triggers' May Bring on A-Fib Episodes, Study Finds
- Breast Cancer May Bring Higher Odds for A-fib, Too
- Could Your Apple Watch Spot Dangerous A-Fib?
- Too Much Salt Might Help Spur A-Fib
- Botox May Help Prevent Post-Op A-Fib
- Health Tip: Risk Factors For AFib
- E-Alerts Dramatically Cut Heart Attack Rate for People Hospitalized With A-Fib
- Daylight Saving Time Tied to Rise in A-Fib Hospitalizations
- Opioid Use May Sometimes Trigger A-Fib
- A-Fib Tied to Higher Odds for Dementia
- Don't Overlook Heart Care After Cancer Diagnosis
- Study Finds Some Patients With A-Fib Have Hidden Brain Damage
- Smoking May Boost Irregular Heart Beat Risk
- Wearable, At-Home Patch Could Spot Your A-Fib Early
- Weight Loss May Reverse Course of Atrial Fibrillation
- Stressed Out at Work? Your A-Fib Risk May Rise
- Obesity Might Raise Your Risk for A-fib
- PTSD May Raise Odds for Irregular Heartbeat
- Eating Nuts Linked to Lower Odds of Having AFib
- Electric Cars Don't Jolt Implanted Heart Devices: Study
- Coffee Safe for Many With Abnormal Heart Rhythms: Review
- Depression Could Be a Risk Factor for A-Fib: Study
- Smartwatch App Might Help Detect A-Fib
- Blacks May Face Higher Stroke Risk From AFib
- Procedure Beats Drugs for A-Fib With Heart Failure
- With A-Fib, Urban Hospitals May Be a Better Bet
- Undiagnosed Heart Condition 'AFib' May Be Common, Study Suggests
- Early Care by Cardiologist May Lower Stroke Risk for A-Fib Patients
- Blood Thinners May Prevent Dementia in Atrial Fibrillation Patients
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