Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have atrial fibrillation, and what’s the best treatment?
Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac arrhythmia.
It is characterized by rapid and chaotic electrical impulses in the atria,
and a rapid and irregular pulse. (Click here for a quick
and easy review of the cardiac electrical system.)
Atrial fibrillation can be associated with many kinds of underlying heart diseases, such as valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, or hypertensive cardiac disease. However, it is often not associated with any identifiable cardiac problems at all – in these cases, it appears to be an isolated “electrical” disorder of the heart.
Atrial fibrillation causes two general clinical problems: 1) The rapid, irregular heartbeat causes symptoms such as palpitations, weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath; and 2) The resultant ineffective pumping of the atria can cause blood clots to form, which can subsequently cause strokes (by “breaking” loose and traveling through the vascular system to the brain.)
The treatment of atrial fibrillation is often less than fully satisfactory. Treatment can be aimed at either restoring a normal heart rhythm, or allowing atrial fibrillation to persist while controlling the heart rate and adding anticoagulants (to prevent stroke). Both of these therapeutic approaches leave much to be desired, and consequently, much research is being done to develop more attractive and more effective therapies. It is likely that some of these newer approaches will be available within a few years.
Click here for a full discussion of atrial fibrillation – its causes, its evaluation, and its treatment.
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