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What is Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?
AF is a heart condition that makes your heart beat out of rhythm and this can sometimes be fast.1
Some people with AF do not experience any symptoms, although a fast heartbeat may be felt (some people describe these as ‘palpitations’). Other possible symptoms include:1,2
AF can also be described as ‘persistent’, when episodes last seven days or more, ‘paroxysmal’ which spontaneously terminates within 7 days, usually within 48 hours, or ‘permanent’, when the heart rhythm disturbance is continuous and long term.3,4
The heart is made up of four chambers - the left and right atria (two upper chambers), and the left and right ventricles (two lower chambers).5
AF occurs when chaotic electrical activity develops in the atria, disturbing your heart’s natural rhythm. As a result, the atria don’t contract properly, which means your heart cannot pump blood as efficiently as usual.5
What is Atrial Fibrillation (AF)?
AF is a heart condition that makes your heart beat out of rhythm and this can sometimes be fast.
Some people with AF do not experience any symptoms, although a fast heartbeat may be felt (some people describe these as ‘palpitations’). Other possible symptoms include:
AF can also be described as ‘persistent’, when episodes last seven days or more, ‘paroxysmal’ which spontaneously terminates within 7 days, usually within 48 hours, or ‘permanent’, when the heart rhythm disturbance is continuous.
The heart is made up of four chambers - the left and right atria (two upper chambers), and the left and right ventricles (two lower chambers).
AF occurs when chaotic electrical activity develops in the atria, disturbing your heart’s natural rhythm. As a result, the atria don’t contract properly, which means your heart cannot pump blood as efficiently as usual
What causes AF?
The exact cause of AF is not fully understood, but the risk increases as you get older and it is more common in people with other heart conditions such as:6-8
Are there complications associated with AF?
The main risk associated with AF is stroke.9 As blood is not being properly pumped away from the heart, it may collect or ‘pool’ and a clot could develop in the heart. If the clot leaves the heart and enters the small blood vessels of the brain, the flow of blood may block and result in a stroke.5,10
People with AF are more likely to have a stroke compared with people who do not have AF.11
If your atrial fibrillation is not well controlled, it may start to weaken your heart. Eventually, it can lead to heart failure where your heart cannot pump blood around your body efficiently.12
WHAT IS A STROKE?Are there complications associated with AF?
The main risk associated with AF is stroke. As blood is not being properly pumped away from the heart, it may collect or ‘pool’ and a clot could develop in the heart. If the clot leaves the heart and enters the small blood vessels of the brain, the flow of blood may block and result in a stroke.
People with AF are more likely to have a stroke compared with people who do not have AF.
If your atrial fibrillation is not well controlled, it may start to weaken your heart. In extreme cases, it can lead to heart failure where your heart cannot pump blood around your body efficiently.
WHAT IS A STROKE?References: 1. National Health Service (UK). Overview (Atrial fibrillation). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial-fibrillation/#:~:text=Atrial%20fibrillation%20is%20a%20heart,in%20your%20wrist%20or%20neck. Accessed on April 2022. 2. National Health Service (UK). Symptoms (Atrial fibrillation). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial-fibrillation/symptoms/. Accessed on April 2022. 3. MedicalNewsToday. What are the types of atrial fibrillation? Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323618. Accessed on April 2022. 4. Ogawa H, et al. Stroke 2018;49:2301-2308. 5. John Hopkins Medicine. Atrial Fibrillation. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/atrial-fibrillation. Accessed on April 2022. 6. National Health Service (UK). Causes (Atrial fibrillation). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial-fibrillation/causes/. Accessed on April 2022. 7. Helgadottir S, et al. J Cardiothorac Surg 2012;7:87. 8. MayoClinic. Atrial fibrillation. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atrial-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-20350624. Accessed on April 2022. 9. Oladiran O, et al. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect 2019;9(2):113-120. 10. John Hopkins Medicine. Atrial Fibrillation: Prevention, Treatment and Research. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/atrial-fibrillation-prevention-treatment-and-research. Accessed on April 2022. 11. WebMD. AFib and Stroke. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/atrial-fibrillation-afib-stroke. Accessed on April 2022. 12. Heart Foundation. What is atrial fibrillation? Available at: https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/conditions/atrial-fibrillation. Accessed on April 2022.
Reference Information
This section contains reference information only, is general in nature and intended to provide a general overview of atrial fibrillation for the general public in the in Malaysia. It is not intended to replace in any way the opinion of a healthcare professional. For specific information about this pathology and/or detection, diagnosis, prognosis, administration and, where applicable, appropriate treatment for each specific case, please promptly consult a healthcare professional. The use of this website is subject to the legal notice, the privacy and cookie policy, and the applicable laws and regulations.
