Key takeaways:
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common heart rhythm problem that’s more likely to happen as people get older. It causes an abnormal — and sometimes fast — heartbeat.
It’s not always clear what causes AFib, and there are many risk factors. Common ones include family history, smoking, alcohol use, and other medical problems like high blood pressure and diabetes.
If you have AFib, you can prevent it from getting worse by avoiding common triggers and following a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a type of abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). In fact, it’s the most common type of treated abnormal heart rhythm in the United States. Up to 6 million people in the U.S. have it.
AFib happens when the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) beat fast and irregularly. This causes blood to move less effectively through the heart. Over time, this can damage the heart muscle and increase the risk of blood clots. The good news is that AFib is treatable.
Here we’ll review the causes and triggers of AFib — and what you can do to prevent it from getting worse.
What causes atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is caused by changes in the heart’s electrical system or by damage to the heart tissue. The heart is powered by an electrical impulse that starts at the sinoatrial (sinus) node. The sinoatrial node is a group of specialized cells that can generate electrical signals. It sits in between the top chambers of the heart (atria). The two atria of the heart contract in response to the electrical signal made by the sinoatrial node.
This electrical signal then travels from the sinoatrial node to the atrioventricular node and then along other nerves to the rest of the heart. As the electrical signal travels through the heart, the rest of the heart muscle contracts (beats) in a coordinated motion. This allows the heart to pump blood to the body.
AFib develops when the sinoatrial node isn’t able to generate a normal electrical impulse. This causes the atria of the heart to contract (beat) irregularly. The sinoatrial node usually stops working well because of other conditions that affect the heart.
Some people are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation than others, especially if they have one of these conditions.
Risk factors for atrial fibrillation
Here are some things that can put people at risk for developing atrial fibrillation:
Older age
Family history of atrial fibrillation
European ancestry
Obesity
Smoking
Alcohol use
Stress
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
Other long-term medical conditions can also increase someone’s risk, including:
Other types of heart disease, such as congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, or a heart valve problem
Cardiomyopathy
Pericarditis
Overactive thyroid gland
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Sick sinus syndrome
What triggers atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is different for everyone. It can vary in type, severity, and symptoms (sometimes there are none). That said, there are certain triggers for AFib that can make episodes more likely to happen. Knowing these triggers can help you understand your AFib and decrease future episodes.
Sometimes other medical conditions or procedures can trigger AFib, like:
Surgery
Infection
Thyroid disease
Any illness that affects the heart or lungs
Other triggers include:
Use of tobacco or other stimulants like caffeine
Emotional stress
Excessive exercise
Dehydration
Poor sleep
Triggers may not be the same for everyone, and not everyone with AFib can identify triggers. But being aware of possible triggers and learning how your body responds can help you prevent episodes of AFib.
Paroxysmal vs. persistent atrial fibrillation
For some people, their heart always beats in the abnormal AFib rhythm. This is called persistent atrial fibrillation. For other people, AFib can come and go. In other words, their heart switches back and forth between a normal rhythm and AFib. This is called paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Not everyone with paroxysmal AFib has the same frequency and length of AFib episodes. They may last for a few days or many months. There are different types of AFib based on how long the episodes last. AFib can also change over time. Episodes often become longer and more frequent the longer someone has AFib.
The heart can switch into an AFib rhythm on its own or because something triggered it. And some people don’t even realize when it happens because it doesn’t always cause symptoms. Similarly, the heart can switch back into a normal rhythm on its own, but other times treatment is necessary.
How serious is atrial fibrillation?
AFib is very treatable and manageable, but it should be taken seriously. This is because AFib can lead to serious health problems. Here are the most important ones to know about:
Stroke: When a heart is in AFib, the blood doesn’t run as smoothly through the different heart chambers. This increases the risk of a blood clot forming in the heart. These clots can move to other parts of the body, like the brain, and cause a stroke. To prevent this, people with AFib often get a prescription for a blood thinner (anticoagulant medication).
Heart failure: This is when the heart doesn’t pump as well, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and swelling. AFib can increase the risk of heart failure because it puts stress on the heart. This is particularly true when someone has AFib with rapid ventricular response (RVR) — a type of AFib where the heart beats too fast. Beta blockers and other similar medications can help treat AFib with RVR to slow down the heart rate and prevent heart failure.
Heart attacks: If a blood clot forms inside the heart, it can travel to the heart’s blood vessels (the coronary arteries), causing a heart attack. This blocks blood flow to the heart and damages the heart muscle. Like stroke prevention, prescription blood thinners help prevent these clots from forming.
If you have AFib, it’s helpful to be aware of these complications — but don’t be alarmed. The right treatment can prevent more serious problems from happening.
What can you do to prevent atrial fibrillation from getting worse?
If you have AFib, here’s the good news: There’s a lot you can do to prevent it from getting worse. A healthy lifestyle is part of treating and preventing AFib and its complications. A healthy lifestyle means:
Limiting how much alcohol you drink
Treating high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, and sleep apnea
Maintaining a healthy weight
Getting regular physical activity
Following a heart-healthy diet
These things are in addition to taking your daily medications and following up with your healthcare team as recommended.
What should you do if you’re experiencing atrial fibrillation?
If you’re experiencing AFib, talk with your healthcare provider. AFib can vary in severity, and some complications (like AFib with RVR) need treatment in a hospital. But, over the long term, AFib can be managed in an outpatient clinic.
General practitioners often treat AFib, but more complex cases may need the expertise of a cardiologist. Electrophysiologists are specialized cardiologists who treat abnormal heart rhythms like AFib.
The bottom line
Atrial fibrillation is a common and treatable abnormal heart rhythm. If you have AFib, there’s a lot you can do to prevent it from getting worse, like following a healthy lifestyle and avoiding common triggers. Working with your healthcare provider and sticking to your treatment plan is also important in managing AFib and preventing complications.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Heart Association. (2018). How the healthy heart works.
American Heart Association. (2022). What is arrhythmia?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Atrial fibrillation.
Chung, M. K., et al. (2020). Lifestyle and risk factor modification for reduction of atrial fibrillation: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation.
January, C. T., et al. (2014). 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Circulation.
Kornej, J., et al. (2020). Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in the 21st century. Circulation Research.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2022). Atrial fibrillation - Causes and risk factors.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2022). Atrial fibrillation - Types.
