由 home-healthhaven 
### Understanding Atrial Fibrillation and Its Effects
#### What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the heart’s upper chambers, or atria, beat irregularly and too quickly. This happens because the electrical signals controlling the heart become chaotic and uncoordinated. As a result, the atria and the lower chambers (ventricles) fall out of sync, resulting in a rapid and irregular heartbeat. Normally, a healthy heart beats between 60 to 100 times per minute, but with atrial fibrillation, it can spike to 100 to 175 beats per minute.
#### Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation
Common signs that you might have atrial fibrillation include:
– Dizziness
– Fatigue
– A sensation of thumping or fluttering in the chest
– Shortness of breath
– Sweating
– Chest pain
– Rapid heart rate
If you experience severe chest pain, especially if you are in Plano, treat it as an emergency and call 9-1-1 immediately. This could be an indication of a heart attack or severe atrial fibrillation.
#### How Does Atrial Fibrillation Occur?
Your heart has four chambers: two upper ones called atria and two lower ones called ventricles. The heart’s pacemaker is the sinus node, located in the right atrium. It generates an electrical signal that controls each heartbeat. This signal travels from the atria to the ventricles through the atrioventricular node, prompting the heart to contract and pump blood throughout the body.
In atrial fibrillation, these signals become erratic. The atria send chaotic impulses, overwhelming the atrioventricular node with unsynchronized signals, leading to rapid and irregular contractions of the heart.
#### Causes of Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation can result from various factors that damage the heart or cause structural abnormalities, such as:
– Heart attacks
– Respiratory illnesses
– Heart surgery
– Viral infections
– Sleep apnea
– High blood pressure
– Stress from illness or surgery
– Sick sinus syndrome
– Metabolic imbalances
– Congenital heart defects
Not all atrial fibrillation types are severe. For instance, lone atrial fibrillation is generally mild and rarely leads to serious complications, with unclear causes.
#### Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation
Certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation, such as:
– Aging
– Existing heart conditions
– High blood pressure
– Obesity
– Alcohol consumption
– Chronic illnesses
#### Preventative Measures
You can take steps to reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation and other heart conditions by leading a heart-healthy lifestyle. This includes:
– Staying physically active with regular exercise
– Eating a heart-healthy diet
– Limiting caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco use
– Being careful with over-the-counter medications
– Managing stress and avoiding extreme emotions
Maintaining these habits can help protect you against atrial fibrillation and promote overall heart health.