Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common abnormal heart rhythm that can be intermittent, persistent, or unnoticed. Recognizing what happens during AF and how it may feel is important because it can affect the heart’s pumping ability and increase the risk of serious complications.
The heart’s upper chambers, the atria, normally contract in a coordinated way to help fill the lower chambers. In AF, electrical activity in the atria becomes rapid and disorganized. The atria therefore beat irregularly rather than contracting in a coordinated pattern, and the ventricles usually respond with an irregular heartbeat.
All flashcards
What is atrial fibrillation?
A rapid, disorganized electrical rhythm in the atria that usually causes an irregular heartbeat in the ventricles.
What are palpitations?
A person’s perception of the heartbeat, often described as fast, fluttering, irregular, or as if beats are being skipped.
Why can AF cause shortness of breath?
A fast, inefficient rhythm can reduce the heart’s output or contribute to congestion in the lungs, making breathing difficult.
Can AF occur without symptoms?
Yes. AF may be silent and discovered incidentally on examination or ECG, or after a complication such as stroke.
What is the role of the AV node during AF?
It limits how many rapid atrial electrical impulses reach the ventricles, although the resulting ventricular rhythm can still be fast and irregular.
Quiz questions
Which ECG pattern is characteristic of atrial fibrillation?Answer: Absent distinct P waves with irregularly spaced R–R intervals.
Where do many electrical bursts that initiate atrial fibrillation arise?Answer: From muscle bundles extending into the pulmonary veins.
What is the main aim of rate control in atrial fibrillation?Answer: To slow the ventricular response without necessarily restoring sinus rhythm.
Where do most heart clots associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation form?Answer: In the left atrial appendage.
What does catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation typically target?Answer: Tissue responsible for abnormal electrical activity, often around the pulmonary veins.