Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a form of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, in which the atria (the two small upper chambers of the heart) quiver instead of beating effectively . It is one of the most common forms of cardiac arrhythmia, affecting 0.4% of the general population and 5 to 10% of persons over 65 years of age.
Read moreWhat is fibrillation caused by?
The basic cause of AFib is disorganized signals that make your heart’s two upper chambers (the atria) squeeze very fast and out of sync . They contract so quickly that the heart walls quiver, or fibrillate. Damage to your heart’s electrical system can cause AFib.
Read moreWhat to do if heart is fluttering?
Heart palpitations can cause a sensation of a pounding heart or a racing pulse.
Read moreWhat does a fluttering in the chest mean?
A fluttering sensation in your chest is a specific type of heart palpitation that may indicate an atrial flutter . This condition is the result of an arrhythmia that causes tachycardia, which is a fast heartbeat (more than 100 beats a minute).
Read moreWhat can be mistaken for heart flutters?
Diagnosing palpitations
Read moreHow do you know if your heart flutters?
You might feel heart palpitations in your throat or neck as well as your chest. They can occur when you’re active or at rest.
Read moreIs ventricular fibrillation worse than ventricular tachycardia?
Ventricular fibrillation is more serious than atrial fibrillation . Ventricular fibrillation frequently results in loss of consciousness and death, because ventricular arrhythmias are more likely to interrupt the pumping of blood, or undermine the heart’s ability to supply the body with oxygen-rich blood.
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