what are the dangers of afib?
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Although atrial fibrillation can feel weird and frightening, an “attack of AFib” usually doesn't have harmful consequences by itself. The real danger is the increased risk for stroke. Even when symptoms are not noticeable, AFib can increase a person's risks for stroke and related heart problems.
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Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are both types of SVT that are more common in older patients or patients with preexisting heart conditions. Atrial fibrillation can be more serious because, for some patients, it can lead to blood clots and increase stroke risk.
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Atrial fibrillation (also called AFib or AF) is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. At least 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib.
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The cause is not fully understood, but it tends to affect certain groups of people, such as those over 65. It may be triggered by certain situations, such as drinking too much alcohol or smoking. Atrial fibrillation can be defined in various ways, depending on the degree to which it affects you.
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Listen to your heartbeat: Your heartbeat will be very erratic with AFib, while with palpitations it'll beat fast but in a steady pattern and slowly return to normal.
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Heart disease: Some types of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, are risk factors for AFib, which is a type of arrhythmia. Scarring or abnormal tissue deposits can also cause bradycardia (slow heart rate) or tachycardia (rapid heart rate) by interfering with the heart's electrical system.
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Abnormalities or damage to the heart's structure are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation. Possible causes of atrial fibrillation include: High blood pressure. Heart attack.
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For most people, atrial fibrillation is symptomatic and there will be warning signs that something isn't right. The first sign of atrial fibrillation can be a missed or skipped beat, followed very quickly by a “thudding” or “flipping” feeling in the chest and a fast, racing heart rate.
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Some people who have atrial fibrillation have significant problems with their heart and with exercise, the heart rate can race tremendously during atrial fibrillation, thereby exacerbating the underlying heart condition and may lead to problems such as very low blood pressure, heart failure or a loss of consciousness.
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Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a type of heart disorder marked by an irregular or rapid heartbeat. Persistent AFib is one of three main types of the condition. In persistent AFib, your symptoms last longer than seven days, and your heart's rhythm isn't able to regulate itself anymore.
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Definition. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart rhythm disorder caused by degeneration of the electrical impulses in the upper cardiac chambers (atria) resulting in a change from an organized heart rhythm to a rapid, chaotic rhythm.
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Articles OnTypes of Atrial Fibrillation You may have heard of two types of AFib: valvular and nonvalvular. Valvular AFib affects people who have mitral valve disease or an artificial valve. Nonvalvular AFib is caused by other things, such as high blood pressure or an overactive thyroid gland.
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Atrial fibrillation happens when electrical impulses fire off from different places in the top chambers of the heart (the atria) in a disorganised way. These irregular impulses cause the atria to quiver or twitch, which is known as fibrillation. This causes as an irregular, and sometimes fast, heartbeat or pulse.
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A racing heart Most types of SVT aren't dangerous on their own. One type of SVT, atrial fibrillation, can be dangerous because it can lead to blood clots, which increase stroke risk. Vagal maneuvers like splashing your face with cold water or coughing can slow down a rapid heartbeat.
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Some research suggests that having as little as one to three alcoholic drinks each day may increase your risk for atrial fibrillation (Afib). The most common abnormal heart rhythm, Afib causes symptoms including lack of energy, dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and chest pain.
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Episodes of atrial fibrillation may come and go, or you may develop atrial fibrillation that doesn't go away and may require treatment. Although atrial fibrillation itself usually isn't life-threatening, it is a serious medical condition that sometimes requires emergency treatment.
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AFib makes the ventricles beat faster to push blood out of the heart. Beating too fast for a long time can make the heart muscle too weak to pump enough blood to your body. This is called cardiomyopathy.