A heart rhythm abnormality or atrial fibrillation occurs when there are issues with the heart’s electrical system. Typically, the heart’s electricity travels from the atria or the top chambers to the ventricles or the bottom chambers, ensuring regular contractions. However, in atrial fibrillation, there is haphazard electricity flow. Consequently, the heartbeats are rapid and irregular. It puts you at the risk of several heart-related complications, such as heart failure and stroke.

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation
At times, atrial fibrillation may not produce any symptoms; however, some people show the below-listed signs.

• Dizziness – You may feel light-headed or faint.
• Heart palpitations – result in racing sensations, sudden pounding, or fluttering in the heart.
• Discomfort in the chest – this produces pressure or pain in the chest.
• Fatigue – You may experience fatigue, weakness, and be overly tired without even doing anything. Further, your ability to perform any physical activity may also decline.
• Shortness of breath – this poses difficulty in breathing even when performing routine activities or at rest.

Causes of atrial fibrillation
Some risk factors that heighten the possibility of developing atrial fibrillation are as follows:

• Age – Atrial fibrillation is prevalent in older people.
• Pulmonary embolism – A blood clot in the lung can also heighten your risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• Hypertension – Extended high blood pressure strains the heart and increases your susceptibility to developing atrial fibrillation.
• Excessive alcohol consumption – People who indulge in heavy alcohol consumption are also at a greater risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• Heart diseases – People having underlying heart conditions, such as heart failure, a previous heart attack, heart valve disease, and coronary artery disease, have a higher chance of developing atrial fibrillation.
• Sleep apnea – People with severe sleep apnea have an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• Familial link – If your first relative has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, you, too, have a chance of developing it.
• Any other chronic disease – Long-term health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, and thyroid, add to your risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation
Unfortunately, some people may not know they have atrial fibrillation. Usually, an atrial fibrillation diagnosis happens during a physical examination when a doctor listens to your heart with a stethoscope. If atrial fibrillation is suspected, the doctor may recommend the below-listed tests:

• Blood tests
  These help rule out problems like thyroid. Further, blood tests also help detect substances in the blood responsible for atrial fibrillation.

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  It is a painless and quick test to measure the heart’s electrical activity. In ECG, electrodes or sticky patches are placed on your chest or arms and legs. The electrodes are connected to the computer, via wires, where you can see the results. In ECG, you can know when the heart is not beating at all or beating rapidly or slowly. It is one of the major tests for atrial fibrillation diagnosis.

• Holter monitor
  It is a small ECG device that works on a shoulder strap or belt; it can also be carried in the pocket to monitor everyday activities. Holter monitor will record the heart’s activities for 24 hours or more.

• Event recorder
  It works similar to a halter monitor but will record the activity only for a few minutes at certain times. You may have to wear it for about 30 days. So, anytime you experience atrial fibrillation symptoms, you will push the button, and the device will record any irregular heart rhythm.

• Stress test
  This is also known as exercise testing; it involves exercising on the treadmill or stationary bike to monitor the heart’s activity.

• Echocardiogram
  It is a non-invasive test that utilizes sound waves for creating pictures of the heart’s motion, structure, and size.

• Chest X-ray
  It helps the doctor check the lungs and the heart’s condition.

Treatment of atrial fibrillation
If you do not show any atrial fibrillation symptoms, if there are no other underlying heart conditions, or if there’s a natural recovery from atrial fibrillation, you may not need any treatment. However, if you need treatment, doctors will suggest the following treatment options:

Pharmaceutical substance
These help promote better heart function and normalize the heart rate. They also reduce stroke and heart attack complications and prevent blood clots. Some treatment substances are as follows:

1. Blood thinners to prevent clot development
2. Digitalis glycosides to improve heart contractions
3. Potassium or sodium channel blockers to better heart rhythm
4. Calcium channel blockers to reduce overall heart rate and relax arterial muscles
5. Beta-blockers to lower the heart rate

Procedures
When drugs do not improve the condition, the doctor may suggest additional procedures, such as the following:

1. Electrical cardioversion to reset the irregular rhythm to a regular one.
2. Pacemaker placement to help the heart beat regularly.
3. Surgical ablation to remove the heart tissue responsible for an irregular rhythm
4. Catheter ablation to kill the tissue causing the irregular rhythm

Whenever you note any atrial fibrillation symptoms, immediately make an appointment with the doctor. In case of chest pain, seek medical help, as it could indicate a heart attack.