Atrial Fibrillation
Original Editors - Students from Bellarmine University's Pathophysiology of Complex Patient Problems project.
Top Contributors - Paul McDermott, James Moore, Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson, Adam Vallely Farrell, George Prudden, WikiSysop, Karen Wilson, Vidya Acharya and Elaine Lonnemann
Definition/Description[edit | edit source]
Atrial fibrillation (AF), is the most common type of arrhythmia During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm.
AF occurs when rapid disorganized electrical signals cause the heart's two upper chambers- the atria to fibrillate. “Fibrillate" means that the heart muscle is not making full contractions. Instead, the cardiac muscle in the atria is quivering at a rapid and irregular pace.
Due to the atrial fibrillations, blood pools in the atria as it is not completely pumped out of the atria into the two lower chambers known as the ventricles.
People who have AF may not feel symptoms. In some individuals AF can cause chest pain,(MORE SYMPTOMS FOR THE LAY PERSON HERE)*** heart failure, and can increase the risk of stroke.1
Atrial Fibrillations can occur independently or may be associated with underlying causes. It can manifest itself suddenly as in paroxysmal AF which terminates spontaneously or with intervention within 7 days of onset. AF not associated with an underlying cause is known as lone AF.
AF sustained longer than seven days is known as persistent AF. When it occurs continuously for longer than twelve months it is known as long-standing persistent AF.
The term permanent AF is used when the patient and clinician make a joint decision to stop further attempts to restore and/or maintain sinus rhythm. Acceptance of AF represents a therapeutic attitude on the part of the patient and clinician rather than an inherent pathophysiological attribute of AF. Acceptance of AF may change as symptoms, efficacy of therapeutic interventions, and patient and clinician preferences evolve
Nonvalvular AF is a term used to describe when there is the absence of rheumatic mitral stenosis, a mechanical or bioprosthetic heart valve, or mitral valve repair. 2
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