Atrial fibrillation is associated with many cardiac conditions, including cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, ventricular hypertrophy and other associated conditions. Atrial fibrillation has been associated with hyperthyroidism, acute alcohol intoxication, changes in the autonomic nervous system and is common after cardiac surgery. The most common condition associated with atrial fibrillation is high blood pressure. Some people have atrial fibrillation with no obvious source or associated condition.

Some people have no symptoms and don’t know they have Afib until it’s discovered during a medical exam. For those who have Afib, they might experience signs and symptoms such as:

• Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flip-flopping in your chest
• Weakness
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain

There are four different types of Afib, according to the Heart Rhythm Society

• Paroxysmal: Recurrent Afib (greater than two episodes) that ends within seven days.
• Persistent: Afib that is sustained more than seven days.
• Longstanding Persistent: Continuous Afib of more than one year duration.
• Permanent: Afib for which a decision has been made by the patient and the physician treating the Afib not to pursue restoration of sinus rhythm by any means.

The biggest risk of Afib is stroke. A patient with Afib is five times more likely to have a stroke compared with someone who doesn’t have Afib 

Medications: Physicians often prescribe medication to control heart rate and rhythm. It is also prescribed to prevent or treat current blood clots. Some common medications physicians might prescribe include:

• Beta blockers – these are used to slow the heart rate and widen vessels to increase blood flow
• Calcium channel blockers – these are also used to slow the heart rate and widen vessels to increase blood flow
• Digoxin – this medication slows the rate at which electrical currents are conducted from the atria to the ventricle
• Anticoagulants or Antiplatelets – these drugs are often given to patients to reduce the risk for blood clots or to treat an existing blood clot. 

Procedures: Physicians use a few different procedures to restore a normal heart rhythm.

• Cardioversion is a procedure that can restore a fast or irregular heartbeat to a normal rhythm. The procedure is performed in two ways: using an electrical procedure or using medicines.
• Catheter Ablation is sometimes used when medicines and cardioversions don’t work to restore the heart to a normal rhythm. For this procedure, a catheter is inserted through a vein in the leg or arm and maneuvered to reach inside the heart, where the catheter will be used to destroy the triggers where erratic Afib signals orignate.
• Surgical Ablation is a technique a heart surgeon will use with ablation devices to either burn or freeze cardiac tissue that carry erratic electrical signals that can cause Afib. Once the tissue is destroyed and no longer allows erratic signals to pass through, the heart often returns to normal rhythm.

Atrial fibrillation can progress, making you feel worn out and fatigued with daily activities that you used to be able to do without difficulty. For example, you might get winded walking up a flight of stairs or feel lightheaded doing basic housework. AFIb can lead to serious conditions, such as heart failure, stroke or a heart attack. So, if you’re experiencing similar symptoms, it’s time to reach out to your primary care doctor to undergo testing to confirm your condition. Your physician may want an electrocardiogram (EKG) or Holter monitor to test for AFib.