What is Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is one of a number of disorders commonly referred to as 'arrhythmias', where your heart does not beat normally. 

What Causes Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is caused by a disturbance of your heart's electrical system. The problem starts in the upper chambers of your heart (the atria) and causes these chambers to quiver (or 'fibrillate'), rather than beat normally. This can mean that your heart does not pump blood around your body as efficiently as it should.

Who Does Atrial Fibrillation Affect?

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common types of arrhythmia, affecting about 2% of the general population. It is particularly common in older people - approximately one in 10 people over the age of 75 have atrial fibrillation.

Why is it Important to Recognise and Treat Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation can cause:

• a 'fluttering' heartbeat
• an irregular pulse
• weakness 
• dizziness.

It also increases your risk of problems caused by blood clots, which can form within the atria when they aren't beating properly. Once a blood clot forms in the atria, all or part of it may then break away and travel through your blood stream until it blocks a small artery, potentially cutting off the blood supply to one of the vital organs in your body. If this happens in one of the blood vessels supplying your brain, it can cause a stroke.

Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation

Treatments for atrial fibrillation include:

• medicines or procedures to make your heart beat normally (cardioversion)
• long-term medicines to maintain a normal heartbeat, slow your heart rate and/or thin your blood
• surgical procedures, used in rare cases, to try to make your heart beat normally.

The best course of treatment will depend on the:

• severity of symptoms
• cause (if known)
• duration of the problem
• your risk of stroke and other problems caused by blood clots blocking blood supply to the vital organs in your body
• risks associated with each treatment option.

Resources

Atrial fibrillation - information sheet (2008) 
 Download

Contact Us

For more information or to find out about relevant support groups in Australia, call our Health Information Service on 1300 36 27 87 or email us.