Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heartbeat becomes irregular and also quite rapid. This may not only increase the risk of getting a stroke but also cause a lot of other complications associated with your heart.

When this condition occurs, the two upper chambers inside the heart, known as atria, beat quite chaotically and not in a regular manner. Since their movement is not in coordination with the lower chambers, known as ventricles, the irregularity causes an episode of atrial fibrillation.

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation
Some of the people suffering from atrial fibrillation do not observe any symptoms affecting them. The patient may need to undergo a physical examination to get this condition diagnosed. However, the common symptoms experienced in this condition include the following:

• You may experience palpitations, which mainly mean racing of heartbeat and uncomfortable sensations. There is a flip-flopping in your chest accompanied by an irregularity in the heartbeat.
• Dizziness and weakness may also be present as a symptom of atrial fibrillation.
• Fatigue and lightheadedness may occur along with a reduced ability to exercise as before since the stamina gets challenged in any condition related to the heart.
• Shortness of breath and chest pain are quite common too.
• You may also experience bouts of confusion.

However, the symptoms are heavily dependent on the type of atrial fibrillation that you may be suffering from, and these types are as follows:

• Persistent
• Occasional
• Permanent
• Long-standing persistent

Causes of atrial fibrillation
The abnormalities in the structure of the heart or any sort of damage caused to the heart directly are touted as the most common reasons for getting atrial fibrillation. However, there are many other possible causes for this condition, which may include the following:

• People suffering from high blood pressure are at a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• Patients who have suffered through a heart attack may develop this condition.
• Atrial fibrillation may be caused due to the presence of coronary artery disease in the body.
• Having abnormal heart valves may cause a person to get atrial fibrillation.
• Patients who are born with congenital heart defects may suffer through atrial fibrillation.
• People who have an overactive thyroid gland or have any other issues of metabolic imbalance may be affected by this condition.
• Consuming stimulants such as tobacco or caffeine may put you at a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• If you have a sick sinus syndrome, which is basically the abnormal working of the natural pacemaker in the heart, it may make you prone to getting atrial fibrillation.
• Lung diseases affect the heart too. Hence, atrial fibrillation may be caused by the presence of lung diseases as well.
• Patients who have undergone previous heart surgery are also at a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
• Major viral infections may end up resulting in the patient getting atrial fibrillation.
• Any stress caused to the heart due to surgery may be a probable cause of atrial fibrillation.
• Patients suffering through sleep apnea may get this problem too.