Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is an irregular heart rhythm, where the heart beats too fast or too slow. In order to understand what Atrial Fibrillation is it is best to understand the hearts internal electrical system. The hearts internal electrical system controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. With each heartbeat an electrical signal spreads from the top of the heart to the bottom. As the signal travels, it causes the heart to contract and pump blood. Each electrical signal begins in a group of cells called the Sinus node or SA node. The SA node is located in the right atrium. In a healthy adult heart at rest, the SA node sends an electrical signal to begin a new heartbeat, 60-100 beats per minutes. The electrical signal then moves to the AV
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Fibrillate means to contract very fast and irregularly. In Atrial Fibrillation the heart’s electrical signals don’t begin in the SA node, but begin in another part of the atria or in the nearby pulmonary veins. The signals don’t travel normally, they may spread through the atria in a rapid disorganized way. This can cause the atria to fibrillate. Also during Atrial Fibrillation, blood pools in the atria and isn’t pumped completely into the hearts two lower chambers called the ventricles. As a result, the hearts upper and lower chambers don’t work together as they should. The atria and ventricles no longer beat in a coordinated way. This creates a fast and irregular heart rhythm. The heart rate during Atrial Fibrillation can range from 400-500 BPM. On an EKG the Atrial Fibrillation looks like small irregular complexes that are hard to interpret because the P waves can’t be identified. Some causes of AF are myocardial infarction, hypertension, mitral valve disease, heart failure, thyroid disorders, pulmonary emboli and alcohol
Fibrillate means to contract very fast and irregularly. In Atrial Fibrillation the heart’s electrical signals don’t begin in the SA node, but begin in another part of the atria or in the nearby pulmonary veins. The signals don’t travel normally, they may spread through the atria in a rapid disorganized way. This can cause the atria to fibrillate. Also during Atrial Fibrillation, blood pools in the atria and isn’t pumped completely into the hearts two lower chambers called the ventricles. As a result, the hearts upper and lower chambers don’t work together as they should. The atria and ventricles no longer beat in a coordinated way. This creates a fast and irregular heart rhythm. The heart rate during Atrial Fibrillation can range from 400-500 BPM. On an EKG the Atrial Fibrillation looks like small irregular complexes that are hard to interpret because the P waves can’t be identified. Some causes of AF are myocardial infarction, hypertension, mitral valve disease, heart failure, thyroid disorders, pulmonary emboli and alcohol