A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
Atrial Fibrillation
Also called: AF, AFib
An arrhythmia is a problem with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of arrhythmia. The cause is a disorder in the heart's electrical system.
Often, people who have AF may not even feel symptoms. But you may feel
- Palpitations -- an abnormal rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness or difficulty exercising
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or fainting
- Fatigue
- Confusion
AF can lead to an increased risk of stroke. In many patients, it can also cause chest pain, heart attack, or heart failure.
Doctors diagnose AF using family and medical history, a physical exam, and a test called an electrocardiogram (EKG), which looks at the electrical waves your heart makes. Treatments include medicines and procedures to restore normal rhythm.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Atrial Fibrillation is theNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Languages
- Arabic (العربية)
- Bosnian (Bosanski)
- Chinese - Simplified (简体中文)
- Chinese - Traditional (繁體中文)
- French (français)
- Hindi (हिन्दी)
- Japanese (日本語)
- Korean (한국어)
- Portuguese (português)
- Russian (Русский)
- Somali (af Soomaali)
- Spanish (español)
- Tagalog (Tagalog)
- Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
NIH MedlinePlus Magazine
- MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See ourdisclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.
Start Here
- Atrial Fibrillation(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Atrial Fibrillation(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
Overviews
- Atrial Fibrillation(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Atrial Fibrillation (AF or AFib)(American Heart Association)
- Also available in Spanish
- Patient's Guide to Living with Atrial Fibrillation(American Heart Association)
- What Is Atrial Fibrillation?(American Heart Association) - PDF
Latest News
- FDA Approves Anti-Clotting Drug Savaysa(01/08/2015, Food and Drug Administration)
- Exercise, Diet May Be Key to Beating a Common Irregular Heartbeat(12/12/2014, HealthDay)
- Hard Hit to Chest Triggered Irregular Heartbeat in Teen Football Player(12/08/2014, HealthDay)
- Contact Sports and Atrial Fibrillation(12/08/2014, HealthDay)
- Treating Irregular Heartbeat with Digoxin May Come with Risks(11/21/2014, HealthDay)
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Electrocardiogram(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Holter and Event Monitors(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- How Is Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosed?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Recognizing an Irregular Heart Rhythm(American Osteopathic Association)
- Stress Testing(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Transesophageal Echocardiography(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Treatment
- Antiarrhythmics(Texas Heart Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Atrial Fibrillation Medications(American Heart Association)
- Atrial Fibrillation Surgery - Maze Procedure(Society of Thoracic Surgeons)
- Beta-Blockers(Consumers Union of U.S.) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Calcium Channel Blockers(Consumers Union of U.S.) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
- Cardioversion(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Catheter Ablation(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- How Is Atrial Fibrillation Treated?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Maze Surgery(Texas Heart Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Patient's Guide to Antithrombotic Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation(American College of Chest Physicians) - PDF
- Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Guide for Adults(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- Also available in Spanish
- Treatment Guidelines of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib or AF)(American Heart Association) -PDF
- Return to top
Prevention/Screening
- Can Atrial Fibrillation Be Prevented?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Pulse Check: The Importance of Self-Screening for Atrial Fibrillation Twice a Year(Women's Heart Foundation)
- Who Is at Risk for Atrial Fibrillation?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Return to top
Disease Management
- Living with Atrial Fibrillation(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Return to top
Specific Conditions
- Tachycardia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Return to top
Related Issues
- Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Device Interventions for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation(American Heart Association)
- High Blood Pressure, Afib and Your Risk of Stroke(American Heart Association)
- Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation(American Heart Association)
- Substances and Heart Rhythm Disorders(Heart Rhythm Society)
- Who Is at Risk for Atrial Fibrillation (AF or AFib)?(American Heart Association)
- Why Atrial Fibrillation (AF or AFib) Matters(American Heart Association)
- Return to top
Tutorials
- Atrial Fibrillation(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
Videos
- Advanced Treatment for Chronic Atrial Fibrillation(OR-Live) - Montefiore Einstein Heart Center, New York, NY, 4/01/2009
- Heartbeat - Encyclopedia
- Also available in Spanish
- If I Had - Atrial Fibrillation(Insidermedicine)
- Paracardioscopic Ex-Maze(OR-Live) - FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst, NC, 07/09/2008
- Total Thoracoscopic Maze(OR-Live) - Pinnacle Health, Harrisburg, PA, 7/21/2010
- Return to top
Anatomy/Physiology
- How the Heart Works(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Return to top
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Atrial Fibrillation(National Institutes of Health)
- Return to top
Genetics
- Genetics Home Reference: Familial atrial fibrillation(National Library of Medicine)
- Return to top
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)- Article: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation and venous...
- Article: Development of apixaban: a novel anticoagulant for prevention of stroke...
- Article: Association between atrial fibrillation and silent cerebral infarctions: a systematic...
- Atrial Fibrillation -- see more articles
- Return to top
Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Cardiovascular Glossary(Texas Heart Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Glossary of Terms(Heart Rhythm Society)
- Heart and Stroke Encyclopedia(American Heart Association)
- Return to top
Organizations
Children
- Atrial Fibrillation in Children(American Heart Association)
- Return to top
Patient Handouts
- Atrial fibrillation - discharge
- Also available in Spanish
- Atrial fibrillation/flutter
- Also available in Spanish
- Cardiac ablation procedures
- Also available in Spanish
- Electrocardiogram
- Also available in Spanish
- Holter monitor (24h)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario