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Atrial fibrillation/flutter
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| Atrial fibrillation/flutter |
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Definition:
Atrial fibrillation/flutter is a heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia). It usually involves a rapid heart rate, in which the upper heart chambers (atria) are stimulated to contract in a very disorganized and abnormal manner. Alternative Names:
Auricular fibrillation; A-fib
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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Arrhythmias are caused by a disruption of the normal functioning of the electrical conduction system of the heart. Normally, the atria and ventricles contract in a coordinated manner. In atrial fibrillation and flutter, the atria are stimulated to contract very quickly and differently from the normal activity originating from the sinoatrial node. This results in ineffective and uncoordinated contraction of the atria in atrial fibrillation, and in a peculiarly organized contraction pattern in atrial flutter.
The condition can be caused by impulses which are transmitted to the ventricles in an irregular fashion or by some impulses failing to be transmitted. This makes the ventricles beat irregularly, which leads to an irregular (and usually fast) pulse in atrial fibrillation. In atrial flutter, however, the ventricles may beat rapidly, but regularly. If the atrial fibrillation/flutter is part of a condition called sick sinus syndrome, the ventricles may beat more slowly than normal. Thus, during atrial fibrillation the ventricles, by beating too fast or too slow, may fail to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body.
Underlying causes of atrial fibrillation and flutter include dysfunction of the sinus node (the "natural pacemaker" of the heart) and a number of heart and lung disorders, including coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, mitral valve disorders, pericarditis, and others.
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