Atrial Fibrillation & Cardiac Arrhythmias

Illustration showing Atrial Fibrillation & Cardiac Arrhythmias

What is atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmia?

When your heart has an abnormal rhythm, we call this an arrythmia. There are four different kinds of arrythmias – atrial fibrillation is one of them.

Atrial fibrillation starts in the upper chambers of your heart (the atria) and causes them to quiver (fibrillate), instead of beating normally. It can feel like your heart is racing, thumping or skipping beats.

What causes atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmia?

Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) are caused by problems in your heart’s electrical system. They are serious because they mean that your heart can’t pump blood around your body as efficiently as it should; and can lead to other serious health risks.

Atrial fibrillation can cause clots that block blood supply to your vital organs and lead to a stroke. Atrial fibrillation may also be a sign that you have coronary heart disease (blocked arteries).

The most common causes of atrial fibrillation are long-term high blood pressure or problems with your heart valves. It can also be caused when your thyroid is too active (which can be treated) or be triggered by some medicines or diseases (like pneumonia). Sometimes we don’t know why you develop the condition, but it’s important to get checked out if you experience any of the symptoms. 

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmia?

Atrial fibrillation can cause symptoms like:

  • a 'fluttering' heartbeat

  • an irregular pulse

  • weakness 

  • tiredness

  • dizziness

Sometimes these palpitations are more obvious when you are exercising, feeling stressed or after you drink caffeine. You might feel like this as a one-off, it might come and go or it could be a permanent feeling.

How do you diagnose atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmia?

There are several tests we can do to confirm atrial fibrillation. This includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) or echocardiogram. An ECG can record your heart’s electrical activity and help detect any issues; while an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) will show how effectively your heart is pumping blood. These tests are not invasive and are an important tool to help treat any issues.

How do you treat atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmia?

Treatments for atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmias depends on your symptoms, underlying cause and how long you’ve had the problem. Some options include:

  • Medication to help restore the heartbeat to normal for a period of time.

  • An implantable medical device to direct current cardioversion to reset the electric circuit of the heart.

  • A minimally invasive ablation procedure to correct the underlying disturbances in heart conduction system.

As with all heart conditions, managing risk factors for heart disease will help you avoid more heart problems. This includes risk factors you can control like:

  • Getting more exercise – 30 mins moderate exercise 5 days per week is recommended

  • Monitoring your blood pressure – track any changes using a home blood pressure monitor

  • Balancing your cholesterol – high cholesterol in your blood can lead to a heart attack or stroke

  • Staying smoke free – smoking is really bad for your heart, it’s best just to stop

  • Managing body weight – eat a balanced diet that matches your age, gender and activity level