Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a disorder of heart rhythm (arrthymia) usually with rapid heart rate in which the upper heart chambers (atria) are stimulated to contract in a very disorganized and abnormal 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.
What Causes Atrial Fibrillation?
Hyperthyroidism, hypertension, and other diseases can cause arrhythmias, as can recent heavy alcohol use (binge drinking). Some cases of atrial fibrillation or flutter occur in the setting of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or soon after surgery on the heart.
Learn more about atrial fibrillation at the Heart Center at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has been performing cardiac surgery since the 1940s and helped pioneer open-heart surgery in North Carolina. Through the years, Medical Center cardiologists and heart surgeons have made major contributions in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.