What is Atrial Fibrillation

Learning about Atrial Fibrillation Brochure
An educational brochure describing the causes and treatment options of Atrial Fibrillation.
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La fibrilación auricular
Un folleto educativo que describe las causas y las opciones de tratamiento de fibrilación auricular.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common of all cardiac arrhythmias, affecting an estimated 5.1 million Americans.2

The odds of developing atrial fibrillation increase with age, and AF is most common in people over 65. Atrial fibrillation is a serious condition because it increases the risk of stroke, can lead to heart disease, and it also impedes the vital circulation of oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.

Being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation can be an overwhelming experience. There are many health risks involved with AF. Understanding this condition can help reduce any concerns you have and may relieve some of the anxiety about your diagnosis.

Anatomy of Atrial Fibrillation

The heart is a muscle that works like a pump and runs on electrical impulses. In a healthy heart, the heart’s natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, produces electrical impulses that set the proper rhythm. These impulses cause the atria (upper chambers) to contract and pump blood into the ventricles (lower chambers) in a steady rhythm. The ventricles then contract and pump blood to the rest of the body.

When the heart is in atrial fibrillation, several sites in the atria send extra, abnormal electrical impulses that interfere with the SA node’s pacemaking role. This causes the atria to rapidly quiver (fibrillate) and beat irregularly instead of producing full beats, or contractions. The ventricles then have less time to fill with blood and are unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood to the body’s other organs.

When blood is not pumped with sufficient pressure by the atria, risk of atrial thrombosis (a stationary blood clot) and systemic atrial embolism (a clot in the blood stream) is dramatically increased.1 Patients with atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to suffer a stroke, and researchers estimate that 35% of patients with atrial fibrillation will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. 27, 28 Since atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia,1 early diagnosis and treatment can be beneficial in the prevention of a possible stroke.

Doctors continue to discover more about irregular heartbeats and cardiac arrhythmias through research and clinical trials. What they learn may offer new hope to you and your loved ones.

Take the time to educate yourself about all of the current treatment options. Write down any questions you have and then speak to your doctor about your options and concerns. Your doctor can then help you decide on the best treatment for you, based on the type of atrial fibrillation you have as well as your overall health and medical history.

If you are a patient or physician and are interested in learning more about clinical studies currently underway, please call our Clinical Trial Hotline at (800) 401-3506 or visit clinicaltrials.gov.