The most common causes of atrial fibrillation are:

• Heart attack
• Congenital heart problems
• Lung disease
• Hypertension
• Anxiety
• Heart valve problems
• Previous heart surgery
• Pneumonia/viral infections
• Alcoholism/overuse of caffeine or tobacco.

Yes. Extreme stress may cause and aggravate existing atrial fibrillation. It is especially prevalent if you have health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart valve problems, anxiety, hyperthyroidism, or have undergone heart surgery in the recent past. It is advised to take proper care of your body to keep atrial fibrillation under control.

Symptoms of AFib show suddenly in episodes and tend to stay anywhere between a few minutes to hours. Some common symptoms that people with AFib experience include:

• Increased heartbeat
• Palpitations (pounding, fluttering of the chest)
• Lightheadedness
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Inability to breathe
• Fatigue
• Reduced ability to do vigorous activities
• Weakness
• Confusion

Some tests used to diagnose AFib are:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
• Electrodes are placed in the chest/arms to measure the heart’s activity
• Holter Monitor: a portable ECG device carried in the pocket to measure the heart’s activity
• Blood test: to study thyroid levels
• Echocardiogram
• Stress test: to measure the heart’s activity during exercise

There are various other ways to detect atrial fibrillation than ECG. Some common ways to diagnose AFib are:

• Holter Monitor to measure the activity of the heart
• Blood test to check thyroid
• Echocardiogram
• Stress test to measure the heart’s activity during exercise

The purpose of treating AFib is to keep the heart rate in control, prevent blood clots and reset the heart rhythm. Blood thinners are popularly used to prevent blood clots. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers are prescribed to slow the rate of one’s heartbeat. Medical procedures like cardioversion or catheter ablation reset the heart rhythm.

Beta-blockers are highly effective in treating Atrial Fibrillation. They help reduce blood pressure, make the heartbeat in a regular rhythm, and reduce the pressure of ventricular beating. It is, however, recommended that you consult a medical practitioner about your existing medical condition before starting on beta-blockers.

Atrial fibrillation may be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a nutritious diet that includes sufficient amounts of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and micronutrients. Avoid junk food, saturated fats, alcohol & smoking to improve heart health. Managing stress is also crucial for preventing AFib.

Catheter ablation surgery for atrial fibrillation typically takes 3-6 hours. The surgery helps ablate abnormal cells in the heart by inserting electrodes through catheters to help spot abnormal cells. The electrodes provide the source of abnormal rhythms; thereby, the area can be ablated precisely without any harm to healthy heart tissue.

Atrial fibrillation usually affects those above the age of 50. If you have diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart problems or lung diseases, a smoker, or a regular drinker, the risk factor for atrial fibrillation is high. So, watch for signs like dizziness, tiredness, breathing difficulties, palpitations, decreased energy levels, and anxiety.

Atrial fibrillation is a condition that cannot be cured altogether. However, symptoms and complications like stroke/heart failure can be kept under control with timely medical intervention. There are medicines to prevent blood clots and bring the heart rate down, and surgeries like cardioversion and catheter ablation to correct the heart rhythm.