Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder in which disorganized electrical activity in the atria produces an irregular heartbeat, often with a rapid ventricular rate.

Pulmonary vein ectopy: Premature electrical impulses arising in pulmonary veins can initiate or sustain atrial fibrillation. Ectopic impulses near pulmonary vein openings commonly trigger the arrhythmia.
Direct-current cardioversion: A procedure that delivers a timed electrical shock to restore a coordinated heart rhythm. It can restore sinus rhythm during selected episodes of atrial fibrillation.
Atrial flutter: A supraventricular arrhythmia caused by a rapid, organized electrical circuit in the atria. Unlike fibrillation's disorganized activity, flutter usually produces a regular atrial circuit.
Palpitations: The subjective sensation of an unusually forceful, fast, fluttering, or irregular heartbeat. Irregular rapid beats are a common symptom, though some people notice none.
Atrial remodeling: Structural and electrical changes in atrial tissue alter its conduction and susceptibility to arrhythmias. Repeated fibrillation can change atrial tissue, making episodes more persistent.
Catheter ablation: A minimally invasive procedure that destroys or isolates small areas of tissue responsible for abnormal electrical signals. Pulmonary vein isolation is a common ablation approach for atrial fibrillation.
Supraventricular tachycardia: A group of abnormally fast heart rhythms that originate above the ventricles. Atrial fibrillation is one member of this broader group of arrhythmias.
Heart failure: A condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Sustained rapid rates can weaken the heart, while heart failure can also promote fibrillation.
Atrioventricular node: Specialized cardiac tissue that conducts electrical impulses from the atria to the ventricles while delaying transmission. It filters chaotic atrial impulses, shaping the ventricular rate during fibrillation.
Rate control: Treatment that limits how quickly cardiac impulses reach the ventricles without necessarily restoring normal rhythm. Rate control reduces symptoms while atrial fibrillation continues.

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