What Happens in AFib?
Atrial Fibrillation is condition where the natural beating of the heart is disrupted due to conflicting electrical signals. Areas in the atria send "extra" electrical waves, interfering with the S-A node’s ability to control the beating of the atria. This causes the atria quiver, or fibrillate, causing the heart to beat too fast. Ventricles have less time to fill with blood, so the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body as efficiently.

Also, because the atria and ventricles pump at a different rate, blood doesn't flow through the heart, sometime pooling in the atria. Some of this blood can clot and break loose, causing a stroke.

next> Causes & Symptoms