Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

Question 1

What is atrial fibrillation?

Answer 1

A heart condition that causes electrical signals to move around the two atria in an uncoordinated fashion causing the atria to quiver and fail to contract effectively.

Question 2

What might AF present as on an ECG?

Answer 2

• Absent P wave
• quivering line where P wave ought to be
• Irregular QRS complex intervals

Question 3

How does AF impact on heart contractility?

Answer 3

Atrial Kick is lost so cardiac output drops significantly.

Question 4

What causes AF?

Answer 4

There are many causes although essentially anything that damage or stress the cells of the atria.

• Other cardiac diseases
• alcohol
• genetics
• obesity
• diabetes

Question 5

What are people with AF at risk of?

Answer 5

Stroke

Question 6

What are paroxysmal AF events?

Answer 6

Periods where AF comes and goes but are less than a week.

Question 7

What are persistent AF events?

Answer 7

AF event lasting over a week up to months without self-terminating.
The longer AF continues the more stress put upon the atrial cells leading to atrial fibrosis

Question 8

What is permanent AF?

Answer 8

Where a decision has been made to not attempt to stop the rhythm

Question 9

AF symptoms?

Answer 9

• Fatigue
• dizziness
• sob
• weakness
• palpitations or thumping

Question 10

What are the normal treatments for AF?

Answer 10

Anticoagulants
Pacemaker
Ablations