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Serious severity
· Cardiology
Atrial Fibrillation
AF · Irregular fast heartbeat
The upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of contracting, allowing blood to pool and clot. AF triples stroke risk.
At a glance
- Prevalence
- Common after 65
- Typical age
- 65+ years
- Outlook
- Manageable, stroke-preventable
- System
- Heart
Reviewed by a practising cardiology doctor
What causes it
Causes
- Hypertension
- Heart valve disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Heavy alcohol use
- Sleep apnea
How it feels
Symptoms & effects
- Irregularly irregular pulse
- Palpitations or fluttering
- Light-headedness
- Fatigue and weakness
- Sudden stroke as first sign
How it’s treated
Treatment & cure
- Rate control with beta-blockers
- Rhythm control with anti-arrhythmics
- Anticoagulants like apixaban or warfarin
- Catheter ablation for selected patients
- Treat root cause (thyroid, sleep apnea)
Staying ahead
Prevention
- Control BP and weight
- Limit alcohol to under 7 drinks/week
- Treat sleep apnea
- Manage diabetes and thyroid
- Annual check after 65
Do’s
- Take blood thinners exactly as prescribed
- Wear a smart-watch with ECG
- Carry an emergency card listing your meds
- Limit caffeine if it triggers AF
Don’ts
- Stop blood thinners before procedures without doctor
- Drink binge alcohol
- Ignore one-sided weakness — call 108
- Take grapefruit juice with apixaban
See a doctor immediately if
Symptoms are sudden or severe, getting worse despite home care, or interfering with sleep, work or daily life. Don’t self-diagnose from the internet — book a verified clinician below.
Top specialists
See all cardiology doctors Top 4 doctors for Atrial Fibrillation
Ranked by patient rating, years of experience and review volume. All verified by MediConsult’s clinical team.
D
2
DP
3
DB
4
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Disclaimer ·
This article is educational and reviewed by clinicians, but it cannot replace an in-person assessment.
Medication doses, prevention advice and treatment choices vary by person. Always confirm with a doctor before acting on anything here.