There are at least three types of atrial fibrillation: the paroxysmal type, the persistent type, and the permanent type.
Atrial fibrillation is characterized by an abnormal conduction of cardiac contraction impulses, such that the walls of the atria of the heart are subjected to continuous and incessant stress. All this also negatively affects the activity of the ventricles and the consequent flow of blood pumped by the heart into the bloodstream.
Atrial fibrillation recognizes various causes, including various diseases and sufferings of the heart (eg: valvulopathies and myocardial infarction), hypertension, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, etc.
The main symptoms of atrial fibrillation onset quickly and generally consist of: heartbeat (or palpitation), dizziness, chest pain and dyspnoea.
For the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, a cardiologic evaluation, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, chest X-ray, and blood tests are essential.
Therapy depends on the form of atrial fibrillation and the causes that determine the latter.
Failure to treat atrial fibrillation can lead to complications such as stroke or heart failure.
N.B: to understand some of the concepts illustrated in this article, it is necessary to know the basics of anatomy and physiology of the heart illustrated in the general article on cardiac arrhythmias.
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As a result of an atrial fibrillation, the heart's ability to pump blood correctly in the various parts of the body is impaired; the cardiac output, in fact, becomes irregular, insufficient and unable to satisfy the demands of the organism.
Given the site in which it occurs, atrial fibrillation is an example of supraventricular ectopic arrhythmia, where by ectopic it means that it does not concern the sinoatrial node and by supraventricular it affects the atrial cavities of the heart.
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