Hypertension and Atrial Fibrillation

Afib America05 Jan, 2024Health

The rhythm of a healthy heart is controlled by electrical impulses that stimulate the heart muscle to contract and pump blood throughout the body. When the normal conduction system is disrupted, the result is an arrhythmia ? an irregularity in the heart?s rhythm. One of the most prevalent arrhythmias that occurs in the upper chambers of the heart is atrial fibrillation, affecting over 3 million people in the United States. This chaotic quivering of the atria reduces the heart?s ability to function properly, leading to symptoms like palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath. But what causes this common heart rhythm disorder?