What Is Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm associated with disorganized electrical activity in the upper two chambers of the heart. Abnormal electrical impulses cause the atria to beat very fast and in an uncoordinated manner. This is called fibrillation. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation indicates that the arrhythmia occurs at varying intervals, rather than consistently or constantly. The result of the rapid, irregular beats is ineffective filling of the ventricles, the bottom two chambers of the heart that pump blood out to the body. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart arrhythmia. The underlying cause is often unknown, but the risk increases with age. As many as 4% of those over the age of 65 are affected by atrial fibrillation. Other risk factors include coronary artery disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and obesity.
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