Atrial fibrillation, commonly known as a.fib, is a disorder that affects the normal heart rate. With this abnormal heart rate or an arrhythmia, the heart tends to beat either too fast also called as tachycardia or too slow, also called as bradycardia or irregularly. These disorders in turn affect the amount of blood pumped by the heart.

Atrial fibrillation happens when the electrical signalling system in your heart is disrupted. Atrial fibrillation may be permanent or it could last for a few seconds to minutes. This condition is common in the elderly population and could have different reasons for its occurrence.

People who are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation often go on to lead perfectly normal lives, but having such a condition without proper could increase your risk for stroke.

In the normal course, the heart is regulated through an electrical current or an impulse which begins in the sinoatrial node and spreads across the atria (the upper chamber) allowing them to contract and squeeze blood into the lower chambers also called the ventricles.

This electric impulse moves down to the AV node which connects with the ventricles. This node splits into branches allowing the equal spread of electric impulse or signal to both lower chambers at the same time allowing both the lower chambers to squeeze blood out to your body.

While in atrial fibrillation or a.fib, the electrical impulses start sending signals from all over both atria in an irregular pattern and with too many irregular signals, your heart beats irregularly and too fast causing palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, or shortness of breath.