Atrial Fibrillation: Causes, Risks, and What You Can Do

When your heart beats irregularly—sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow—it’s often atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat that starts in the upper chambers of the heart and can lead to blood clots, stroke, or heart failure. Also known as AFib, it’s not just a flutter you feel once in a while—it’s a condition that needs attention, especially if you’re over 60 or have high blood pressure. About 1 in 4 adults over 40 will develop it at some point, and many don’t even know they have it until they have a stroke.

This isn’t just about feeling your heart race. anticoagulants, medications that thin the blood to prevent clots are often the first line of defense because AFib lets blood pool in the heart, where clots can form and travel to the brain. But not everyone needs them. Doctors look at your age, blood pressure, diabetes, and past strokes to decide if the risk is high enough to warrant daily pills. Then there’s heart disease, a broad term that includes conditions like coronary artery disease and heart failure, which often go hand-in-hand with AFib. If you have both, managing one affects the other. Even sleep apnea, which many people brush off as just snoring, can make AFib worse by stressing the heart overnight.

Some people feel nothing at all. Others get dizzy, tired, or short of breath during simple tasks like walking to the mailbox. That’s why checking your pulse regularly matters—if it’s irregular, it’s worth a doctor’s visit. You don’t need to wait for symptoms to get worse. Early detection means better control, fewer complications, and less risk of emergency hospital visits.

Below, you’ll find real, practical insights from people who’ve dealt with AFib, from medication choices to lifestyle changes that actually stick. You’ll see how drugs like warfarin and newer options like apixaban compare, why some people need a pacemaker, and what happens when AFib doesn’t respond to pills. No fluff. Just what works—and what doesn’t.