It usually affects adults, and your risk goes up with age. Who can get AF?ĪF can happen to anyone, including people who are otherwise fit and well. They are also responsible for ensuring that the heart has a steady rhythm. When you are resting, the cells slow the heart down. So when you are moving around and your muscles needs more oxygen, the pacemaker cells tell the heart pump blood more quickly. They respond to your body's oxygen needs. They are in an area of the heart known as the sinoatrial node. The specialised cells that send electrical impulses to set your heartbeat are known as pacemaker cells. The heartbeat can become irregular, and may be extremely fast. In AF, the electrical impulses that set your heartbeat are disrupted. The pacemaker cells set the speed and rhythm of your heartbeat. Your heart contracts when specialised 'pacemaker cells' in the heart send out electrical impulses. The heart is designed to contract (beat) regularly, pumping blood around the body. Its job is to keep the blood constantly moving around your body, bringing vital oxygen to your cells and organs. What happens to the heartbeat in atrial fibrillation? A clot can form in the blood and then travel up to the brain, causing a stroke. But in AF, blood can pool inside the heart. Normally, blood flows into the heart, and gets fully pumped out every time the heart beats. It's a major risk factor for stroke, and around 20% of all strokes are caused by AF. Around 1.4 million people in the UK have AF. There are different types of heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), and atrial fibrillation is the most common. So if you have AF, you'll be offered any treatment you need to reduce your risk of a stroke. Strokes due to AF tend to be more serious, with more damage to the brain and worse long-term effects.If you're diagnosed with AF, you'll have an individual stroke risk assessment to make sure you get the right treatment and advice for you. AF makes you five times more likely to have a stroke.Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm problem which raises your risk of a stroke.What else can I do to reduce my risk of stroke? What do I need to know about atrial fibrillation? What happens to the heartbeat in atrial fibrillation?īlood thinning medications to reduce your risk What do I need to know about atrial fibrillation (AF)? To request a braille copy, email this page:.Download this information as a pdf or large print document.The information on this page can be accessed in the following formats: This page is about reducing your risk of a stroke with AF. Donating and paying in fundraising moneyĪtrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition that causes an irregular heartbeat and raises your risk of a serious stroke.
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