This adversely affects the heart’s ability to pump efficiently and also increases the chance of blood clots being formed in the heart and travelling up to the brain. This distorts the electrical messages sent to the atrioventricular node and causes the ventricles to contract in a fast and irregular manner. In AF, a problem with the sinus node causes the atria to twitch or ‘shiver’ rather than contract. These electrical messages then pass from the sinus node to another area of the heart called the atrioventricular node and cause the bottom two chambers (ventricles) to contract. Electrical messages are sent from the heart’s top two chambers (atria), in an area known as the sinus node (the heart’s ‘pacemaker’).

Normally, the heart’s electrical system causes its chambers to contract and relax, following a steady rhythm. AF is a problem with the heart’s pacemaker The increase in the risk of stroke can occur with AF whether or not a person has symptoms of AF. Treatment is important, even if the AF does not present with any symptoms. Symptoms are not always obvious but may include palpitations or a fluttering heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, chest pains, dizziness and fainting spells. It is uncommon in people under the age of 50 (less than 1 per cent) but common in people over the age of 75 (around 10 per cent of people in this age bracket are affected).

Overall, AF affects around two in every 100 people. AF is the most common arrhythmia of those that last more than a few seconds.

This is caused by a distortion of electrical messages that control the steady rhythm of the heart, which we know as the ‘heartbeat’. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of arrhythmia, which means that the heart beats in an irregular fashion.

Difference between a flutter and afib