AFib Guide

What brings AFIB on? Life’s pace can be frantic enough, but AFib’s irregularity is usually caused by underlying or interwoven health conditions —which become increasingly prevalent as we grow older. AFib can be an acute, chronic or risk-related condition. Let’s look at the causes that contribute to it.

Acute Conditions  Previous heart surgery or surgeries  Lung disease or infection, such as pneumonia  Asthma attacks  Heart attack

 Extreme body stress  Overactive thyroid or other glandular condition  Inflammation of the heart lining (pericardium)

Chronic Conditions  An inherited or genetic heart condition

 Excessive caffeine consumption  Excessive alcohol use  Obesity or excessive weight

 Coronary heart disease  Congenital heart defects

 COPD or another chronic lung condition  Sleep apnea (five times greater risk of AFib)

 Heart valve disease  High blood pressure  Long-term smoking or tobacco use

Risk Factors for AFib  Hypertension (high blood pressure)  Diabetes  Family history  Sleep apnea

 Coronary heart disease  Heart failure

 Rheumatoid heart (valve) disease  Congenital heart abnormalities