Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a condition that causes the heart to beat irregularly and more rapidly than normal. As a result the heart struggles to pump enough blood to the lungs and other parts of the body. This can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath or dizziness. The most common and serious complication of atrial fibrillation is a greatly increased risk of stroke. There are a number of possible treatments aimed at trying to regulate the heart rhythm but due to the high stroke risk most people with atrial fibrillation are also prescribed an anticoagulant such as Warfarin.