Abstract: . . .  list in a convenient place, such as on your refrigerator and check this list each morning. Keep a second list in your wallet. Update your lists when your doctor adds new medications or changes the way you take them. Please talk to your doctor for more information about atrial fibrillation . Page 6 10 What is an arrhythmia? An arrhythmia (a-RITH-mee-ya) is the medical term for an abnormal heartbeat. The heartbeat may be too fast, too slow, or irregular. The heart cannot pump blood out to the body the way it should. Here is what happens with an arrhythmia: The heart has 4 chambers (See Figure 2): 2 top chambers, or atria, and 2 bottom chambers, or ventricles The pumping action of the 4 chambers of a normal, healthy heart, are perfectly timed. When you have an arrhythmia, the timing is thrown off. LIVING WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION How does the heart beat normally? A normal heartbeat will beat from 60 to 100 times per minute or more. The beat can vary depending on a number of things. The more active you are the faster it will beat. Here is what happens for a normal heartbeat: Special cells in your heart send small electric signals. These signals cause the top and bottom chambers to contract. This motion pumps blood from your heart to the rest of your body. - First, the top chambers contract - And then the bottom chambers contract (See Figure 1). These cells signal the bottom chambers to contract These cells signal the top chambers to contract Top Chambers Bottom Chambers Right Atrium Left Atrium Right Ventricle Left Ventricle Please talk to your doctor for more information about atrial fibrillation . Figure 1. Electric signals cause your heart to contract. Figure 2. Chambers of your heart. 9 Page 7 13 11 How did I get AF ( Atrial Fibrillation )? You need to ask your doctor. We dont know why some people get AF and some do not. Other medical problems can cause AF. These problems can include: Heart disease Thyroid condition Severe infections Lung disorders Drinking alcohol LIVING WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION What is AF ( Atrial Fibrillation )? AF is one type of arrhythmia. There are other types. With AF: The heartbeat is disorganized (See Figure 3). The heartbeat is also too fast. - The top chambers of the heart contract, or squeeze, too fast. - The heart can beat up to 10 times faster than the normal heart beat. - . . .
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