Better Health Channel
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of arrhythmia, which means that the heart beats fast and irregularly.
  • The risk of AF increases markedly with age.
  • Some of the known causes of AF include chronic high blood pressure, heart valve diseases and hyperthyroidism.
  • Treatment includes medication to slow and stabilise the heart rate and reduce the risk of forming blood clots, and surgical procedures to destroy the area of heart tissue responsible for the irregular heart rhythm.
  • The use of anticoagulation medications (blood thinners) can very significantly reduce the risk of stroke associated with AF.

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Reviewed on: 22-09-2017