Atrial fibrillation is actually a heart problem. It can happen because the heart's electrical system has been damaged, typically from other conditions that affect the heart. Accordingly,
heart issues raise the risk of AFib. If you have one of the following heart-related diseases, you should take measures to prevent AFib.
Coronary artery disease
Heart valve disease
Rheumatic heart disease
Heart failure
Weakened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
Heart birth defects
Inflamed membrane or sac around the heart (pericarditis)
Sick sinus syndrome
Besides heart issues,
other diseases may be at play in AFib. Some health conditions also increase the likelihood of having AFib, such as:
High blood pressure
Lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and a blood clot in your lung (pulmonary embolism)
An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
Obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome
Sleep apnea
Infections caused by a virus
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