AFib — the plain-language one-pager.

What is Atrial Fibrillation?Diagnosis

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is the most common serious heart-rhythm problem. Instead of beating in a steady rhythm, the upper chambers of the heart (atria) quiver chaotically. Blood pools, can clot, and clots that travel to the brain cause strokes. AFib also makes the heart beat fast and inefficiently, which can lead to or worsen heart failure. Some people feel palpitations, breathlessness, or fatigue; many feel nothing at all — which is why home ECG / smartphone rhythm detection has become so important.

• Three patterns — paroxysmal (comes and goes, less than 7 days), persistent (longer than 7 days, needs intervention to stop), and permanent (the heart stays in AFib; we manage rate and stroke risk). All three carry stroke risk.
• Stroke risk is the headline — AFib raises stroke risk about 5x. The good news: anticoagulation (apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, warfarin) cuts that risk by about 65%. Eligibility is determined by the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score — your team will calculate it with you.
• Top risk factors: age 65+, hypertension, sleep apnea, obesity, diabetes, alcohol, hyperthyroidism, cardiac surgery, and family history. Treating sleep apnea and losing 10% body weight both reduce AFib burden in studies.
• Detection: 12-lead ECG, Holter or event monitor, or a single-lead device at home (KardiaMobile, Apple Watch, Fitbit, Samsung). The home rhythm-capture skill is in your Skills Lab.

The five AFib decisions you make with your teamYour plan

1. Stroke prevention (anticoagulation): CHA₂DS₂-VASc score → which anticoagulant, what dose, how it interacts with your other meds and your bleeding risk (HAS-BLED).
2. Rate vs. rhythm control: rate control (slow the ventricle so the heart pumps efficiently — beta-blocker, calcium-channel blocker, digoxin) vs. rhythm control (try to restore normal sinus — antiarrhythmics, cardioversion, ablation).
3. Triggers + lifestyle: alcohol, sleep apnea, weight, BP control, thyroid status, stimulants, hydration. Each one you address shrinks AFib burden.
4. Procedure pathway, if needed: cardioversion, catheter ablation, surgical maze, or Watchman / left atrial appendage closure (for those who cannot take long-term anticoagulation).
5. Monitoring at home: daily home BP cuff (sk003) + on-demand single-lead ECG (sk050) when symptomatic, with a clear log shared with your team.

The five decisions live in your Health Passport — bring them to every cardiology visit.

Your daily Force FieldLive It

• Take your anticoagulant every day, same time — apixaban / rivaroxaban / dabigatran / warfarin all work only if taken consistently. Missing doses raises stroke risk fast.
• Take your rate-control medication — beta-blocker, diltiazem, or digoxin. Pulse-check at home and log if your team asks for it.
• Daily home BP cuff — high BP triggers AFib episodes. Target generally <130/80 unless your team specifies different.
• On-demand home ECG / smartphone rhythm capture — when symptomatic (palpitations, dizziness, breathlessness) take a 30-second tracing, save it, share it with your team. The skill is in your Skills Lab.
• Sleep + sleep apnea screening — untreated OSA quadruples AFib recurrence. CPAP cuts it down dramatically.
• Alcohol — even moderate alcohol is a strong AFib trigger. Many people stop, and AFib burden drops.
• Weight, activity, diabetes, thyroid — every 10% weight loss, every point of A1C improvement, and every well-controlled thyroid level reduces AFib episodes.
• Carry your AFib card / med list / clinician contact — stroke + bleeding emergencies need this in seconds.

Red flags — call nowAction

• Call your clinic the same day for: new chest discomfort with exertion that goes away with rest (stable angina worth evaluating); a missed dose of antiplatelet or statin; medication side effects (muscle aches, bleeding, GI symptoms).
• Bring up at next visit: any change in exercise tolerance, lipid follow-up timing, BP log review, smoking-cessation support, depression screening, sleep concerns.