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• Arrhythmias
• Atrial Fibrillation
  • Overview
  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Risk Factors
  • Causes
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatments
  • Physicians and Services
  • How Much Do You Know About Atrial Fibrillation?
  • Atrial Fibrillation in Depth (video)
  • Atrial Fibrillation Can Be A Family Affair
  • Is An Atrial Fibrillation Epidemic On The Way?
  • Coumadin Do's and Don'ts
  • 10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor
  • The Stroke Connection
  • Bruce MacDonald's Patient Story
  • Mostafa Salem's Patient Story
• Bradycardia or Low Heart Rate
• Brugada Syndrome
• Long QT Syndrome
• Palpitations
• Sudden Death or Cardiac Arrest
• Syncope or Fainting
• Tachycardia or Fast Heart Rate
• Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Risk Factors

Factors That Increase Your Chances

About 30 percent of those with AF have no risk factors. Factors that increase your chances of developing atrial fibrillation include:

• Age
  • Risk increases as you get older.
    
  • AF occurs in about 15 percent of those over the age of 75, but it can be seen in young people as well.
    
  • As the population continues to age, it is expected to become more common.
    
• Heart disease, including history of valve disease, coronary artery disease, heart attack or heart surgery
  
• High blood pressure, particularly if it is not well controlled
  
• Excessive alcohol consumption, particularly binge drinking
  
• Family history
  
• Sleep apnea
  
• Thyroid problems
  
• Pericardial inflammation