Uploaded September 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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Atrial fibrillation (a-fib) is a common condition that causes the heart to beat irregularly and often rapidly, sometimes contributing to stroke or heart failure. A-fib is experienced when a pressure imbalance occurs in different chambers of the heart and scar tissue develops as your body attempts to equalize that pressure, disrupting the regular electrical impulses that keep your heart beating.

Risk of a-fib is heightened by certain conditions, including hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes, and obesity. Learn about these factors and how a-fib affects your heart from Mitchell Faddis, MD, a Washington University cardiac electrophysiologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

To learn more about a-fib treatment, visit: barnesjewish.org/afib

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