Medically Reviewed by Cyrus I. Kocherla, MD

Atrial fibrillation, also known as Afib, is an irregular heart rhythm that affects the upper chambers of the heart, known as the atria. In normal rhythm, the upper chambers of the heart beat in sync with the lower chambers of the heart. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly and sometimes chaotically. This could cause patients problems such as shortness of breath or palpitations. In some patients, it may even cause their heart to be weak.

Atrial fibrillation is typically an irregular heart rhythm, whereas coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by blood flow problems due to blockages. When the heart beats irregularly, it can cause blood flow to slow down in the top chambers of the heart, and that can cause clots, which can then go to the brain and cause strokes.

Patients can definitely suffer from atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease. The two conditions actually share common risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, advanced age, physical inactivity, obesity, and poor diet as well.

As far as rhythm control and rate control of atrial fibrillation, there’s medications that can slow down the heart rate. If your heart rate is going fast, there are medications that can put your heart into regular rhythm. There’s procedures such as cardioversion where the heart is shocked into normal rhythm from atrial fibrillation. And there’s also a procedure called catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, which is one of the most effective things we can do for atrial fibrillation.

To learn more. about Afib and CAD, speak with a cardiologist near you.