Is atrial fibrillation the same as atrial flutter?
Atrial fibrillation, commonly abbreviated as AF, is a simple way to express atrial fibrillation, which is fundamentally pathological. Normal heart rhythm is sinus rhythm. Therefore, once atrial fibrillation occurs, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly rather than ignoring it. All patients with atrial fibrillation are scored to determine if they require anticoagulation therapy. Since atrial fibrillation is a trembling of the atrium and results in a completely irregular heartbeat, it can easily lead to the formation of blood clots in the left atrial appendage. Hence, if one discovers their heartbeat is very irregular, utterly irregular, immediate medical attention is necessary. An electrocardiogram can confirm the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, but it is essential to seek the underlying cause of the condition and manage both the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation and the anticoagulation therapy.