The exact cause of atrial fibrillation (AF) is often unknown. It's more common with age.
There are many risk factors that mean you are more likely to develop AF.
Risk factors for AF include:
- increasing age
- coronary heart disease
- heart valve disease
- heart failure
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- overactive thyroid gland
- lung infections, such as pneumonia
- pulmonary embolism (blood clots)
- heart or lung surgery
- alcohol use
- obesity
- sleep apnoea
Not everyone with atrial fibrillation has one of these risk factors. It can sometimes affect people who are physically very fit and do regular endurance exercise. For example, long-distance athletes.
When no other conditions are linked to atrial fibrillation, it is known as 'lone atrial fibrillation'.
Triggers
Certain situations can trigger an episode of atrial fibrillation, such as:
- drinking too much alcohol, particularly binge drinking
- living with obesity
- drinking lots of caffeine, such as tea, coffee or energy drinks
- taking illegal drugs, particularly amphetamines or cocaine
- smoking
- lack of sleep