Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia (disruption of the normal heart rhythm), which can occur either permanently or in paroxysms. It is essentially characterized by the abnormal contraction of the heart’s atria (the upper heart chambers).
Atrial fibrillation can be classified into four categories:
- Paroxysmal – atrial fibrillation that usually stops without intervention.
- Recurrent – two or more – repeated episodes of atrial fibrillation.
- Persistent – atrial fibrillation that persists for more than seven days.
- Chronic – atrial fibrillation lasting more than 1 year
The diagnosis of the disease is always electrocardiographic (there are electrocardiographic criteria) and must be differentiated from other atrial arrhythmias (atrial flutter, multifocal atrial tachycardia).
