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Atrial Fibrillation & Flutter
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Atrial Fibrillation & Flutter Causes & Risk Factors

In coronary artery disease, plaque clogs the blood vessels that supply the heart.
In coronary artery disease, plaque clogs the blood vessels that supply the heart.

In some people, there is no apparent cause for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. These individuals have what is called "lone" or idiopathic A Fib or AFL. In others, the condition may be related to certain medical problems, such as:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD), a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart become clogged and disrupt the normal blood supply to heart muscle. CAD is usually caused by atherosclerosis, a condition in which a substance called "plaque" builds up in the blood vessels
  • Thyroid disease
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Structural defects of the heart and its valves
  • Lung disease
  • Inflammation of the heart (pericarditis)
  • Familial AF, a rare, inherited genetic disease
  • Pulmonary disease, including pulmonary embolus
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