Atrial Fibrillation Cause and Risk Factors: valvular heart disease, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, age, smoking, genetics, hyperthyroidism, alcohol, caffeine

Atrial Fibrillation - Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unknown though there are various medical conditions and individual risk factors that have been associated with AF.

Existing heart conditions: Those who suffer from heart diseases (such as coronary artery disease or heart valve disease), heart failure or have a history of heart attack, have increased risks of AF.
Chronic conditions: Those with chronic conditions such as sleep apnoea, diabetes mellitus or lung problems have a higher risk of AF.
High blood pressure (hypertension): High blood pressure increases the risk of AF.
Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism): Some patients who suffer from thyroid diseases may experience abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) including AF.
Obesity: Those who are obese are more likely to suffer from AF.
Excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption: Binge drinking alcohol or consuming to much caffeine can lead to incidences of AF.
Smoking: Smoking can increase the risk of AF.
Genetics: Those with a family history of AF are more likely to suffer from the condition.
Age: Anyone below the age of 50 years old has a 0.1% chance of suffering from AF but this risk increases to 10% for those above the age of 80 years old.