Common Triggers for AFib

Atrial fibrillation, commonly called AFib, happens when the upper chambers of the heart are fibrillating – quivering – which causes delays in the flow of blood to the lower chambers (ventricles). This leads to decreased efficiency in blood flow to the rest of the body, and increases the risk of stroke, dementia, heart failure, and other health conditions.

So what triggers AFib in patients? There are common causes for most patients who experience this issue with their heart, some that can be controlled and some that cannot be controlled.

Meghan Wright, PA-C, is a physician assistant with the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute’s AFib Center at Rochester General Hospital. She explains some of the most common triggers for AFib and what patients can do to reduce their risk of having it recur.

Triggers for AFib

People with AFib cannot change some things that put them at a higher risk of AFib, such as:

• age
• genetics
• previous heart surgeries

At the same time, there are some triggers for AFib that are directly within a patient’s control and can be managed well. These include:

• poorly controlled blood pressure
• poorly controlled diabetes
• physical inactivity
• obesity
• untreated sleep apnea
• heavy alcohol use
• smoking/tobacco use

Patients often have both modifiable and non-modifiable triggers that combine to cause AFib.

“The causes behind what triggers AFib are very much multifactorial,” Wright said. “It can be a perfect storm sometimes.”

Identifying and preventing triggers for AFib

One of the most productive things to do when it comes to figuring out triggers for AFib is to be mindful of the context in which it happens.

For example, if someone goes out to dinner and has a couple glasses of wine, then goes into AFib, alcohol may be a trigger.

Keeping a note on your phone or a written journal that logs the circumstances related to an AFib event can help you and your heart care team determine what is behind the issue.

If lifestyle factors are determined to be triggers for AFib, heart care providers are well experienced in helping to manage them. Three of the most common triggers that patients need to adjust are physical activity, weight loss, and eliminating alcohol use.

While initial conversations about changing those habits are difficult, Wright said one of the best ways patients are able to manage their AFib is by managing those lifestyle factors.

“Once you get started on the process of bringing those lifestyle factors under control, most patients feel better,” Wright said. “Once you have less AFib, you definitely feel better.”