Are There Health Risks for Someone with Afib?
Yes, Afib can weaken the heart. Afib can also cause problems with the way the heart contracts to send blood to the entire body.
Here are some of the medical issues people with Afib might face.
Stroke
There’s a 5x increase in risk of stroke.2 This is because the atria are quivering rather than pumping properly. Blood pools in the left atrium, and blood clots can form when blood is standing still in a heart chamber.
Heart Failure
There’s a 5x increase in developing heart failure.3 This is because the ventricles are not filling with enough blood. So too little oxygen-rich blood is being pumped out to the body.
Chronic (Long-Term) Fatigue
When the heart is not pumping blood properly, it is not sending enough oxygen to the body. That can result in feeling tired.5
Shortness of Breath
If a person develops heart failure, fluid can build up in the lungs. This can cause both fatigue and shortness of breath.5
There are other ways that Afib can affect health, too.