Avoiding Health Risks Could Prevent Half of All Cases of Atrial Fibrillation

It has been determined that many cases of atrial fibrillation can be avoided by reducing risks such as high blood pressure, smoking, and weight. Atrial fibrillation is generally not a life-threatening condition (unlike ventricular fibrillation), however it can be dangerous if blood clots begin to form. When blood begins to pool or clot, the chance of getting a stroke or heart attack increases. In this particular study, 57% of atrial fibrillation cases were related to specific risk factors with high blood pressure being the greatest indicator. There were also racial difference in the test results with African Americans being affected most (over 90%) by said risk factors.

This was interesting to me because it's amazing how daily life choices can affect your long-term health. We often don't consider the consequences when we gorge ourselves with chocolate or let our blood pressure go out of hand.