atrial fibrillation

[ ey-tree-uhl fib-ruh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, caused by rapid, chaotic electrical impulses to the atria. : AF, AFib. Compare ventricular fibrillation ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of atrial fibrillation¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

She continues to suffer from atrial fibrillation, breathlessness and fatigue.

From BBC

It is also used in medical care to track heart conditions like myocardial infarctions, atrial fibrillation, and atherosclerosis.

From Science Daily

He is a former heroin addict and contracted hepatitis C from intravenous drug use, and has suffered from atrial fibrillation, a type of abnormal heartbeat.

From BBC

During atrial fibrillation, the heart's upper chambers beat irregularly and are out of sync with the ventricles.

From Science Daily

It also included patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, who were excluded from the previous studies.

From Science Daily