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.

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.