Atrial fibrillation, or A-Fib, or AF, is the most common type of arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm.

AF occurs when rapid, disorganized electrical signals cause the atria, the two upper chambers of the heart, to fibrillate. The term "fibrillate" means to contract very fast and irregularly. In AF, blood pools in the atria and isn't pumped completely into the ventricles, the heart's two lower chambers. As a result, the heart's upper and lower chambers don't work together as they should.

AF may occur rarely or every now and then, or it may become a persistent or permanent heart rhythm lasting for years. Over 2 million Americans currently suffer from AF. It affects both men and women.

The risk of AF increases as people age. This is mostly because as you get older, your risk for heart disease and other conditions that can cause AF also increases. However, about half of the people who have AF are younger than 75.

Your doctor can tell if you have AF by doing an EKG and may refer you to an electrophysiologist. These are cardiologists who specialize in arrhythmias. Most people who have persistent or permanent AF need treatment to control their heart rates and prevent complications.

Lifestyle modifications and medications sometimes control symptoms of AF, but some patients may require a medical procedure to control their AF. Electrophysiologists at the Heart Institute of Doylestown Hospital use highly advanced equipment in two state-of-the-art EP labs. They may treat AF using the following procedures:

* Cardioversion is a method to restore an abnormal heart rhythm back to normal.

* Pacemakers are implanted under the skin just below the collarbone to treat a heartbeat that is too slow. A wire going from the pacemaker to the heart delivers a stimulus if the heart misses a beat.

* Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are placed in people who are at high risk of sudden cardiac death from dangerous arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

* Bi Ventricular (BiV) Pacemakers are similar to ICDs but have an extra lead inserted into the coronary sinus so the heart is paced on both left and right sides.

* Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to eliminate the small area of heart tissue causing the rhythm disturbance, thus restoring normal rhythm. For some patients with AF, radiofrequency ablation can cure the arrhythmia and is the treatment of choice.

Electrophyisiologists with the Heart Institute of Doylestown Hospital perform a high volume of AF catheter ablations with excellent long-term results and a safety profile comparable to the best institutions across the country.