A study shows that atrial fibrillation is three times more common than was thought before.

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have found that atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a condition in which the heart beats irregularly, is three times more common than was thought before. The study, which came out on Wednesday, shows that about 10.5 million people in the U.S. have A-fib, which is almost 5 percent of the adult population.

What the Study Found

UCSF researchers looked at the medical records of almost 30 million people in California who got “acute or procedural care” from 2005 to 2019. About 2 million cases of A-fib were found during their study. The number of cases found went up over time, from 4.5% in 2005 to 2009 to 6.8% from 2015 to 2019. Researchers think that at least 10.5 million people in the U.S. have A-fib because of this big rise, which was normalized to represent the whole population.

Based on data from more than 20 years ago, it was thought that only 3.3 million people in the U.S. had the condition, which can cause serious health problems like stroke, heart failure, blood clots, and even dementia. The new numbers are shocking because they change how common A-fib really is.

Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist at UCSF Health and a lead author of the study, was shocked by how big the difference was. Marcus told Yahoo Life, “We thought that A-fib was more common than we thought before, but we were surprised by how much of a difference we saw.”

What this means for patients and healthcare

This new information gives the millions of people who already have A-fib a sense of community. “These results help the millions of people who are dealing with the disease feel better by letting them know they are not alone,” Marcus said. He also hopes that the study will lead to more research funds and better care services that can be used to treat and manage A-fib.

Marcus, for instance, talked about the strong proof that shows that exercise can make living with A-fib easier. Even though cardiac therapy can be helpful, Medicare does not cover programs that help people with A-fib. He hopes that the study’s results will lead to changes in policy that give more help to people who have the illness.

Why are more people getting A-fib?

The rise in A-fib findings is caused by a number of things, including

1. More and more risk factors are being found

A big reason for the rise in cases is the rise in diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea, and metabolic syndrome that are linked to A-fib. Dr. Paul Wang, who runs the Stanford Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, said that people with these long-term problems are more likely to get A-fib as they age.

Obesity, which is becoming more common in the U.S., is also often tied to A-fib in younger people. Dr. Rod Passman, who runs the Center for Arrhythmia Research at Northwestern University, said that being overweight could be a big reason why the number of cases is going up.

2. Better ways to find things

A-fib diagnoses are also going up because more people are using medical-grade monitors and smart tech like Apple Watches and Fitbits. Passman says that a lot of people come to his office because their gadgets told them they might have A-fib even though they didn’t have any symptoms. “Almost every week, someone comes into my office and says, ‘My Apple Watch told me I had atrial fibrillation, but I didn’t feel anything,'” Passman told Yahoo Life. He did warn, though, that these tools shouldn’t be used instead of an official evaluation from a doctor.

3. An aging population

Because people with A-fib are more likely to be older, the number of cases has gone up as the U.S. population ages. Dr. Wang pointed out that the number of people with A-fib will continue to rise as the population grows.

Cut your risk of getting A-fib

Even though A-fib is becoming more common, living a healthier life can help lower your chances of getting it. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Take care of long-term illnesses

Managing long-term diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome can lower your chance of A-fib. A heart electrophysiologist at Columbia University named Dr. Frederick Ehlert told patients that they should work with their doctors to control their blood sugar, keep an eye on their blood pressure, and take their drugs as directed.

2. Make healthy habits a part of your life

Keeping a healthy weight, working out regularly, lowering your stress, and getting enough sleep can all help lower your risk of A-fib. “Physical activity is key,” Dr. Passman stressed, adding that patients need to stay in shape to lower their chances of getting the condition.

3. Don’t drink or smoke too much

People with A-fib are more likely to drink and smoke, so it’s important to cut back on or stop these habits, especially if they are linked to symptoms. Ehlert said that cutting down on caffeine, booze, and nicotine can help stop A-fib attacks.

What to Do If You Have an A-fib

If a wearable tech device like an Apple Watch picks up on a possible irregular heartbeat, you should see a doctor to get an official report. Regularly, a doctor will use an electrocardiogram (EKG) to check for A-fib and measure the heart’s electrical activity.

Strokes and blood clots can be avoided by finding and treating the problem early on. Luckily, there are a number of useful treatments for A-fib. Marcus says that choices like catheter ablation and medicines that are well tolerated can greatly lower the risks that come with the disease.

Dr. Ehlert stressed that even though A-fib doesn’t usually put people’s lives in danger, they should see a doctor if they have signs like a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, or dizziness.

Finding out that A-fib is three times more common than was thought before makes it even more important to raise knowledge of the condition and improve how it is managed. More cases are being found and better ways to find them, so people and healthcare workers must work together to solve this growing public health problem.