Does Afib Cause Irregular Heartbeat?

Yes, atrial fibrillation (Afib) is characterized by an irregular heart rate.

Normally, the heart's electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node (SA node), which is a small cluster of cells in the right atrium (upper chamber of the heart). These electrical signals travel through the atrioventricular node (AV node), which is another small cluster of cells located between the atria and ventricles (lower chambers of the heart). The AV node delays the signals slightly to ensure that the atria contract completely before the ventricles do. The signals then travel through the bundle of His and the Purkinje fibers, which are a network of fibers that spread the signals throughout the ventricles, causing them to contract.

In Afib, the electrical signals in the atria are chaotic and disorganized. This can cause the atria to contract irregularly and out of sync with the ventricles, resulting in an irregular heartbeat. The ventricles may also contract too fast, too slow, or at irregular intervals.