atrial fibrillation

US researchers found that the practice of yogic exercises not only helps reduce episodes of irregular heartbeat but also lifts depression and anxiety in people ailing from the condition.

According to experts, a racing and skipping heart is a signal of a heart rhythm abnormality - atrial fibrillation (AF), which not only reduces the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat but also increases the risk of stroke.

According to researchers, the threat of dementia is two times higher in stroke patients with irregular heart beat than those with normal heart rhythms.

Atrial fibrillation describes an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm which results from abnormal electrical impulses in the heart.

The heart condition affects millions and becomes more common as people age. About 15 percent of strokes occur in people with AF.

Atrial fibrillation is a complication that can stop the blood from getting pumped out completely of the atria, causing it to clot which can lead to additional health risks.

The disorder can be treated by cardiac ablation, a technique that involves transmission of energy through a catheter placed in the heart to remove parts of the heart tissue that cause the arrhythmia.