Final answer:
Atrial fibrillation is characterized by an irregular and often rapid pulse, resulting from the atria beating out of coordination with the ventricles. Treatment aims to maintain ventricular rate and prevent stroke, with defibrillation used in life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation to restore normal rhythm.
Step-by-step explanation:
Atrial fibrillation (A fib) is marked by a pulse that is irregular and often rapid, which can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.
In atrial fibrillation, the heart's upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly, out of coordination with the lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart.
When the heart's electrical activity is severely disrupted in this manner, the pulse does not follow a steady or predictable rhythm. The most common treatment for severe cases, especially in ventricular fibrillation, is defibrillation, which uses special paddles to apply an electric charge to the heart.
For atrial fibrillation, maintaining the ventricular rate and preventing stroke are the goals of treatment, which can include medications and other interventions to normalize the heart rhythm.