Newswise — New research published in Nature Cardiovascular Research reveals that heart failure and atrial fibrillation share underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms, suggesting that the two cardiovascular conditions may be less distinct than previously thought.
Two serious heart conditions that often coexist
Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is damaged and unable to pump enough nutrient-rich blood to meet the body’s needs for oxygen. Heart failure is usually evaluated in the heart’s lower chambers, called ventricles, which provide most of the pumping power.
Atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia — an irregular heart rhythm — that originates in the heart’s upper chambers, known as the atria. During atrial fibrillation, the heart beats too fast, resulting in a lower blood flow to…