Can young adults get atrial fibrillation?

Young adults may get atrial fibrillation for different reasons. Congenital heart defects, rheumatic heart disease, and infections around the heart membrane (pericarditis), as well as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), are some of the conditions that can affect younger adults and may lead to atrial fibrillation. Excessive alcohol consumption is another potential cause.  Still, healthy young adults, even athletes, get atrial fibrillation and no one knows the reason why.

While young adults can get atrial fibrillation, it is not as common as in older people. Even in people between the ages of 50 and 59, only half of one percent have atrial fibrillation. The rate of atrial fibrillation in people younger than age 50 is even lower. Yet nine percent of people age 80 or older have atrial fibrillation.