Who is at risk for atrial fibrillation?

You run a higher risk of atrial fibrillation if you are older or have other heart conditions, obesity, or a thyroid condition. While anyone of any age or gender can get atrial fibrillation -- an abnormally fast and irregular heartbeat -- this disorder is more common with aging. On average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men with atrial fibrillation are 66.8 years old and women are 74.6 years old. More than 2.66 million people in the United States were expected to have atrial fibrillation in 2010. Findings show that Caucasians experience atrial fibrillation at higher rates than African Americans. Other risk factors for this disorder include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, heart disease, and hyperthyroidism. Sometimes, genetics plays a role in atrial fibrillation, but experts believe that lifestyle-related factors also contribute, such as obesity or problems that cause type 2 diabetes.