Atrial
fibrillation
(
AF
)
has
strong
associations
with
other
cardiovascular
____________________
,
such
as
heart
failure
,
coronary
artery
disease
(
CAD
)
,
valvular
____________________
disease
,
diabetes
mellitus
,
and
hypertension
.
It
is
characterized
____________________
an
irregular
and
often
rapid
heartbeat
(
see
the
first
image
below
)
.
The
____________________
mechanisms
by
which
cardiovascular
risk
factors
predispose
____________________
AF
are
not
understood
fully
but
are
under
intense
____________________
.
Catecholamine
excess
,
hemodynamic
stress
,
atrial
ischemia
,
atrial
inflammation
,
____________________
stress
,
and
neurohumoral
cascade
activation
are
all
purported
to
____________________
AF
.
