Overview

This is caused by abnormal electrical signals in the lower chambers of the heart. The electrical signals that would normally tell your heart to pump instead cause the lower chambers of your heart to quiver, or fibrillate. This causes an irregular, very fast heartbeat, so the heart can’t pump blood to the rest of the body effectively.
There is not always an obvious cause, but it can occur during a heart attack, when the heart muscle does not receive enough blood, due to certain medicines or low potassium levels, or due to some genetic conditions. It needs to be treated urgently. Without treatment, death can occur within minutes.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of ventricular fibrillation are loss of consciousness and collapse. Warning signs that occur before an episode of ventricular fibrillation can include:

  Very fast heartbeat                                  Chest pain

  Shortness of breath                                Dizziness or fainting

Urgent, emergency treatment is required, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). An AED is a portable device that checks the rhythm of the heart, prompting the user to deliver a shock if needed. This shock is used to restore the heart’s rhythm. If you survive an episode of ventricular fibrillation, you will most likely need a hospital stay for further care.