Atrial fibrillation (AF) has become one of the most important public health problems and a significant cause of increasing health care costs in western countries. The prevalence of AF is increasing due to our greater ability to treat chronic cardiac and noncardiac diseases, and the improved ability to suspect and diagnose AF. At the present time, the prevalence of AF (2%) is double that reported in the last decade. The prevalence of AF varies with age and sex. Risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, obesity, dyslipidemia and left ventricular dilation with wall thickness cause myocardial interstitial fibrosis and are all predisposing factors for atrial fibrillation disease. However, the most common symptoms of atrial fibrillation include palpitations, chest pain, dyspnea and syncope. Modern management of atrial fibrillation, with particular emphasis on pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. Irrespective of a rate-control or rhythm-control strategy, stroke prevention with appropriate thromboprophylaxis still remains central to the management of this common arrhythmia. Electrophysiological approaches could hold some promise for a curative approach in atrial fibrillation.