Increased consumption of sodium-rich foods may make atrial fibrillation more likely to occur in an individual.

This study evaluated the link between dietary intake of sodium and the onset of atrial fibrillation. Researchers studied 716 Finnish men and women with regard to their sodium consumption rate and diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. 

Researchers identified a heightened risk of atrial fibrillation among long-term consumers of sodium-rich foods. This study provides evidence that high dietary exposure to sodium may precipitate the development of atrial fibrillation.