Six million people in the United States have atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that causes the heart to beat irregularly fast or to skip beats altogether.

That could have something to do with the fact that 50% of people in the U.S. drink sweetened beverages on any given day, and another 13% drink artificially sweetened concoctions. Researchers looking at 10 years of data on 200,000 adults think so.

They found that people who drink around five 12-ounce cans of artificially sweetened beverages daily increase their risk of AFib by 20%. The risk is 10% higher for those who drink that amount of sugary beverages.

Other causes of AFib include obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, a previous heart attack, and a cluster of heart conditions. Upgrading nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and healthy sleep habits can help prevent AFib.

And if you're diagnosed, there are effective treatments including lifestyle changes such as losing weight, stopping smoking, and adopting a heart-healthy diet.

Medications that can help control your heartbeat or protect you from complications include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, blood thinners, and drugs to control the heart rhythm.

Effective surgical procedures include ablation and/or a pacemaker. The current best treatment is thought to be ablation of the atrial appendage.

And the data are clear — the sooner you achieve rhythm control, the better your long-term outcome.