Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm common in older adults but can occur at any age. If you have atrial fibrillation (AFib), electrical signals from the upper chambers—or atria—of your heart don't function normally.
Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm common in older adults but can occur at any age. If you have atrial fibrillation (AFib), electrical signals from the upper chambers—or atria—of your heart don't function normally.
This causes erratic contractions of your atria, which pump blood into the lower chambers of your heart. Instead of pumping efficiently, the blood pools in your atria. This can result in a blood clot that could cause a stroke.
AFib feels different for everyone. Some people may not notice symptoms, while others may experience AFib-related symptoms nearly every day. By familiarizing yourself with the most common symptoms of AFib, you can take steps to monitor your heart rate and talk to your doctor if you believe you might be at risk for AFib or have signs and symptoms.
The signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation include:
1. Palpitations
The trait that most characterizes atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat. You may feel palpitations or sensations of a fast, fluttering, or pounding heart. These symptoms usually occur off and on for a few minutes to several hours, but these episodes last longer in some people and can occur regularly.
2. Chest pain
Chest pain is associated with several different forms of heart disease and varies in severity. Pain that results from a heart attack is commonly described as resembling a sensation of pressure or heaviness. It is often accompanied by discomfort in the upper back, shoulders, neck, and jaw.
3. Dizziness
Dizziness is a common symptom of atrial fibrillation. 1 out of 2 people with AFib experience dizziness or lightheadedness. If you feel dizzy, and it's not from spinning around in circles, it's time to talk to your doctor about AFib. Because even if you feel like you're getting dizzy for a million reasons, Afib could be the reason behind this sign.
4. Fatigue
Many people with AFib have sudden, unexplained fatigue or a feeling of extreme tiredness. Or, the fatigue comes and goes. Some people report a feeling of pressure or fullness in the chest, along with a racing heart rate. You might be sweating. Many people with AFib say they have trouble sleeping at night.
Although it is normal to feel tired sometimes, you may have unexplained fatigue if you have atrial fibrillation. This may be caused by a lack of good blood flow from your heart as well as the extra effort your heart has to make while it is not beating at a regular rhythm.
5. Lightheadedness
Patients with atrial fibrillation may experience lightheadedness, with the sensation of feeling faint or dizzy. Lightheadedness is particularly common when someone gets up from a seated or lying position and moves around (orthostatic hypotension).
6. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, occurs with AFib and other heart rhythm disorders due to your heart's inability to pump enough blood to your lungs and other organs. While it may be a symptom of another condition like asthma or anxiety, if shortness of breath is associated with other AFib symptoms, or it happens out of the blue when you're not exerting yourself, consult your doctor.
7. Weakness
Patients with Afib can experience weakness because the heart is not pumping blood effectively. Sudden dizzy spells or even fainting can occur without warning. The reduced blood flow can cause attention and memory problems, too.
8. Sweating
Sweating is one of the first signs that people notice. Sweating heavily, especially when doing minimal physical activity, such as while watching TV or sitting at your desk, may indicate a severe medical condition.
One reason is that Afib can cause an irregular heartbeat. With an irregular heart rate, the volume of blood pumped between each beat goes up and down, which can dilate blood vessels on the skin's surface. When this happens, your pores open up to release extra heat and make you sweat.
1. Paroxysmal fibrillation
People with atrial fibrillation episodes that last for less than 24 hours are experiencing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. That term roughly translates to "broken apart" in Greek because it means coming and going quickly. This type of atrial fibrillation often starts and stops independently with no assistance from doctors or medication. More severe types of this condition tend to last longer, persist or keep returning.
2. Persistent AFib
Persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a heart condition that lasts longer than 12 weeks or requires medical therapy or an electric shock to restore your normal heart rhythm. Persistent AFib can be dangerous since the misfiring of electrical impulses in the upper chambers of your heart can tire out your heart muscle and increase your risk of stroke. Several treatment options are available to treat persistent AFib, including medication, cardioversion, catheter ablation, and open-heart surgery. With appropriate treatment, many patients with persistent AFib can return to a relatively normal lifestyle.
3. Permanent AFib
Permanent AFib is a condition in which the heart's electrical impulse is continually broken, causing the heart to quiver or fibrillate. Permanent AFib can be caused by heart disease, previous heart surgeries, stress, sleep problems, obesity, thyroid disease, and alcohol or drug abuse. Permanent AFib does not go away without treatment.
There are many ways to live a healthy life. One way is to prevent illness. It's never too late to learn about how you can prevent heart disease. Many people with atrial fibrillation high blood pressure don't have any symptoms or warning signs of the underlying conditions.
If you have any symptoms that are unusual, unexpected, or getting worse—especially if they go on for more than a few minutes—you should immediately see your doctor. The sooner atrial fibrillation is identified and treated, the better the prognosis can be.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.