Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms

Atrial Fibrillation: Introduction

The most common type of arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AF) causes your heart to beat out of rhythm. In atrial fibrillation, there are rapid, disrupted electrical signals that cause the two upper chambers of your heart known as the atria to contract very fast and irregularly (fibrillate).

What are the Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms?

Signs of atrial fibrillation may appear suddenly and stop as abruptly. You may also have the condition without displayable symptoms.

But when you do have symptoms of atrial fibrillation, they can display in many ways.

Here are some atrial fibrillation signs and symptoms:

• Palpitations, you feel your heart beats
• You may feel your pulse to be rapid, with fluttering or it may feel slow
• Your pulse can be felt as regular or irregular
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Difficulty in breathing (you may try to get self relief by lying down)
• Fatigue
• There is a feeling of tightness in your chest

When you suffer from atrial fibrillation, blood pools up in the atria. The blood is not completely pumped into the two lower chambers of your heart (ventricles). This means your heart's upper and lower chambers no longer work in sync (together) leading to the condition of AF.

You may have atrial fibrillation and still live a normal and active life. But in some cases, there is a need for treatment that can help restore heart rhythms to normal.

There are some others who have a condition of permanent AF. A sustained treatment can very much help control related atrial fibrillation symptoms and also prevent future heart complications.

Treatment can vary as per case and may include medical procedures, medicines and healthy lifestyle changes. If you suspect AF, pay a visit to your doctor to clear any doubts and to get peace of mind.