What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
You might be wondering what Afib feels like. Some people with Afib have no symptoms. It depends on how fast your ventricles are beating. If they’re beating at a normal or slightly elevated pace, you probably won’t feel anything. But if your ventricles beat faster then you’ll start to notice symptoms. These can include:
- Extreme fatigue.
- An irregular heartbeat.
- Heart palpitations.
- A feeling of butterflies or a fish flopping in your chest.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Fainting (syncope).
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
- Chest pain (angina).
If you have symptoms, keep a list of when they happen and share this information with your healthcare provider right away.
When should I call 911?
Atrial fibrillation can cause serious medical complications. So, it’s essential to learn the warning signs and to share them with your family and friends. In many cases, we need someone else to call 911 for us. Immediately call 911 (or your local emergency services) if you have the following symptoms or if you notice them in someone around you:
Signs of bleeding
- Bright red blood in your vomit, stool, or urine.
- Severe pain in your head or abdomen.
- Drastic vision changes.
- Difficulty moving your legs or arms.
- Memory loss.
These are signs of bleeding in your brain, digestive system, or urinary tract. Many people with Afib need to take blood-thinning medications to lower the risk of Afib-related stroke. This medication is essential. But taking too high a dose can cause bleeding in your body.
Heart attack symptoms
- Pain, discomfort or pressure in the center of your chest or upper abdomen (it could come and go, or persist).
- A feeling of squeezing, fullness, heartburn or indigestion.
- Pain down your left arm.
People assigned female at birth may also have:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Shortness of breath.
- Excessive tiredness.
- Pain in the back, shoulders or jaw.
Stroke symptoms
- Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of your body.
- Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding others.
- Difficulty seeing in one or both of your eyes.
- Trouble walking.
- Feeling dizzy or off-balance.
- Sudden headache for no reason.
These are signs you may be having a stroke. Learn how to recognize these symptoms in yourself or others so you can act quickly. Every minute counts.
Signs of cardiac arrest
- Chest pain (angina).
- Shortness of breath.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
These symptoms can happen within an hour before having a cardiac arrest. In some cases, these symptoms might not appear at all, and a person could simply faint. If you or a loved one have Afib, it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider about how to get help in medical emergencies. For those who live alone or spend lots of time alone, there may be no one home to call for help. Medical alert devices may be a life-saving resource.
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How can I check for Afib at home?
If you think you have Afib symptoms, it’s important to call your healthcare provider right away to discuss how you’re feeling. Your provider may ask you to check your pulse. If it feels erratic or weak, that could be a sign you’re in Afib.However, sometimes you might not notice any changes in your pulse, especially if your Afib isn’t advanced. You may instead just feel tired or out of breath. You may not know if your symptoms are from Afib or something else. That’s why a call to your provider is essential.
How does atrial fibrillation affect my body?
When you’re in Afib, your heart’s electrical system isn’t working as it should. Your electrical impulses are chaotic, leading to an irregular and rapid heartbeat. When you feel your pulse isn’t right, you might wonder what’s going on inside your heart. It’s helpful to learn more about the differences between a normal heartbeat and what happens when you’re in Afib.
How your heart normally works
Your heart pumps blood to the rest of your body. During each heartbeat, your two atria contract, followed by your two lower chambers (ventricles). These actions, when timed perfectly, allow your heart to work as an efficient pump. Your heart’s electrical system controls the timing of your heart’s contractions. And your sinoatrial (SA) node is normally in charge of that electrical system. This node is located in your right atrium. When your SA node fires an impulse, electrical activity spreads through your right and left atria (“atrium” is singular and “atria” is plural). Both atria then contract and force blood into your ventricles.
The impulse then travels to the atrioventricular (AV) node, located near the middle of your heart. From there, the impulse moves to your ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood out of your heart to your lungs and the rest of your body. This process repeats with every heartbeat. The SA node directs the timing of the electrical impulses and keeps your heart pumping smoothly.
You can think of your SA node as the conductor of an orchestra. Your SA node is responsible for keeping your heart beating at the proper pace and rhythm. Likewise, an orchestra conductor directs all the musicians to keep the music flowing at the right tempo, sometimes faster and sometimes slower.
Normally, your SA node adjusts to your level of activity. For example, it increases the rate of impulses when you exercise and decreases the rate when you sleep. With the SA node conducting your heart’s rhythm, you are in “normal sinus rhythm.” This means your heart is beating at a regular rhythm and pace, about 60 to 100 times per minute.
What happens when you’re in Afib
If you have atrial fibrillation, your SA node isn’t directing your heart’s electrical rhythm. Instead, many different impulses rapidly fire at the same time, causing a fast, chaotic rhythm in your atria. As a result, your atria can’t contract or pump blood effectively into your ventricles. Your ventricles contract irregularly, causing a rapid irregular heartbeat.
It’s as if in the middle of a concert, two more conductors walked onto the stage and started waving their batons. The musicians would no longer know who to follow or what to do. The music would lose its rhythm and harmony.
Fortunately, there are many ways to bring back your heart’s rhythm and harmony if you have Afib. It all starts with a visit to your healthcare provider, who can run some tests and make a diagnosis.
