Having a regular heartbeat helps to pump the right amount of blood to the rest of the body. Atrial fibrillation is a fast or irregular heartbeat. During atrial fibrillation, the heartbeats are uneven or too fast and cause poor blood flow to the body. Blood can get stuck in the heart, where blood clots can form. These clots can then get pumped into the rest of the body and possibly to the brain which can result in a stroke.
Symptoms of atrial fibrillation
People with atrial fibrillation may feel fine and not know they have it. Others may feel the following symptoms:
- Irregular or fast heartbeat
- Heart palpitations or a rapid thumping feeling in chest
- Chest discomfort, chest pain or pressure
- Shortness of breath (mostly while active or stressed)
- Fatigue
- Dizziness, light headedness or fainting
- Sweating
- Nausea
An electrocardiogram is a simple test to find out if you have atrial fibrillation.
A Holter monitor takes a longer recording of your heart rhythm and is another way to see if you have atrial fibrillation.
If you think you have atrial fibrillation because of a reading that has displayed on your smart phone or watch, speak to your family doctor.
What can cause atrial fibrillation?
The cause of atrial fibrillation is not always known. It is often related to the heart, other health problems, or lifestyle. Here are some conditions that may lead to atrial fibrillation:
- high blood pressure (the most common cause)
- abnormal structure of the heart
- infection or inflammation of the heart (myocarditis or pericarditis)
- diseases that damage the valves of the heart
- congenital heart disease
- overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
- excessive use of alcohol
- smoking
How can I manage atrial fibrillation?
It is important to speak to your doctor to help you decide on the best treatment for you. Your treatment will be based on:
- your age
- your needs
- your medical history
- how much the symptoms are interfering with your quality of life
You may need to:
- Take blood thinners. This will help prevent blood clots from forming in your heart and travelling to the brain.
- Keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. For most people, this is at or a little below 120/80.
Visit your doctor regularly to have your atrial fibrillation monitored.
It is a good idea to make healthy lifestyle choices. Any lifestyle changes that lower blood pressure can also reduce your chance of developing atrial fibrillation or help you to control it.
Review the section on Healthy Eating to learn about:
- eating foods lower in saturated and trans fats
- eating more vegetables, fruit, fibre and lean protein
Other helpful sections include:
Having read the information in this section, consider the following:
- Do I have any symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
- Do I need to be tested for atrial fibrillation?
- Do I know what my medications are to manage my atrial fibrillation?
- Do I know how exercise affects my atrial fibrillation?
- Do I know who to speak with about atrial fibrillation?