Atrial Fibrillation

Some persons with atrial fibrillation are symptomless and unaware of their condition. Some people might go through one or more of the following signs:

Irregular heartbeat
Heart palpitations
Lightheadedness
Extreme fatigue
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
See a general practitioner if

You get intermittent chest pain.
Despite experiencing mild chest pain, you continue to worry.
Your heartbeat changes abruptly.
It is crucial to seek medical advice to be sure nothing serious is going on.

Damage to the heart's tissue or electrical signaling can cause the heart muscle's regular pumping to speed up and become irregular. This kind of heart damage is typically brought on by other illnesses like coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. However, there are other factors that can also increase your risk for atrial fibrillation.

Risk factors for atrial fibrillation include:

Advancing age
High blood pressure
Obesity
Diabetes
Heart failure
Ischemic heart disease
Thyroid disease
Chronic kidney disease
Alcohol use
Smoking
Enlargement of the heart’s left side’s chambers
Physical inactivity
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Electrocardiogram
Laboratory tests (ex: thyroid function, kidney function, full blood count)
Echocardiogram

It may be possible for you to be treated by a general practitioner, or you may be referred to a cardiologist.

Controlling atrial fibrillation may include:

Medicines to control the heart’s rhythm and rate. (Ex: Metoprolol, Bisoprolol, Atenolol, Carvedilol, Digoxin)
Blood-thinning medicine to prevent blood clots from forming and reduce stroke risk. (Ex: edoxaban, dabigatran, warfarin, heparin, clopidogrel)
Catheter ablation (a surgery where radiofrequency energy is used to destroy the region inside the heart that is producing the irregular cardiac rhythm. After that, you might need a pacemaker)