It can sound scary the first time you hear that you may have a heart problem. And while a heart problem can be a very serious health condition, there are certain degrees of the illness that may be affecting you personally. Such is the case with atrial fibrillation (AF). If you suspect that you may have AF here are some atrial fibrillation signs and symptoms to look for.
Quivering Heartbeat:
The most common symptom of atrial fibrillation (AF) is the quivering or fluttering heartbeat that is caused by the abnormal firing of electrical impulses in the heart. This makes the atria (the top chambers of the heart) tremble or fibrillate.
Other Atrial Fibrillation Signs to Look for:
While you may not notice the quivering of your heart, there are other additional symptoms that may be much more noticeable in most people. People who are constantly fatigued, feel a fluttering or a thumping in the chest area, experience dizzy spells, shortness of breath, constant sweating, a general weakness or confusion should go to see their doctor immediately to make sure that they are tested for AF.
Different Types of Atrial Fibrillation:
While there are different types of AF, the general symptoms above are generally the same no matter what type of AF you have. However, with each kind of AF there might be additional atrial fibrillation signs and symptoms to look for.
Paroxysmal Fibrillation:
This type of AF usually appears in episodes or spells and then returns back to normal within a few days. People who suffer from this type of AF may spend the better part of a year perfectly normal and then without warning the AF symptoms will appear. The symptoms will present themselves for a little while and then disappear again for no apparent reason. Many may reason that with this type of episodic AF that they don’t need medical attention as much as someone with constant AF but they’d be putting their health in danger. No matter how infrequent the episodes occur you’re still at a high risk of stroke if it’s not taken care of.
Persistent Atrial Fibrillation:
A persistent AF is when symptoms present themselves consistently. With this type of AF your heart never returns to a normal sinus rhythm without the help of some type of treatment.
Permanent Atrial Fibrillation:
This type of AF is the most stubborn. Permanent AF usually occurs when the heart never reaches a normal sinus rhythm even with the help of medical treatments or procedures. The patient must learn to live with their fibrillating heart and the treatments they have are instead designed to deal with the symptoms that are a result of AF affects on the body.
Atrial Fibrillation Treatment:
It’s important to note that atrial fibrillation signs and symptoms are not always readily identifiable. Quite often people have the problem without any indication that they have AF until they experience a stroke or heart attack. However, when you do have some of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to ensure that you’re doing everything you can do to protect your overall health. Atrial Fibrillation Treatment will generally involved a variety of treatment options ranging from: Medication, Ablation Therapy, Cardioversion, And Heart Surgery depending on the severity of the condition.
