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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffA heart in atrial fibrillation doesn't beat efficiently. It may not be able to pump enough blood out to your body with each heartbeat.
Some people with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms and are unaware of their condition until it's discovered during a physical examination. Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may experience:
- Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flopping in your chest
- Decreased blood pressure
- Weakness
- Lightheadedness
- Confusion
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
Atrial fibrillation may be:
- Occasional. In this case it's called paroxysmal (par-ok-SIZ-mul) atrial fibrillation. You may have symptoms that come and go, lasting for a few minutes to hours and then stopping on their own.
- Chronic. With chronic atrial fibrillation, symptoms may last until they're treated.
When to see a doctor
If you have any symptoms of atrial fibrillation, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor should be able to tell you if your symptoms are caused by atrial fibrillation or another heart arrhythmia.
If you have chest pain, seek emergency medical assistance immediately. Chest pain could signal that you're having a heart attack.
- Atrial fibrillation. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4451. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
- Atrial fibrillation and flutter. Heart Rhythm Society. http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/heart_disorders/atrial_fibrillation/default.asp. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
- Atrial fibrillation. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/af/af_all.html. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
- Thomas MC, et al. Blood pressure control and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation. American Journal of Hypertension. 2008;21:1111.
- ACC/AHA/ESC Writing Committee members. 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Europace. 2006;8:651.
- Singer DE, et al. Antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition). Chest. 2008;133:546S.
- Podrid PJ. Patient information: Cardioversion. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
- Cappato R, et al. Worldwide survey on the methods, efficacy, and safety of catheter ablation for human atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2005;111:1100.
- Voeller RK, et al. The effects of the Cox maze procedure on atrial function. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2008;136:1257.
- FDA approves first ablation catheters for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW01953.html. Accessed Feb. 6, 2009.
