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Signs & Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation


Atrial fibrillation normally occurs when the contraction of the ventricles is faster than the usual speed. When this occurs there is not enough time for the ventricles to get completely full with blood and pump it to the body and the lungs. This improper pumping can bring about signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation that include:
  • Palpitations (a feeling of ‘thumping’ or a faster heartbeat)
  • Confusion
  • Tiredness (fatigue)
  • Fainting or dizziness
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty exercising or weakness
  • Shortness of breath
Atrial fibrillation is considered to be more common with older adults. Around 18 percent of people over the age of 80 get affected by atrial fibrillation. Most often the symptoms are not experienced by atrial fibrillation sufferers. It often happens after a first stroke in older adults that atrial fibrillation is discovered to be the cause. If you are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation there will be a greater chance of suffering a stroke, particularly with factors like hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and heart valve disease. There can also be the formation of blood clots in the atria. This can result in a stroke when the clot goes from the heart to the brain.

The symptoms of atrial fibrillation can also be experienced by teenagers. It can be an isolated event or a symptom of an underlying condition if the episodes occur frequently. A single atrial fibrillation event for a heart that is otherwise healthy can be triggered by exercise, alcohol use or drugs. If you feel any of the symptoms of atrial fibrillation coming on, you should make sure to consult a doctor.

Causes
Diagnosis
References
  1. W.B Kannel, P.A Wolf, E.J Benjamin, D Levy, Prevalence, incidence, prognosis, and predisposing conditions for atrial fibrillation: population-based estimates, The American Journal of Cardiology, Volume 82, Issue 7, Supplement 1, 16 October 1998, Pages 2N-9N, ISSN 0002-9149, 10.1016/S0002-9149(98)00583-9.
  2. William B. Kannel, Emelia J. Benjamin, Current Perceptions of the Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation, Cardiology Clinics, Volume 27, Issue 1, February 2009, Pages 13-24, ISSN 0733-8651, 10.1016/j.ccl.2008.09.015.