Symptoms and Signs of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

Doctor's Notes on Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that is irregular, often rapid heart rhythm that causes the atrial chambers of the heart to beat rapidly. Signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation (also termed A fib, AFib, A-fib) may include

• palpitations (sensation of a rapid and/or irregular heartbeat),
• dizziness or lightheadedness,
• weakness,
• chest pain and/or angina,
• shortness of breath and/or
• nausea.

The cause of atrial fibrillation is due to multiple sources of impulses in the atria that travel through the atria at the same time and cause irregular usually rapid contractions of the atria that are not correlated with ventricular contractions although ventricular contractions are also frequently increased. Other cardiac conditions may eventually cause atrial fibrillation. For example, heart valve disease, ventricular hypertrophy, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, advancing age and others.

Other causes that may trigger atrial fibrillation symptoms, for example, are overactive thyroid, alcohol use, pulmonary embolism and pneumonia.