If you recognize the signs of atrial fibrillation, you’ll know to seek prompt heart care rather than waiting to see if the symptoms go away. Early treatment makes the difference between enjoying a long, healthy life and facing the risk of a sudden, unexpected stroke.
Cardiology specialist Dr. Laura Fernandes and our Woodlands Heart and Vascular Institute team are here to help protect your heart health. We provide preventive heart care, advanced in-office diagnostics, and treatments to slow or stop worsening heart disease.
Let’s explore what you need to know about atrial fibrillation, its five common symptoms, and how to prevent it.
Atrial fibrillation begins due to a problem in the heart’s electrical system. The unusual electrical activity affects the heart’s two upper chambers, the right and left atria.
As a result, the atria beat irregularly and rapidly, fluttering (fibrillating) instead of producing strong, regular muscle contractions.
The quivering muscles reduce blood flow through the heart and to your body. Additionally, some blood collects inside the heart, especially in a small pouch-like structure in the left atria.
When blood pools or flows too slowly, it thickens, and blood clots develop. If a clot leaves the heart and reaches the brain, it may cause a stroke, nearly 35 percent of people with AFib will have a stroke.
Five signs of atrial fibrillation
These are the five primary signs of atrial fibrillation:
Palpitations refer to sensations in your chest that reflect the change in your heartbeat. You may feel:
You can have atrial fibrillation and never experience palpitations.
Chest pain, a common symptom of most heart conditions, occurs when your heart doesn’t get enough blood. Atrial fibrillation causes chest pain when the irregular muscle contractions affect blood flow in the heart’s arteries.
However, blocked arteries (coronary artery disease) also diminish the heart’s blood supply and cause chest pain (angina). Coronary artery disease is closely associated with atrial fibrillation, often causing the arrhythmia.
Difficulty breathing develops when your heart can’t pump enough blood. You’re most likely to have shortness of breath when your activity increases, then feel better when you rest.
You may feel dizzy because your brain isn’t getting enough blood. Dizziness includes feeling faint, losing balance, and the sensation that the room is spinning (vertigo).
When your heart can’t pump blood properly, fluids can accumulate in your feet, ankles, and lower legs. Atrial fibrillation alone may cause swelling.
The swelling may be the result of an underlying heart condition that is responsible for your arrhythmia, such as heart failure or heart valve disease.
Many, but not all, of atrial fibrillation’s causes are preventable. Things like heart infections and inherent problems in the heart’s structure or electrical system are harder to avoid.
However, you can prevent the two most common causes of atrial fibrillation: high blood pressure (hypertension) and coronary artery disease (CAD).
In addition to hypertension and CAD, the following conditions may lead to atrial fibrillation:
The health problems responsible for atrial fibrillation are all closely related. For example, being overweight, following an unhealthy diet, and smoking raise the risk of Type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
You can dramatically lower your risk of all the above problems and atrial fibrillation by changing your diet, getting more exercise, losing weight, and stopping smoking.
If you have questions about your risk of developing atrial fibrillation or you’ve noticed symptoms, it’s time to schedule a consultation. We help you prevent heart problems and provide treatment that slows or stops disease progression.
Request a consultation through online booking or call Woodlands Heart and Vascular Institute today.
