Learn about Atrial fibrillation symptoms from Consumer Reports Health.

Atrial fibrillation

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

If you've got atrial fibrillation, you may feel your heart beating very fast and irregularly.

If you take your pulse when you are sitting still it will probably be more than 140 beats a minute. Normally, it would be 60 to 80 beats a minute.

You may not realize that your heart is beating fast because you have gotten used to it.

You may get some other symptoms, including:

Chest pain
Feeling breathless
Feeling dizzy.

If you get these symptoms, you should see your doctor right away. They can also be signs of more serious heart problems.

To help decide if you might have atrial fibrillation, your doctor will probably:

Examine you
Ask about your symptoms
Take your pulse
Give you an ECG (electrocardiogram), which shows how your heart is beating.

You may need to go to the hospital for more tests.

This information was last updated on Jan 09, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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