Over 5 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, or AFib, an arrhythmia heart disorder in which the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) beat out of synch with the lower chambers, causing an irregular heartbeat, or “fibrillations.” While knowing AFib symptoms is a good start for preventing a dangerous situation, there are more facts to know about the heart condition.
Meet the Experts: Adam Kisling, M.D., outgoing chair of the Fellows-in-Training Council of the American College of Cardiology. Nathan H. Tehrani, M.D., cardiologist with NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group in Queens, NY
Plus, it’s more common as you get older, and it raises your risk for stroke and heart failure. The good news is that it’s treatable and may be well managed with blood thinners and medications that regulate heart rhythm, or procedures that restore a normal rhythm. Here’s what you need to know:
Symptoms of AFib aren’t always obvious
While many people do feel symptoms—a rapid heartbeat, skipping a beat, dizziness, extreme shortness of breath—up to a third of those with AFib don’t realize they have it, either because they have no noticeable signs or they don’t know that even experiencing fatigue is a red flag. “The truth is, most cases aren’t totally silent,” says Adam Kisling, M.D., the outgoing chair of the Fellows-in-Training Council of the American College of Cardiology. “Even if a person doesn’t have palpitations, for example, they may develop shortness of breath and an intolerance to exercise, or they have episodes where they don’t feel right.”
An EKG doesn’t always diagnose it
A person can go in and out of AFib, so while an EKG can diagnose AFib if it’s happening at the time a person is tested, it doesn’t always show up. “In that case, if the doctor still suspects AFib based on symptoms, they’ll prescribe an ambulatory heart rhythm monitor to wear, which will pick it up,” says Dr. Kisling. Smart watches and rings, while they don’t diagnose AFib, are sensitive enough to pick up an irregular heartbeat. “If you get a notification of an arrhythmia, it’s not an emergency, but you should follow up with your doctor to review the findings,” says Dr. Kisling. Though a smart watch may not detect the condition in everyone.
AFib may get worse if it goes untreated
AFib is progressive, meaning if it’s not detected and treated early, symptoms may intensify, and the arrhythmia may become more challenging to treat. “A person may start out with little to no symptoms, and over time, one may begin to feel palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, or dizziness,” says Nathan H. Tehrani, MD, a cardiologist with NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group in Queens, New York. “If it progresses, symptoms can become debilitating, and the arrhythmia can cause downstream effects on both the structure and function of your heart,” he warns. “This is why early detection and timely treatment are key to preventing disease progression and complications,” he says. Those complications may include stroke, heart failure (when the heart becomes too weak or too stiff to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs), and even heart valve disease.
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