{"id":3439,"date":"2019-01-13T06:25:14","date_gmt":"2019-01-13T06:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/?p=3439"},"modified":"2021-08-11T02:08:07","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T02:08:07","slug":"10-afib-symptoms-to-be-aware-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/10-afib-symptoms-to-be-aware-of\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Afib Symptoms To Be Aware Of"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A-fib is also known as atrial fibrillation, and it\u2019s a much more common health condition than you might think. This condition combined with atrial flutters resulted in an estimated 193, 300 casualties just in 2015 \u2013 and a great deal of these could have been prevented if the right medical treatment had been started on soon enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have been diagnosed with a-fib or think that you might match up with some of the symptoms, then you\u2019ll have to make some serious changes to your lifestyle and start checking up on your heart a little more often \u2013 the condition can be managed, but early diagnosis and the right treatment is key to living a healthier life with atrial fibrillation. The condition can affect you at any point in your life, and there is a range of symptoms that could be an early warning sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a list of possible afib symptoms that you should watch out for if you suspect that you, a family member or anyone else you know could be affected with the disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Fainting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fainting <\/a>is also called syncope when we\u2019re talking in medical terms, and it\u2019s a common condition that\u2019s usually caused by an interruption of oxygen leading to the brain \u2013 and there are many different things which could make this happen as you no doubt know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just some of the possible things that could cause you to faint include heat exhaustion, high or low blood pressure, trauma to the head or the neck, shock and heart palpitations \u2013 and it\u2019s that last one that you should be watching out for if you have been experiencing any other symptoms related to your heart at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fainting is never a good thing, and it\u2019s an especially concerning symptom if it keeps happening for no apparent reason. If you find that you are fainting with increasing frequency, make an appointment with your doctor and find the root cause: Fainting in the wrong place at the wrong time could cause serious danger to you and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Heart Palpitations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Heart <\/a>palpitations are defined as any heart rate that\u2019s outside the normal range. If you experience these at times where it\u2019s not normal for the average person (such as a skyrocketing heart rate when you\u2019ve just walked a few steps, or have been sitting down for a few minutes) then it\u2019s time to make an appointment with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are acceptable times for one\u2019s heart rate to be outside the normal range \u2013 and this is usually the obvious things such as exercise, shock, excitement or stress; sometimes, running a fever will also be associated with an elevated heart rate. It could be pointing to atrial fibrillation, or it could be a sign of any other number of underlying health conditions that you need to get looked at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Halt any exercise and strenuous activity until you\u2019re sure about just what shape your heart is in, especially if heart palpitations and chest pain have become a common occurrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Heart Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of course, it\u2019s obvious that atrial fibrillation is in itself part of heart disease \u2013 but have you considered the fact that it could be a prime cause behind many other heart diseases, too?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, then you should make even more regular appointments with your doctor \u2013 and then it\u2019s time that you switch from a doctor to including a specialist in your doctor\u2019s visits. Your cardiologist will keep a close eye on your heart and ensure that the condition is being managed. They can also tell you if you are at risk of developing any other health conditions that could be associated with atrial fibrillation \u2013 including heart attacks<\/a> and other heart valve disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also consider the fact of a potential family history of heart disease, as any kind of heart disease in your family could put you at risk of developing it yourself \u2013 or passing it on to your children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. High Blood Pressure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Normal human blood pressure is considered to be 120 over 80 \u2013 though small variations in this can be considered normal, especially before or after an activity that affects your blood pressure in any way, such as eating or exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have high blood pressure, then you could be at risk of developing atrial fibrillation \u2013 or it could be a sign that you are already living with the disease and just didn\u2019t know it yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High blood pressure<\/a> is considered both a symptom and a condition on its own, and it often needs to be managed as a standalone health condition even when it does indicate something else. You\u2019ll be glad to know that high blood pressure is fairly easy to handle with the right medication and just a few small changes to your daily routine to ensure better heart health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days, you can also get a blood pressure kit from your pharmacy if you would like to check your own blood pressure at home \u2013 and this is highly recommended if you have any issues with blood pressure or problems associated with your heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Angina or Chest Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Angina <\/a>and chest pain are common symptoms that are associated with heart conditions in general, and you should always take these extremely seriously. Ironically, these are some of the symptoms that people are the quickest to brush off as \u201cnothing\u201d \u2013 this is usually because chest pain tends to be fleeting and appears to go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The important thing here is to know that while the feeling might \u201cgo away\u201d for a while, the health condition causing it does not \u2013 and the pain is just a manifestation of this and an indicator that something bigger is wrong with your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chest pain can also signal a range of other disorders, most of them related to heart health \u2013 and atrial fibrillation can also increase your risk of developing many of these over time, including an increased risk of having a heart attack or dissection of the aorta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any form of chest pain, no matter where, when or how often means that you should make an appointment with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Lung Disease-like Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of symptoms <\/a>associated with afib that aren\u2019t directly tied to your heart. Just one of these associated symptoms can be symptoms that mirror lung disease \u2013 that includes coughing, shortness of breath and pain in the lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These symptoms seem like they have nothing to do with your heart at all, but combined with any other symptoms on this list you could have a serious reason for concern and it\u2019s recommended that you make an appointment with your doctor to address this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These symptoms don\u2019t necessarily have to point to afib and there are a lot of other potential health conditions that could cause them \u2013 yes, including lung disease \u2013 but it\u2019s better to be safe and get it checked than assume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afib is a health condition that can floor your health when you least expect it \u2013 especially when the condition isn\u2019t being properly managed. If you aren\u2019t sure how to schedule your doctor\u2019s appointments, once every six months is a good rule of thumb, even when you don\u2019t think you have reason for a check-up just yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Weight Loss & Diarrhea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Atrial fibrillation can also come with symptoms that aren\u2019t related to your heart at all and affect completely different parts of your body. This means that these symptoms are very often ignored just because they are misattributed to something else \u2013 and this is something that even doctors and surgeons do on a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atrial fibrillation could easily make you experience symptoms like sudden weight loss and repeated diarrhea <\/a>for which you can\u2019t seem to find another cause: The heart is linked to the digestive system, and this is why people often feel that characteristic \u201cknot\u2019 in their stomach when their heart rate skyrockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both symptoms mean that you need to see a doctor regardless of whether or not you suspect you might have afib: Combined with any other symptoms on this list and with a family history of the condition, you should consider yourself a higher risk factor and get your heart checked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Asymptomatic Cases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many cases of afib are considered to be asymptomatic<\/a>, and they will show very little to no external symptoms other than the irregular heartbeat that\u2019s associated with atrial fibrillation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has a few different implications for people who might have the condition and haven\u2019t been diagnosed just yet. One of the most important is the fact that you are unlikely to spot the condition unless you undergo an ECG \u2013 do you see just why seeing your doctor at least once every six months is vitally important even when you think you are in perfect health?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asymptomatic cases also don\u2019t mean that you are in any way healthier as a result \u2013 it just means you aren\u2019t showing symptoms, but you should remember that the disorder itself is still there, and could still affect your life as much at any point even if you aren\u2019t showing the typical symptoms that are associated with the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Sudden-Onset Shortness of Breath<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shortness of breath is a symptom that might be associated with a lot of respiratory conditions including bronchitis <\/a>and asthma – but it\u2019s a symptom that can also mean atrial fibrillation, especially when combined with the other symptoms mentioned on this list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should pay attention to when shortness of breath occurs: For smokers, this usually happens in the morning and is associated with the typical \u201csmoker\u2019s cough\u201d \u2013 but if it\u2019s a condition like atrial fibrillation, then you could start experiencing shortness of breath especially when lying down flat \u2013 or at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This might also be combined with other symptoms already mentioned, such as heart palpitations or chest pain \u2013 and this trio of symptoms should never be ignored since all three of them will likely point to a serious heart condition that can still be treated if caught early on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For your doctor, note when shortness of breath was more likely to kick in (including times) and what you were doing at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Lower Extremity Swelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swelling <\/a>of the lower extremities can sometimes be a sign pointing straight to full-blown diabetes \u2013 but when not, it\u2019s almost always because of a problem with your circulation. This, in turn, means that there\u2019s likely an underlying heart condition, and lower extremity swelling could mean that your heart condition is already in a more advanced stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pay close attention to when the symptom occurs and whether or not it goes along with any of the other symptoms that have been mentioned on this list \u2013 including chest pain or heart palpitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It helps to keep a detailed diary of this and pass this along to your doctor for your next visit: Doctors appreciate having as much information as possible to work from, and it could make their job a lot easier when it comes to diagnosing a condition such as an afib.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to note the times \u2013 and with gadgets like smartwatches, you can even find out your exact heart rate at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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