Some people with AFib don’t have any symptoms. Those who do may report:
- Heart palpitation – a thumping or racing heart, fluttering or skipping beats
- Feeling unusually tired or fatigued
- Unexplained shortness of breath
- Dizziness or fainting spells
- Chest pain (angina)
What Increases Your Risk?
Several factors make AFib more likely:
- Older age, although it can happen at any age
- Conditions that place added strain on the heart including high blood pressure, a previous heart attack, heart surgery, valve disease, heart failure
- Other illnesses such as obesity, sleep apnea or hyperthyroidism
- Family history
- Drinking too much alcohol (routinely having 3 or more drinks a day or binge drinking)
Episodes of AFib are often triggered by certain activities. These may include:
- Heavy alcohol use
- Excessive stimulants such as amphetamines and tobacco
- Periods of severe stress
- the stress of the body fighting infection
- the stress of recent surgery
Pay attention to what might make your symptoms of AFib worse. Be sure to share this information with your health care team.