Atrial Fibrillation

Symptoms

Some people with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms and are unaware of their condition until it is discovered by a doctor during a physical examination.

Others may feel symptoms, such as:

• Weakness
• Light-headedness
• Shortness of breath
• A fast pulse
• Chest pain
• Palpitations (sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flopping in the chest)

Atrial fibrillation that occurs infrequently is called paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Symptoms may come and go, lasting for a few minutes to hours and then stopping on their own. Chronic atrial fibrillation occurs when symptoms last until they are medically treated.