Atrial Fibrillation

Symptoms

A heart in atrial fibrillation doesn't beat efficiently. It may not be able to pump adequate blood out to the body with each heartbeat, causing a blood pressure to drop.

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

Others may feel symptoms, such as:

• Weakness
• Light-headedness
• Shortness of breath

Atrial fibrillation may also result in these signs and symptoms:

• A fast pulse
• Chest pain
• Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flopping in the chest.

Atrial fibrillation may occur infrequently, in which case it's 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 is when symptoms last until they're medically treated.