Atrial fibrillation (or aFib) is the most common form of heart arrhythmia, and is a severe medical condition. AFib occurs when the heart beats irregularly (too fast, too slow, or with missed beats) instead of following its normal pattern. This chaotic rhythm causes less blood than usual to pump through the body, which if left untreated may increase the risk of stroke and heart failure. While AFib is not life-threatening, the condition needs to be managed with doctor-prescribed medicine to restore healthy heart rate.

The warning signs of AFib are as follows:

1. Irregular heartbeat

Frequently experiencing a racing heart or skipped beats, often accompanied by shortness of breath, is a telltale sign of AFib. If you suspect you have an irregular heart beat, check your own pulse by placing two fingers on your wrist (between the bone and tendon on the thumb side of your wrist) and count the beats for 15 seconds. Normal beats-per-minute can be accurately timed if you use the “one one-thousand” counting method. The average healthy adult bpm rate ranges between 60 to 100 bpm. Any pulse above 100 is considered abnormally fast, unless you are an athlete, pregnant, or a child.

2. Chest pain and pressure

A more severe symptom of AFib is experiencing chest pain, pressure, or tightness. This type of pain is referred to as “pre-stroke” and typically goes away after about 20 minutes. However, if it reoccurs or lasts longer than 20 minutes, you may be experiencing AFib. Experiencing an increased heart rate or chest pain when at rest, as well as persistent fatigue no matter how much you sleep, may be an indication of AFib.

3. Dizziness and fainting

Another common symptom of AFib is dizzy spells or fainting. Any loss of consciousness, no matter how short, should be brought to the attention of a doctor as soon as possible. One of the symptoms that many AFib patients experience is worsening dizziness. If you feel lightheaded or have trouble focusing on objects, this could be a sign that something isn’t quite right with your heart. This dizziness may occur during physical activity, as well as for an extended period of time after physical exertion.

4. Excessive sweating

Excessive sweating is a symptom that often occurs for AFib patients in between episodes, and can be triggered by eating a large meal or physical activity. If this becomes worse over time, it could indicate that the condition is progressing as the heart is placed under stress.

5. Shortness of breath

Another concerning symptom of AFib is shortness of breath. This type of breathlessness will often dissipate after lying down or relaxing, but can occur when exercising, climbing stairs, or getting up quickly.

6. Fatigue

Another common sign of AFib is excessive tiredness. If you find yourself constantly lacking energy and struggling to get through the day, this could be a sign that your heart isn’t completely healthy.

Any signs of AFib should be brought to the attention of a doctor immediately. Untreated AFib can leave patients susceptible to heart failure and stroke. Common risk factors for aFib include:

• Drinking alcohol excessively
• Using stimulant drugs (i.e., cocaine and methamphetamine)
• Taking certain medications (i.e., Aspirin and Warfarin)
• Dehydration from drinking too little water
• Anemia or lack of adequate red blood cells to transport oxygen
• Excessive caffeine consumption