Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation

Signs and Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation

Some patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) may have minimal or no symptoms where others may have severe symptoms especially at the onset of the arrhythmia. At onset, patients may complain of symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, cough, dizziness, fainting, and angina and then as the atrial fibrillation persists, the patient may complain of fatigue, shortness of breath, and may show signs of pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs.

Signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation may include:

• Palpitations
• Fatigue
• Exercise intolerance
• Shortness of breath
• Light headedness
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Syncope (fainting)
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Angina (pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest)
• Congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Pulmonary edema
• Anxiety

It is not uncommon, however, for persons with atrial fibrillation to have no symptoms whatsoever - a condition known as asymptomatic or silent atrial fibrillation. Studies have shown that the incidence of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation ranges from 10% to 40%. When symptoms of atrial fibrillation do occur, they may be non-specific and initially not be suspected to be related to an abnormality of the heart (i.e., AF).