Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib)
What Your Racing Heart Might Mean
Worried that you or your loved one may be suffering from symptoms of atrial fibrillation? It's a reasonable concern: An estimated 3 million Americans have this common heart condition. If you have no previous diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (also known as A-fib), here's what to watch for and what to do:
Racing heartbeat
A fast resting pulse can be a sign of atrial fibrillation; doctors usually investigate resting pulses that are higher than 100 beats per minute. A heart rate that gets above 100 with mild exertion (such as walking across the room) should also be checked into.
What to do: Report a high resting heartbeat to a doctor promptly. If you have a home blood pressure cuff, be sure to report the blood pressure, along with the heart rate. Many other acute health problems, such as low red blood cell count and infection, can cause a high heart rate, so your doctor's response will depend on what other symptoms are present. Be sure to mention all symptoms.
