AFib Guide

What’s AFib, and should I be concerned? AFib stands for atrial fibrillation, a condition that can cause you to have a highly irregular or fast heartbeat. It’s very unsettling, but you’re not alone. Between 2.7 million and 6.1 million Americans are living with it right now*. And AtlantiCare has AFib experts who can help. The concern is that, if left untreated, a racing heart and related symptoms can lead to heart failure or in rare cases a heart attack. Though usually non-life-threatening, AFib is serious. Episodes may seem only temporary, but they’ll likely come back. Why is it serious? When your heart’s upper and lower chambers don’t pump in rhythm, blood pools in the upper chamber, the atria, where it is prone to form clots. If a clot were to break loose from the heart, it could travel anywhere. To your brain, lungs or other major organs, where it could lodge, block the flow of blood and likely cause a stroke that could disable or partially paralyze you. That’s why diagnosis and treatment is so important. What are the signs and symptoms of AFib? AFib can present itself as sudden or prolonged dizziness. Lightheadedness or feeling out of breath. Fainting. General weakness or tiredness. Confusion or anxiety. Heart fluttering or beating rapidly. Chest pounding or pain. Or pressure that stops you in your tracks. Bottom line, if your heart is doing flip flops, it makes sense to get it checked out right away by an AtlantiCare primary care provider or cardiac specialist. *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention