- Tiredness
You may have a feeling of being overtired or lack the energy to do the things would normally do. - Dizziness or light-headedness
This can happen suddenly, and you may feel light-headed or like the room is spinning. - Syncope (fainting)
This is when you are very unsteady and you may begin to, or actually ‘black out’ and lose consciousness. - Angina (chest pain)
You may feel pain in your chest, or pressure on your chest. - Shortness of breath
You may find it difficult to breathe while you are doing normal activities, or even when you are just sitting down or resting. - Palpitations (the feeling of your heart ‘pounding’)
Your heart beats may suddenly become more noticeable. In AF you may feel your heart begin to race (tachycardia) or beat in an irregular way, or it may feel like a sudden pounding, fluttering, or racing feeling in the chest.
What risk factors increase the risk of AF?
There are certain factors which increase the likelihood that AF will develop. These are:3,4
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Atherosclerosis
- Coronary artery disease
- Congestive heart failure
Seek immediate medical attention if you develop breathlessness, chest pain or notice irregularity in your heartbeat.
