You have stroke symptoms: numbness or weakness on one side of the body or face, difficulty with speech or thoughts, changes in vision or balance, or a sudden headache.You have trouble with bleeding while on a blood thinner.Your heart rate is very fast or very slow.The feelings you are having are new and you have not felt them before.Robinson says you should contact your doctor if: Sleep apnea is also one of the most commonly ignored risk factors, but one of the most treatable.” When to talk to your doctor about atrial fibrillation “The best thing you can do is discuss with your doctor any risk factors you might have and try to modify them by eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising, avoiding excessive intake of alcohol and abstaining from smoking. “We can never say there is one single cause of atrial fibrillation, and some people with atrial fibrillation have no identifiable risk factors,” says Robinson. Robinson says some patients may even have no symptoms at all.Īs for what causes it, Robinson says you may be at a higher risk for atrial fibrillation if you have had prior heart valve problems, heart attack or heart surgery, or have hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid disorders, lung problems, are overweight or consume a lot of alcohol. This causes the heart to pump less efficiently, which can lead to a lack of oxygen in the body and symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue or lightheadedness. A healthy heart beats 60-100 times per minute, but atrial fibrillation causes it to beat faster, sometimes up to 175 times per minute. “But if your heart feels like it’s racing and it doesn’t go away, it could be atrial fibrillation, a common cardiac arrhythmia.”Ītrial fibrillation (AFib or AF) occurs when the electrical impulses in your heart aren’t working the way they’re supposed to. These extra or skipped beats are called premature ventricular or atrial contractions, and can also be caused by caffeine or extra stress,” says Robinson. An irregular heartbeat is sometimes just part of your normal heart rhythm. “Atypical beats are almost always benign. While an irregular heartbeat is certainly out of your ordinary and can be alarming, it doesn’t always mean that you need to worry. Many people experience unexpected heart sensations.

That flutter sensation that creeps up before a big work presentation or meeting someone on a blind date.īut have you ever felt butterflies in your chest? Or like your heart is still running the marathon you’ve already finished? We asked Andrea Robinson, MSN, ACNP, an electrophysiology nurse practitioner at OhioHealth Heart & Vascular Physicians, what these feelings mean and when you should call your doctor. Butterflies in your stomach – you know the feeling.

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