Atrial fibrillation can have symptoms that are anywhere from unnoticeable to severe. Older people, in particular, are more likely to experience no symptoms and the condition is often first noticed during a routine check-up.

Symptoms in the chest include:

• Chest pain
• Palpitations

If you experience sudden chest pain or chest tightness, seek emergency help. Chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack, alongside nausea, vomiting, and sweating.

You may also experience symptoms whilst going about daily activities, such as:

• Breathlessness
• Tiredness/ fatigue
• Difficulty exercising
• Feeling weak or confused
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

Symptoms at night

If you have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) or vagal-induced AF, your symptoms may worsen at night. You might wake up feeling anxious or have a strange sensation in your chest. A bed partner may notice symptoms you don’t, such as heavy breathing while sleeping and night sweats.

If you have OSA, you might snore loudly, wake with a dry mouth or headache, and feel tired during the day. Up to 80% of people with atrial fibrillation have OSA, which can worsen symptoms if we don’t treat it.

Some people experience fewer symptoms sleeping on their side. Though, we don’t consider either side better than the other. You may benefit from doing yoga or deep breathing exercises.

While anyone can experience atrial fibrillation, certain factors can increase your risk.

These include factors out of your control, for example:

• Tall height
• Male gender
• Older age (over 50)
• Family history – especially in younger cases

Health issues, such as:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• High blood pressure
• Previous heart surgery
• High stress levels – physical and mental
• Thyroid disease, such as hyperthyroidism

And certain heart and lung conditions:

• Asthma
• Heart failure
• Lung cancer
• Pulmonary embolism
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Atrial fibrillation is not limited to those with previous or existing health conditions. It can affect those who are physically fit and exercise regularly. If you experience an irregular heartbeat or concerning symptoms, speak to your doctor or book an appointment with a cardiologist.

Atrial fibrillation treatment aims to control your heart rate and rhythm, as well as reduce your stroke risk. We will tailor your treatment plan around your general health, the type of AF you have, your age and symptoms. Any other conditions you have will also impact our treatment recommendations.

Treatment options include:

• Medications
• Cardioversion
• Catheter ablation
• Cryoballoon ablation
• Pacemaker

There are also lifestyle changes that you can make to prevent episodes, such as managing stress. We discuss these and the treatment options on our atrial fibrillation treatment page. Read our blog to learn more about lifestyle changes to help manage an arrhythmia.