02/12/2025
Atrial Fibrillation 6
Quiz & Answers
Q1. What is atrial fibrillation?
A1. It is a type of heart problem where your heartbeat is not steady.
Q2. What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
A2. Irregular heartbeat, suddenly feeling like your heart is pounding, heartbeat faster than 100 beats per minute, feeling very tired, finding it harder to exercise, chest pain or tightness, feeling short of breath, lightheaded, dizzy or like you might faint.
Q3. What if there are no symptoms?
A3. Then AF may be found as part of a routine check up of when you are having tests for something else.
Q4. When should I see a GP?
A4. If you think you have symptoms of AF, you have heart palpitations that keep happening or getting worse, you have been diagnosed with AF and treatment is not helping your symptoms.
Q5. What is the difference between paroxysmal AF and persistent AF?
A5. This is when your symptoms may start and stop on their own whereas persistent AF is when the symptoms stop after treatment.
Q6. When do I need to call 999?
A6. If you have a fast or irregular heartbeat and any of these symptoms - chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, feeling or being sick, fainting, feeling dizzy or falling over, server headache, weakness or numbness on one side of your body, blurred vision or loss of sight, confusion or difficulty speaking.
Q7. What tests may be done?
A7. An electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, a chest x-ray, blood tests.
Q8. What are the causes of AF?
A8. Anyone can get it but you are more likely to get it if you are 55 or older, a man, overweight, you smoke, you take certain medicines, you do endurance sports.
Q9. How will it affect my life?
A9. There is currently no cure, but treatment should help manage the symptoms and lower risk of complications.
Q10. What can I do to help?
A10. Avoid triggers like caffeine, spicy food, stress, dehydration and lack of sleep, keep to a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly.
