Tests for heart and circulatory conditions
Tests are used to diagnose a heart condition or to see how healthy your heart is. Find out what to expect from some of the most common tests.
Your heart is controlled by a conduction system which sends out electrical signals. This causes a heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia, which is a problem in the conduction system that can make your heart beat too slowly, too quickly and in an irregular way.
Atrial fibrillation happens when the electrical signals in the top chambers (atria) of your heart do not get sent out properly. They should be steady and regular, but instead they quiver or twitch (fibrillation). This causes your heart to beat randomly, which means it does not pump blood as well as it should.
There are different types of atrial fibrillation:
Atrial fibrillation is not life-threatening but it can create blood clots in the heart that may cause a stroke. If you have atrial fibrillation, it makes you five times more likely to have a stroke.
The symptoms of atrial fibrillation can include:
palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or like you have missed heartbeats)
chest pain
finding it harder to exercise
tiredness
shortness of breath
dizziness or feeling faint.
Speak to your healthcare professional if you have any of these symptoms.
It's essential to dial 999 if you have any symptoms that could be a heart attack. If you think you need to be seen before you can speak to your GP but you do not think you’re having a heart attack, call 111 for an assessment.
Do not delay because you think hospitals are too busy. The NHS still has systems in place to treat people for heart attacks. If you delay, you are more likely to suffer serious heart damage and more likely to need intensive care and to spend longer in hospital.
Atrial flutter is an arrhythmia that causes your heart to beat much faster than it should (around 300 beats per minute instead of the usual 60 to 100).
Some people with atrial fibrillation have atrial flutter. If this is the case, you may get periods of atrial flutter followed by periods of atrial fibrillation. If you have atrial flutter you’ll still be at risk of further heart conditions or a stroke and you may need treatment.
The cause of atrial fibrillation is not always known but damage to the heart is the most common cause. This can be caused by:
having had surgery on your heart
Atrial fibrillation can be linked with other health conditions, including:
Sometimes it can be triggered by other things, like:
Many people will not already have any conditions or risk factors but will still get atrial fibrillation. Your risk of getting atrial fibrillation increases as you get older too. When no cause can be found, it's known as ‘lone atrial fibrillation’.
Atrial fibrillation usually gets noticed when a healthcare professional is checking your pulse during a physical exam or health check-up. If they think you may have atrial fibrillation, they will send you for more tests. These may include:
You can check your heart rate by feeling your pulse at your wrist. A normal heart rate is steady and usually between 60 and 100 beats a minute when you're resting.
If you have atrial fibrillation, your pulse will have no set pattern and the beats might have different strengths. This is how your healthcare professional will be able to see the pattern of atrial fibrillation when looking at the results of your ECG.
Some devices like smart watches have tools that can help notice atrial fibrillation. This can be useful in first finding out about an issue with your heartbeat, but only a healthcare professional can diagnose you.
Watch our video on how to take your pulse.
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Your doctor will find the best treatment for you to control the rate and rhythm of your heart. This may include:
medication such as beta blockers and anti-arrhythmic drugs
having a pacemaker fitted.
Anticoagulant drugs and DOACs are the most effective treatments to reduce the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation.
Vicky was born with a hole in her heart but did not find out she had a collapsed mitral valve until she was 16 and needed open heart surgery. She was left with atrial fibrillation and after many procedures she received the diagnosis of heart failure at just 38. She talks to BHF about the lifechanging diagnosis.
Atrial fibrillation will affect your life but it’s a manageable condition. With the right treatment and lifestyle, you can still live well. To do so, it’s important to think about things like:
Taking your medication and following the guidance of your healthcare professional is the best way to live with atrial fibrillation well. Living a healthy lifestyle is very important too. A healthy lifestyle includes:
Read how Andrew, who was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation aged 60, did not let his diagnosis stop him doing what he enjoyed.
Atrial fibrillation - or AF - is a common abnormal heart rhythm. This short illustrated leaflet explains what it is, what the symptoms are and how you can treat it. It's useful for you if you've been diagnosed with AF or if you think you might have the symptoms of it.
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