AFib and Irregular Heartbeat: Signs, Causes, and When to Get Checked
October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Medically reviewed by the physicians of Gilead Heart & Vascular · Last reviewed: 2026-10-12
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the most common irregular heart rhythm, and while it can feel like fluttering, racing, or pounding, some people have no symptoms at all until it's caught on a routine EKG.
What Atrial Fibrillation Is
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the most common type of irregular heart rhythm. Instead of beating in a steady, coordinated pattern, the heart's upper chambers quiver rapidly and irregularly, which can reduce how efficiently the heart pumps blood.
Signs of AFib and Irregular Heartbeat
Common symptoms include heart palpitations that feel like fluttering, racing, or pounding, along with fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and reduced ability to exercise. Some people with AFib have no noticeable symptoms at all, and it's only discovered during a routine exam or an EKG done for another reason.
What Can Cause an Irregular Heartbeat
AFib and other arrhythmias can be linked to high blood pressure, other structural heart conditions, an overactive thyroid, excessive alcohol use, sleep apnea, and simply the natural effects of aging on the heart's electrical system. In many cases, more than one contributing factor is present.
Why AFib Shouldn't Be Ignored
Beyond the symptoms themselves, AFib significantly increases the risk of stroke, because blood can pool and clot in the heart's irregularly beating chambers. This is why getting evaluated matters even if symptoms feel mild or come and go.
How It's Diagnosed and Managed
Diagnosis typically starts with an EKG, sometimes paired with extended heart rhythm monitoring if symptoms are intermittent. Treatment can include medications to control heart rate or rhythm, blood thinners to reduce stroke risk, and in some cases, a catheter-based procedure called ablation.
Living With an AFib Diagnosis
An AFib diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean a major lifestyle overhaul. Many patients manage it well with medication and regular monitoring, continuing most of their normal activities. What matters most is staying consistent with follow-up, since the condition and its management, including stroke-risk medication, can need adjusting over time as your heart's rhythm patterns change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AFib dangerous?
AFib itself isn't always life-threatening, but it significantly raises the risk of stroke because blood can pool and clot in the heart's irregularly beating chambers.
Can AFib go away on its own?
Some episodes resolve without treatment, but AFib often needs to be evaluated and managed even when it comes and goes, since the stroke risk remains.
What does AFib feel like?
Common sensations include fluttering, racing, or pounding in the chest, along with fatigue, shortness of breath, or dizziness. Some people notice nothing at all.
Related Reading
Want to be seen soon and skip the wait at a place close to home? If you've noticed heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat, Gilead Heart & Vascular can evaluate your heart's rhythm and build a treatment plan at a location near you across Arizona.
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