How Atrial Fibrillation Is Diagnosed
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Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, may or may not cause symptoms. Your doctor could find it during a regular physical. Or you might make an appointment after you notice signs like a fluttering heartbeat or fatigue. If your doctor thinks you have it, the first thing they’ll do is listen to your heart. They may be able to hear your irregular heartbeat with a stethoscope. If not, they may ask for tests to confirm the diagnosis, find out what's causing it, and figure out the best way to treat it.  1. Doctor ExamWhen you make an appointment with your doctor or the specialist to see if you might have atrial fibrillation, ask if you need to do anything to prepare. You may need to follow a special diet before blood tests, for example. To make the most of your time with the doctor, be ready to describe your symptoms and when they happen. Make a list of medications you take, including supplements and over-the-counter medicines. And be prepared with information about your health history and that of close family members. Take note of any questions you have for your doctor, such as:
During your exam, the doctor will ask detailed questions about your:
During the physical exam, they are likely to:
2. Does AFib Show Up on an Electrocardiogram (EKG)?Yes. This simple, painless test is the most helpful to diagnose AFib. It records your heart's electrical activity. It can show the:
A doctor or technician places small patches, called electrodes, on different areas of your body, including several on your chest. These pick-up signals that make wave patterns on the EKG results. It gives your doctor a picture of your heart's overall electrical activity.
But because the test is a quick snapshot, a standard EKG won't always catch AFib. Sometimes you'll need a portable heart rhythm monitor to keep tabs on your ticker over a longer time.
3. Holter MonitorYou keep this device with you for 24 to 48 hours while it continuously records your heart's electrical activity. The extra time gives a better chance of picking up an abnormal heart rhythm, what doctors call an arrhythmia. Just as with a regular EKG, you'll have small electrodes attached to your chest. Wires connect these electrodes to a small recorder you can clip onto a belt, keep in a pocket, or hang around your neck. Then you just go about doing what you usually do. Your doctor will check the recorded results later. 4. Portable ElectrocardiogramYou might hear this called a handheld EKG. Or it could look like a wristwatch. It has electrodes on the back that take your pulse at your chest or your wrist. You can get one from a discount store, drugstore, or online. The doctor may suggest you do it so you can take a quick reading when you feel something. It’ll store your EKG data in its memory for your doctor to read. Aothor: Medically Reviewed by James Beckerman, MD, FACC , Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors If you want to learn more information about ECG, please click the link below: //www.chinautech.com/ |
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