How to diagnose atrial fibrillation?

Written by Li Hai Wen

Cardiology

Updated on January 04, 2025

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Atrial fibrillation, abbreviated as AF, refers to rapid and irregular beating of the atrial chambers of the heart. How should one be examined after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation? Generally, the examination for atrial fibrillation involves the following aspects: First, blood tests, such as thyroid function tests, to see if there is hyperthyroidism causing the atrial fibrillation. Second, echocardiography. This test can reveal whether there are any heart valve diseases or myocardial diseases that might lead to atrial fibrillation. Third, electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitor. Both ECG and Holter monitoring are effective and non-invasive tests that confirm the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.

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Written by Tang Li

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Can atrial fibrillation cause cerebral infarction?

Patients with chronic atrial fibrillation have a relatively high incidence rate of embolism. For instance, those with a history of embolism, valvular disease, hypertension, diabetes, elderly patients, left atrial enlargement, and coronary artery disease are at increased risk of embolism. Atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor for stroke. As age increases, the incidence of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation also increases annually; atrial fibrillation doubles the mortality rate of stroke and significantly increases the disability rate. At the same time, atrial fibrillation also significantly increases the risk of recurrent stroke. Studies show that the incidence of stroke within the first year after a stroke is 6.92% in patients with atrial fibrillation, compared to 4.7% in those without atrial fibrillation. Therefore, anticoagulation therapy is the primary strategy for managing atrial fibrillation.

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Written by Chen Ya

Geriatrics

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Is heart palpitation the same as atrial fibrillation?

Palpitations are considered a disease term in Chinese medicine, while atrial fibrillation is a medical term in Western medicine. Generally, if there is a correlation between Chinese and Western medical terminology, palpitations can correspond to atrial fibrillation, but not all cases of palpitations are atrial fibrillation. In Chinese medicine, palpitations refer to a subjective feeling of unease or discomfort in the chest, and a feeling of irregular heartbeats. For example, some people may feel their heartbeat distinctly even when their heart rate is not fast, especially when their blood pressure is high; this is also considered palpitations. Additionally, some people may experience a rapid "thumping" heart rate after physical exertion or when they have a fever, which is also a manifestation of palpitations. There are also healthy, sensitive young individuals who can feel their heartbeat while lying down quietly or during sleep, which is also classified as palpitations. However, palpitations that are caused by heart arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation, where individuals can feel their heart beating rapidly and experience anxiety, are specifically indicative of atrial fibrillation; other types are not considered the same.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

45sec

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"Heart atrial fibrillation" refers to what?

Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinical arrhythmia. An electrocardiogram reveals abnormal fluctuations in the atria, which are fast and disordered with some fibrillating waves, known as atrial fibrillation. Diseases causing atrial fibrillation are often associated with structural heart disease. Common conditions include rheumatic heart disease, heart failure, pulmonary heart disease, viral myocarditis, coronary artery disease, and congenital heart disease. Atrial fibrillation can also occur in conditions that cause sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve activity changes, with hyperthyroidism being a common related disease.

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Written by Li Hai Wen

Cardiology

53sec

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Can atrial fibrillation lead to sudden death?

Atrial fibrillation is a very common arrhythmia in our daily lives, but does it lead to sudden death after its onset? Generally speaking, atrial fibrillation does not cause sudden death, but this does not mean that atrial fibrillation is safe. Atrial fibrillation often poses the following risks: Firstly, it causes symptoms; repeated episodes of atrial fibrillation can cause symptoms such as palpitations and chest tightness in patients. Secondly, it triggers heart failure; acute episodes of atrial fibrillation are often a significant cause of heart failure, which necessitates hospital treatment for many patients. Thirdly, it leads to complications from blood clots, which is one of the most severe yet common complications of atrial fibrillation, leaving sequelae such as weakness in walking or hemiplegia on one side of the body.

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Written by Li Hai Wen

Cardiology

1min 5sec

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Can atrial fibrillation be cured?

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia in daily life. Many patients often ask their doctors after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, "Can my atrial fibrillation be cured?" The answer is affirmative. With the advancement of medical technology, some patients can be completely cured of atrial fibrillation, which needs to be analyzed and judged based on the treatment methods for atrial fibrillation. First, medication treatment, which is currently the mainstream method for treating atrial fibrillation. Most patients use medication treatment, but it cannot effectively cure atrial fibrillation. Second, radiofrequency ablation treatment, which is a minimally invasive means of treating atrial fibrillation. This technology has become very mature, and many patients have achieved complete cure of atrial fibrillation through radiofrequency ablation treatment. Third, surgical treatment, where a portion of the patients undergo a Maze procedure during surgery, which can also achieve the purpose of curing atrial fibrillation.