Afib ?

[r9c]

Hi,i was just wondering can an ECG shows AFib ? because sometimes i felt like my heart is beating a bit funny,but 2 days ago i went to see a cardiologist,he listened to my heart then do an ecg there,which came back normal sinus rhythm.I have also done an Echo and ECG stress test 2 months ago.I do have Anxiety issues,and i am 24 years old.
Many thanks in advanced

[CFS1]

For me A fib is very uncomfortable.  It feels like my heart is jumping out of my chest, heart rate is usually about (mine anyway) 170 - 190 and it's very irregular  I get short of breath, exhausted feeling and dizzy.

[BobRBob]

I'm sure Jerry well describe how his a-fib feels; from reading his previous posts, I think he is relatively asymptomatic compared to some. I have paroxysmal a-fib which means it starts and stops on it's own. Medication has held my heart in NSR for months now. When my heart goes into a-fib, I feel it right away. The transition is especially uncomfortable for me. My cardiac efficiency is greatly reduced in a-fib leaving me short of breath after any effort. It is easy to tell if you are in a-fib. Just feel your pulse in the artery in your neck. If you are in afib, you will feel an irregular and rapid pulse which is very difficult to count. No mistaking it compared to normal rhythm which is just that - regular and normal and easy to count.

[r9c]

Thanks u guys for ur info,today i had an appointment at the cardiology department at the local hospital,i did my 2nd stress test..i managed to complete stage 3 of the stress test,the cardiologist theres nothing wrong with the ECG stress test result.He did schedule me for a setup for a holter thing...next month which i think i might have to wear for a few days then bring it back to them to see if theres any irregular heart rythm.When i mentioned about the afib or other abnormal rythm he says if the heart beats fast and beat in a same pattern then its unlikely to be some abnormal rythm.I hope its anxiety causing this palpation,i done echo,countless ECGs and thyroid test which came back fine,and the cardiologist says its very unlikely due to cardiac because i am a young chap,so final test will be the holter thing,hope its nothing significant.

btw jerry,can u describe the feelings on ur chest when u did experienced Afib ?

[cindy707]

Read your post and you need to calm yourself down a little.  A Fib is VERY common among the human race and your pulse rate is within normal limits very much so.  There are certain things that may set it off ie:  caffeine, sodas, chocolate, stress, upset, etc.  I know it is easier said than done w. anxiety but you have age on your side and if the docs spotted something funny believe me you'd know it right away.. Heart docs take no prisoners and get a little bossy w. all of us when they spot something wrong so i would def. try to find something to keep yourself occupied so that its not an issue w. you.  Alot of us have heart rates that go up into the upper 100's and like me a couple of times well into the 200's.  So as you can see my friend you aren't even close.........maybe join a gym or walk each day or join a sport team......you're 24 and have a whole lotta livin' yet to do....sounds like you need to worry about the big guns and from what your doc told you this ain't it.........good luck and i hope you have a calmer new year.......

[Jerry_NJ]

A "resting" HR of 101 in a doctor's office is not unusual, I think.  It is at the bottom range of what is called Tachycardia and, if needed (doesn't sound that it does in your case) is frequently treated with a beta blocker.

The best thing to do to calibrate the HR is to measure it yourself when you are truly at rest.  If it is still over 100, and especially if it is over 130 (these are not "standards", just my sense of good guideline numbers) I think you should discuss this with you cardiologist or even primary care doctor to see what they can recommend, perhaps a low dose beta blocker, like Toprol or a generic form Metoprolol - the later is what I take.  

Tachycardia can and does (I think even in most cases) exist in the absence of AFib.  A hallmark of untreated AFib is a faster and irregular HR.  If the HR is just fast, and is regular in its time period between pulses then I'd say it is unlikely that AFib is the culprit.  

[r9c]

hi,thanks 4 the info,i am just a bit worried,i have done an ecg at the ER a month ago,where my heart rate was very fast,sinus tachydria but the doctor says its fine,its just a fast heart rate only and 2 days ago when i visit the cardiologist and my heart rate was 101bpm,and the cardiologist said the ecg look fine,i was a bit nervous though but is 101 bpm a fast heart rate?

[Jerry_NJ]

Many people have AFib that is not permanent... that is they are in AFib for minutes or hours, but their heart retrun to NSR on its own.

So, a listen by a doctor or an EKC/ECG that is taken when the heart is in NSR will show a heart absent any AFib.   A wearable monitor is frequently used to catch heart rhythm problems that are intermittent.  

If your stomach tolerates aspirin well you may want to consider taking a low dose or half a regular dose aspirin a day.  It is best to discuss taking a daily aspirin with your doctor before taking it for longer than a few days.  I take aspirin and an anticoagulant every day to reduce the risk of clot formation from my permanent AFib.