Atrial fibrillation (AFib): symptoms, risks and care

Atrial fibrillation, AKA AFib or AF, is a common heart disorder.

Studies on sections of the Australian population suggest that it affects approximately 2 % of the general population,¹ which is equivalent to more than 540,000 people in 2026.

Incidence increases with age; it’s estimated that 5% of the Australian population aged 55 and over have AFib.

Early detection via a simple heart test allows for successful management in most cases. Recognising the risk factors, signs and symptoms is key to a healthy outcome.

A healthy heart pumps blood to the rest of your body in a rhythm of 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Arrhythmia is a fault that affects this steady pumping, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly.

Atrial fibrillation is a particular type of arrhythmia that causes the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) to twitch, out of sync with the lower 2 chambers (the ventricles). As a result, the heart beats irregularly which impacts its ability to pump blood properly.

Atrial fibrillation can be challenging to diagnose, as some patients are asymptomatic. Common early signs include²:

• Fluttering or pounding heart
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained tiredness
• Dizzy spells
• Chest pain
• Anxiety

If you are experiencing these symptoms, even if it’s only fatigue, see your GP.

Atrial fibrillation is not usually life-threatening when it's properly treated.

If left untreated, atrial fibrillation can lead to serious and life-threatening complications such as stroke or heart failure.

AFib is a major cause of stroke. If you have atrial fibrillation, your risk of stroke goes up by 5 times to those who don’t.² This is because it reduces your heart’s ability to pump blood properly, which increases the chance of a blood clot forming in your heart and travelling up to your brain.

Unmanaged atrial fibrillation can also weaken your heart over time and ultimately cause heart failure.

An electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) is used to diagnose atrial fibrillation. This is a simple, painless test that measures your heart's electrical activity.

During an ECG test, multiple leads are attached to your chest, arms and legs using sticky dots. The leads connect to a machine, which takes the reading.

Many GP surgeries offer on-the-spot tests, or you may be referred to a local diagnostic centre.

If your ECG is abnormal, you will need further tests or treatment.

Other things your doctor may do to diagnose atrial fibrillation include:

• Taking your medical history: your doctor will ask about your eating and exercise habits, your family history, and your symptoms.
• A physical examination: you will have a range of checks that relate to your heart and lungs, including checking for swelling in your legs and feet; taking your pulse; listening to your heart and lungs; taking your blood pressure; measuring your height and weight.
• Other diagnostic tests: these might include blood tests, ultrasound, MRI or asking you to wear a monitor.

Age is a major risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Basically, the younger you are, the less likely you are to have it.

Next to that is high blood pressure, which causes one in 5 cases of AFib.³

Heart issues, such as blocked arteries or valve problems, can contribute to risk. Medical conditions including diabetes and chronic kidney disease can increase risk.

Other known risk factors are obesity and sleep apnoea, smoking and heavy alcohol use.⁴

There's also a subset of patients for whom a family history of atrial fibrillation or other heart conditions is significant. If you have familial AFib, you may experience symptoms earlier in life than the average patient.⁵

Men are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to develop AFib than women.⁶

There are several ways to treat atrial fibrillation² and reduce your risk of stroke. Your doctor will regularly assess you and may prescribe medications to manage your heart rate or anti-coagulants (blood-thinning medications).

In some cases, a cardiologist may recommend ablation surgery to restore the heart's normal rhythm.

There are also lots of lifestyle changes you can make to help stop AFib from progressing. These include:

• Reaching/maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting alcohol use 
• Quitting smoking or vaping
• Exercising regularly
• Managing other conditions that raise your risk for AFib, including high blood pressure, sleep apnoea and diabetes 

Always follow your doctor’s advice about the best treatment for you.

If you’re living with atrial fibrillation, it’s important to know the warning signs of a stroke so you or your loved ones can get help quickly. Stroke warning signs can be grouped under a handy acronym, F.A.S.T.⁷

Face drooping or numbness (especially on one side)

Arm weakness or numbness

Speech difficulties (slurred speech, confusion)

Time to call emergency services

Other things to watch for include sudden vision changes, severe headaches, or loss of balance.

Don’t forget, AFib is highly manageable. With medical treatment and positive lifestyle changes, it’s perfectly possible to live a long and active life.