| ENCYCLOPEDIA INDEX |
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| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Atrial fibrillation/flutter |
| Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention |
| Alternative Names: |
| Auricular fibrillation; A-fib |
| Symptoms: |
Note: Symptoms may begin and/or stop suddenly. |
| Signs and tests: |
| Listening to the heart with a stethoscope shows an irregular rhythm. The pulse may feel rapid, irregular, or both. Sometimes the pulse is too slow. The normal heart rate is 60 to 100, but in atrial fibrillation/flutter the heart rate may be 100 to 175. Blood pressure may be normal or low. An ECG shows atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Continuous ambulatory cardiac monitoring -- Holter monitor (24 hour test) -- may be necessary because the condition is often sporadic (occurring at some times but not others). Tests to determine the presence of underlying heart diseases may include:
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Heart, section through the middle |
Heart, front view |
Posterior heart arteries |
Anterior heart arteries |
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