Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.

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Heart, Blood & Circulation
/ Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

kinds of Afib

pamdidi
pamdidi
When I usually have Afib my heart skips a beat every 4th beat - lately I feel this fluttering in my chest so I just took my pulse and every 9th or 10th beat I skippe one or two beats. Is that still considered Afib?
pacyetep
pacyetep
Technical term: irregular heartbeat.

Afib causes irregular heartbeats (ventricular beats that is).

Afib: Atria quiver at fast rate causing fast (not always though) and irregular ventricular heartbeats.

Diagnosing afib is accomplished with an ECG/EKG. (No P wave and fribrillating line instead).

Pulse taking is not a perfect method to determine if you are in afib, but probably if your heartbeat is irregular and you were previously diagnosed, it probably is afib.

I think buying an OMRON ECG is a good investment if you want to be sure.
Retyred
Retyred
Hi Petycap - Iv'e been wondering about purchasing an OMRON ECG, do you have one yourself and do you find it helpful?
pacyetep
pacyetep
Yes. I am always in AFIB, but sometimes it looks more disorganized. I track what I was doing, eating, etc and use those readings to alter my habits. If you are paroxysmal, it would be very useful. $300 on Amazon.

If I ever got an NSR reading I think I would panic.
marikay234
marikay234
It is difficult to say without an EKG. If your heart beat is irregular that is likely a fib. If the rate between the skipped beats is very regular it is probably not.
heart2222
heart2222
You can buy an ECG machine on Amazon? You feel it's very accurate, Pete? I wouldn't know how to read it.
pacyetep
pacyetep
See my post on the other thread this morning. Google NSR and afib together (you can click google pictures) and you will see the difference.