1. Understand Potential Signs
Educate yourself about the physical symptoms that may accompany atrial fibrillation. Not everyone who has this type of rapid, irregular heartbeat shows outward symptoms of the disorder. People who do feel something abnormal going on with their hearts often feel a fluttering in their chests, along with chest pain, dizziness, sweating and the feeling that their hearts are racing. If you live with atrial fibrillation, you could also have trouble catching your breath and feel a general sense of weakness.
2. Monitor Your Heart's Regular Activity
In order to diagnose atrial fibrillation, your doctor may send you to have passive tests done on your heart. A passive test simply means that you will be monitored to see how your heart functions regularly, such as when you are doing normal, everyday activities. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical activity of your heart through electrodes that you wear on your skin. A portable ECG machine called a Holter monitor is sometimes used if your doctor wants to record your heart's activity for a long period of time or while you are going through your day's routine.
An echocardiogram, also called a Doppler echocardiogram, is a test that uses sound waves to let your doctor or technician actually see what your heart is doing when it beats.
3. Undergo Active Tests
Active tests are used to provoke an episode of irregular heart activity in order to identify the specific problem you are experiencing. Your doctor might send you for a stress test to measure how your heart functions while you exercise. Some people with atrial fibrillation experience irregular heartbeats, especially when they exercise.
Electrophysiology (EP) mapping is another active test that stimulates the heart to produce a rapid heartbeat. During EP testing, your doctor will insert a catheter in the blood vessels that lead to your heart. An electrode on the end of the catheter will try to manipulate your heart rate to the point that it becomes irregular. This procedure may sound scary, but it is an effective diagnostic tool. When doctors can see what makes your heart beat too quickly, they can proceed with a treatment plan more easily.
