Fatigue

One of the symptoms of atrial fibrillation is fatigue. It is certainly normal to feel tired from time to time, however, if you are feeling exhausted or tired all the time, either suddenly or persistently, then this warrants further investigation.

Feelings of tiredness, exhaustion, becoming easily tired or a general lack of energy can be attributed to a wide range of underlying medical conditions that you may not be aware of. Common conditions include anaemia, vitamin D insufficiency, thyroid problems and atrial fibrillation.

Tiredness resulting from atrial fibrillation is caused by a faster than usual and erratic heart beat. This leads to a lack of coordination between different heart chambers, which makes the pumping of blood less efficient. As a result, the supply of oxygen to organs is affected which causes the feeling of exhaustion.

Some drugs prescribed by your doctor can help relieve the fatigue from atrial fibrillation but the most efficient treatment is to restore a normal heart rhythm. Atrial fibrillation can sometimes be brought under control with medication and/or medical procedures known as cardioversion and ablation. Most patients are eligible for this treatment but there are certain circumstances or comorbidities that would make such attempts futile, hence are generally avoided.

To find out more about these procedures, click on the link to the following pages:

• “What is a cardioversion?”
• “What is an ablation?”

Related Pages

• Fatigue
• Breathlessness
• Fainting, Dizziness, and Blackouts
• Palpitations
• Chest pain
• Fluttering
• How common is atrial fibrillation?
• Who is at higher risk for atrial fibrillation?
• How does it feel to have atrial fibrillation?