Symptom 6: Rapid Heart Rate – The Hastened Tempo
While the heart’s rhythm sets the pace for the body, AFIB disrupts this rhythm, leading to a rapid heart rate, also known as tachycardia. This quickened tempo is a common symptom of AFIB and can be quite disconcerting.
Tachycardia in AFIB occurs when the disordered electrical signals in the atria reach the ventricles. These chaotic signals trigger the ventricles to contract rapidly, accelerating the heart rate and causing the sensation of a racing heart.
The experience is often described as the heart pounding out of the chest. This heightened awareness of one’s heartbeat can be unsettling. It’s a persistent reminder of the turmoil within the heart’s chambers.
The rapid heart rate also has wider implications. The speedier contractions compromise the heart’s ability to fill with blood between beats. This ineffective filling reduces the amount of blood pumped out to the body with each beat, further highlighting the impact of AFIB.
To sum it up, a rapid heart rate is more than just a symptom; it’s a palpable portrayal of the chaos within the heart. The hastened tempo echoes the disordered dance of electrical signals in AFIB, making it a critical marker of the condition. (6)
