Can atrial fibrillation cause chest pain?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on May 03, 2025
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During an episode of atrial fibrillation, it is possible for symptoms such as chest pain to occur. Common symptoms of atrial fibrillation include palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. However, during a flare-up of atrial fibrillation, if the heart rate significantly increases, it can lead to chest pain symptoms. This is because when atrial fibrillation occurs and the heart rate significantly increases, it results in a marked shortening of the ventricular diastolic filling period. This reduces the blood volume during the diastolic filling period, further affecting the heart's pumping during the systole, leading to myocardial ischemia and causing symptoms similar to those of angina pectoris.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Atrial fibrillation symptoms

Atrial fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia we encounter in our daily lives. So, what symptoms generally accompany atrial fibrillation? These symptoms are often characterized by sudden onset and cessation of palpitations, or chest tightness. During palpitations or chest tightness, dizziness often accompanies, and some patients may experience chest pain. If you exhibit these symptoms, don't panic. You can visit the cardiology outpatient department at a hospital. There, a doctor can perform an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor test to see if you have atrial fibrillation. Blood tests can also be done to check if hyperthyroidism, a potential cause of atrial fibrillation, is present. Based on these examinations, follow the doctor's guidance and take medications as prescribed for treatment.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Can atrial fibrillation lead to sudden death?

Atrial fibrillation is a very common arrhythmia in our daily lives, but does it lead to sudden death after its onset? Generally speaking, atrial fibrillation does not cause sudden death, but this does not mean that atrial fibrillation is safe. Atrial fibrillation often poses the following risks: Firstly, it causes symptoms; repeated episodes of atrial fibrillation can cause symptoms such as palpitations and chest tightness in patients. Secondly, it triggers heart failure; acute episodes of atrial fibrillation are often a significant cause of heart failure, which necessitates hospital treatment for many patients. Thirdly, it leads to complications from blood clots, which is one of the most severe yet common complications of atrial fibrillation, leaving sequelae such as weakness in walking or hemiplegia on one side of the body.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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How is atrial fibrillation surgery performed?

Frequent atrial fibrillation attacks with a rapid ventricular rate, in cases unresponsive to drug treatment, can be managed by atrioventricular node ablation followed by the placement of a ventricular demand or dual-chamber pacemaker. Other treatment methods include radiofrequency ablation, surgical operations, and implantation of atrial defibrillators. In recent years, there have been significant advances in the methods for atrial fibrillation ablation, and the indications for atrial fibrillation ablation have been expanded. However, the success rate remains suboptimal and the recurrence rate is relatively high. Currently, international guidelines still categorize radiofrequency ablation as a second-line treatment for atrial fibrillation, not as the first choice treatment.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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Can atrial fibrillation be cured?

The treatment of atrial fibrillation, first and foremost, should actively seek the primary disease and inducing factors of atrial fibrillation, and make corresponding treatments. Currently, the treatment of atrial fibrillation mainly includes two types: one is drug treatment. Since patients with atrial fibrillation have a higher incidence of embolism and may have a history of embolism, valve disease, hypertension, diabetes, older patients, left atrial enlargement, and coronary heart disease, which can increase the risk of embolism, therefore, such patients should be advised to undergo long-term anticoagulation treatment. Another type of drug treatment is to control the ventricular rate. When drug treatment is ineffective, surgical treatment can be chosen, and the main surgical treatment currently is radiofrequency ablation.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
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How to diagnose atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation, abbreviated as AF, refers to rapid and irregular beating of the atrial chambers of the heart. How should one be examined after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation? Generally, the examination for atrial fibrillation involves the following aspects: First, blood tests, such as thyroid function tests, to see if there is hyperthyroidism causing the atrial fibrillation. Second, echocardiography. This test can reveal whether there are any heart valve diseases or myocardial diseases that might lead to atrial fibrillation. Third, electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitor. Both ECG and Holter monitoring are effective and non-invasive tests that confirm the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.