Can anxiety cause Atrial fibrillation?

Romeo1990

New Member

Joined : Aug 2016

Posts : 15

Posted 4/20/2017 3:44 PM (GMT 0)

My question is a bit more complicated than the thread title suggests.

I fully understand that anxiety is a common culprit behind heart pounding, but how does one differentiate between it being Atrial fibrillation itself and anxiety? If a 24-hour ECG reveals Atrial fibrillation in phases that you list as times where you felt heart palpitations, would it then primarily be a heart issue or could that still be down to anxiety?

I know for sure that heart pounding caused by anxiety could very often be missed by the devices (as they record your heart-beat as normal), but I wonder whether actual Atrial fibrillation that is recorded in an ECG could still be caused by just anxiety.... ?

Scaredy Cat

Elite Member

Joined : Sep 2006

Posts : 28868

Posted 4/20/2017 5:02 PM (GMT 0)

R,

Many anomolies in the heart's rhythm can be brought on, or exacerbated by anxiety....

...however, only a doctor can determine what is a benign, passing change due to stress, and what needs to be addressed as something more.

What did your doctor say about the runs of A-fib? If you have not had your concerns clearly explained by your doctor, you may want to consider a consult with a cardiologist for peace of mind.

S.C.

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