History and Physical Exam for Atrial Fibrillation

Exam Overview

Asking questions about your medical history and doing a physical exam for atrial fibrillation can reveal important information about your health and will often direct more testing.

Your doctor may ask the following questions:

• What symptoms, if any, have you experienced?
• Have you experienced a sensation of fluttering in your chest? Any lightheadedness? Any chest pain? Any shortness of breath?
• Have you gained or lost more than 10 lb (4.5 kg) in the last 6 months without dieting? Do you ever feel hot or flushed?
• Have you noticed a change in your breathing, sleeping, or eating patterns?
• Do you exercise?
  • What type of exercise do you engage in?
  • How often do you exercise?
  • How do you feel during physical activity?
  • Do you tire easily while performing routine activities?
• Have you had any recent or past illnesses, such as rheumatic fever, diabetes, or heart disease?
• Do you have a family history of atrial fibrillation, diabetes, heart disease, or thyroid disease?
• Do you drink alcohol? If so, how much and how often do you drink?
• Do you smoke?
• Have you ever used illegal drugs, such as methamphetamines, cocaine, or heroin? Have you ever injected drugs?
• What medicines, including any over-the-counter medicines, do you take?

During the physical exam, your doctor will:

• Listen to your heart rate and rhythm through a stethoscope, paying special attention to changes in the normal heart sounds, such as murmurs or rubs, that may mean problems with blood flow, a valve, or inflammation of the sac around the heart (pericarditis).
• Listen to your lungs through a stethoscope for wheezes or other sounds of lung disease or fluid buildup.
• Measure your blood pressure.
• Check your legs, ankles, and abdomen for fluid buildup (edema), which can occur in heart failure.
• Check the veins in your neck for swelling, which is a possible sign of heart failure.
• Assess your circulation. A dusky bluish color to the fingers, toes, or lips or lack of hair on the feet may mean poor circulation. Your doctor may also check for a pulse in the tops of your feet.
• Feel your neck to check for any swelling or other changes in your thyroid gland.