When Your Heart Skips a Beat--And It’s Not About Love...

Ever feel your heart flutter, race, or skip a beat?

Maybe it's stress or too much coffee--but it could be something more serious, like atrial fibrillation (A-fib).

The husband of one of our clients had a scary bout of it last week.

This common heart rhythm issue affects over 3 million Americans, a number projected to soar as more of us deal with high blood pressure, weight gain, and aging.

The lifetime risk of A-fib is over 20%, yet many people don’t know they have it.

What is A-fib?

Imagine your heart’s upper chambers (atria) acting like an out-of-sync drummer, beating fast and irregularly while the lower chambers (ventricles) try to keep up.

That chaotic rhythm doesn’t pump blood efficiently, causing fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, or feeling like your heart’s doing somersaults.

The scary part? Some people feel nothing and have no idea their heart’s out of rhythm.

A-fib is dangerous. It raises your stroke risk (4 to 6 times higher), heart failure, and dementia, resulting from strokes and reduced blood circulation due to the abnormal heart rhythm.

Fortunately, A-fib is treatable and often preventable.

Lower Your Risk:

1. Cut alcohol down or out. Even moderate drinking can affect your heart’s electrical signals. “Holiday heart syndrome”--when binge drinking leads to heart rhythm problems--is something ER docs see all the time.

2. Control your blood pressure. Hypertension is a major trigger. Aim for readings below 120/80 mm Hg and limit sodium to under 2,300 mg per day.

3. Rethink the “more is better” workout mindset. Endurance athletes (think marathoners) have a fivefold increased risk of A-fib. Moderate exercise for 150 minutes a week can reduce A-fib risk..

4. Sleep like it matters. Because it does. Skimping on rest throws your body and heartbeat off rhythm. Get 7–9 solid hours a night..

5. Lose extra weight. Obesity is a known A-fib risk. Focus on sustainable changes, like filling half your plate with fiber-rich veggies.

How Do You Know If You Have It?

Symptoms range from heart flutters to shortness of breath to feeling exhausted by everyday tasks--things often blamed on stress or aging.

If something feels off, see your doctor. An EKG, treadmill test, or portable monitor can often detect A-fib.

(Not all palpitations are caused by A-fib)

If You’re Diagnosed

Treatment typically starts with medications to steady your heartbeat and prevent clots. If those stop working—or you want a more permanent solution—ablation may be an option.

It targets the misfiring cells in your heart’s wiring.

Some patients prefer ablation to to long-term meds and their side effects.

In one study, ablation prevented A-fib after a year in 75% of patients, compared to 45% in the drug-only group.

A quicker and gentler technique, pulsed field ablation is in testing..

Many people with A-fib thrive long-term on beta blockers or calcium channel blockers to support a steady rhythm, plus an anticoagulant to prevent blood clots.

If your heart feels like it’s doing the cha-cha when it should be calm, don’t ignore it.

The sooner you catch A-fib, the better your chances of staying healthy, active, and stroke-free!