What Is AFib?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
5. Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis
If you visit your doctor with AFIB symptoms, the doctor will ask for tests to confirm your diagnosis and determine your overall heart function. This includes a physical examination in order to check your pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, and pulmonary functions. But it is the electrocardiogram (EKG) that will help trace your heart impulses.
If, however, the atrial fibrillation does not occur while you undergo EKG, your doctor will order for other tests such as a Holter monitor, which can monitor your heart for up to two days, and an echocardiogram (ECG), which produces a moving image of your heart. Blood tests and chest x-rays may also be done as part of the diagnosis process.
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