Patient/caregiver was educated upon findings to watch for and report with atrial fibrillation as follows:
- Heart failure: Persistent back-up of fluid in the heart chambers can lead to progressive deterioration of heart function, enlargement of the heart, weakening of heart muscle, and heart failure. Individuals can present with swelling of the lower legs, with pitting upon applying slight pressure. The severity of pitting increases with severity of heart failure. Keep a close watch on the severity of pitting and report to your physician regarding any progressively increasing pedal edema.
- Chest pain and discomfort: Poor blood and oxygen supply to heart muscle in individuals with arrhythmia can result in chest pain and discomfort. In severe cases, individuals can even present with an episode of myocardial infarction or heart attack, damaging the heart muscle further. Keep a close watch and report to your physician regarding any chest pain and/or discomfort, how insignificant it may be.
- Worsening arrhythmia: Damaged heart muscle, secondary to poor blood and oxygen supply, can lead to increased palpitations and worsening arrhythmias, with fluttering, chest pain, and discomfort. Keep a close watch and report to your physician regarding any signs and symptoms of worsening arrhythmia, such as, fluttering in the chest, racing or abnormally slow heartbeat, poorly felt pulse, dizziness, any episodes of loss of consciousness, chest pain and/or discomfort, and fainting.
