Atlanta, Ga. (Sept. 10, 2025) – September marks National Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Awareness Month. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), AFib is an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), a condition where the heart beats in an irregular, often fast, way. When a heart is in A-fib, it may not be pumping enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body, which can lead to other heart-related complications.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it is estimated that 12.1 million people in the U.S. will have AFib in 2030. While it is the most common type of arrhythmia, many people do not know they have AFib until they are at a routine doctor’s appointment or they are hospitalized for complications caused by AFib. Compared to people without, those with AFib, even without symptoms, have a five-times-greater risk of stroke, three-times-greater risk of heart failure and two-times-greater risk of dementia.

Ashish Bhimani, M.D., Chief of Electrophysiology at Piedmont Heart Institute, says it is important to increase one’s awareness of atrial fibrillation and other common conditions treated by electrophysiology, because without treatment, AFib can lead to blood clots, stroke, dementia and heart failure.

Symptoms can include:

• Palpitations or a racing heartbeat
• Chest discomfort or fullness
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue or lack of energy

Dr. Bhimani cautions patients not to overlook the more subtle symptoms, such as fatigue, if they do not experience palpitations, as they may or may not be present. Learn more about what AFib is, including symptoms, progression and how to manage it in this video.

“Different patients have different symptoms. Some describe AFib as feeling like skipped heartbeats; some as an erratic heartbeat, strong heart palpitations, or simply a rapid heartbeat; while for others it feels like a fluttering, butterflies or even a flopping fish in their chest; while some patients don’t have any symptoms at all,” says Dr. Bhimani. “If you suspect you may have this condition or another cardiac issue, he recommends scheduling an appointment with a cardiologist as soon as possible.”

Learn how managing modifiable risk factors, including lifestyle factors like weight, exercise and alcohol use, as well as treating conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea, can help prevent or reverse AFib, in this video.

In addition, self-monitoring your heart at home by checking your pulse and blood pressure daily are ways to identify and control AFib early. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, and AFib often go hand in hand and high blood pressure can contribute to the development of atrial fibrillation. Detecting atrial fibrillation is simple and can be done using:

• Pulse checks - A simple 30-second pulse check from the wrist or neck to detect an irregular heartbeat.
• Blood pressure monitors with irregular heartbeat alerts - many modern devices already have this feature.
• Portable ECG devices - small portable ECG monitors or smartwatches that detect atrial fibrillation in under a minute.

“If you notice your heart rate is greater than 110 beats per minute at rest and/or irregular, it’s probably time to visit and talk with your doctor about it,” explains Dr. Bhimani.

While AFib is serious, Dr. Bhimani says that early detection and management are key.

“People can live long, healthy and active lives with AFib. Controlling your risk factors for heart disease, stroke and knowing what can trigger your AFib will help improve your long-term management of AFib. The most important thing you can do is work with your doctor or other health care professionals to make sure you’re doing all you can to prevent complications that could occur as a result of AFib,” says Dr. Bhimani.

Dr. Bhimani specializes in all variety of heart rhythm disorders, including the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation and flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, bradycardia and heart block, ventricular tachycardia, and arrhythmias associated with heart failure. He has robust clinical experience in ablations, pacemaker implants (including left bundle branch and leadless pacing), defibrillator implants, and various other electrophysiology procedures. He has a special interest in electrophysiology education and developing system-wide approaches to improving quality of care.

Available at Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta, Newnan and Fayetteville, Dr. Bhimani welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans. To schedule an appointment, visit piedmont.org.