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There are several ways to diagnose atrial fibrillation. Sometimes, health care professionals detect AFib while treating other conditions or during surgery. More often, your health care professional will start with tests to monitor your heart’s rhythm. If you wear a smartwatch or other device that monitors your heart and alerts you to an abnormal rhythm, tell your health care professional. Those details can help with your diagnosis.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

An EKG measures the heart’s electrical activity, which controls your heart rhythm. It does not send electricity into your body. This test usually happens in a health care professional’s office and takes only a few minutes.

During an EKG:

• A technician puts sticky plastic sensors on your chest and limbs.
• The sensors have wires attached to a computer. They pick up your heart’s electrical signals and send the information to the computer.
• The computer turns the signals into a graph.
• A health care professional will review the graph for signs of AFib.

EKG strip showing a normal heartbeat

Learn more about electrocardiograms.

Heart Rhythm Monitor

A health care professional may give you a wearable heart monitor, sometimes called a Holter monitor. The device  tracks your heart’s rhythm for 24 or 48 hours or longer. It can detect abnormal rhythms that may not show up during the short EKG.

How Holter monitors work:

• A Holter monitor has three or four sensors that stick to your chest.
• The sensors connect to a recording device worn around your neck or on a belt.
• You may need to write down details about your physical activity and sleep.
• Your health care professional will review the details from the device to check for AFib.

Learn more about Holter monitors.

Medical History

Health care professionals will look at your risk factors when diagnosing AFib. They may review your medical records for:

• Older age
• Underlying heart issues
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes
• Sleep apnea
• Alcohol use
• Smoking
• Other health conditions