Yes, Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) can affect your legs, primarily through fluid buildup (edema) in the feet, ankles, and lower legs, causing swelling and weight gain due to the heart's inefficient pumping, and it can also increase the risk of blood clots traveling to leg arteries, causing pain or weakness. These leg symptoms often signal that AFib is leading to or worsening heart failure, or they can be a sign of related issues like poor circulation.
Atrial fibrillation – commonly called AFib – is an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue, and weakness. AFib increases the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart failure. It can lower quality of life since it can make going for a walk, climbing the stairs or doing hobbies more difficult.
Pain, achiness, fatigue, burning, or discomfort in the muscles of your feet, calves, or thighs. Symptoms that often appear during walking or exercise, and go away after several minutes of rest. Numbness in your legs or feet when you are at rest. Your legs may also feel cool to the touch, and the skin may look pale.
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm. An irregular heart rhythm is called an arrhythmia. AFib can lead to blood clots in the heart. The condition also increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
Most blood clots from AFib go to your brain, but not all. If a blood clot is in your arm or leg, you'll most likely notice: Tenderness. Swelling.
The 30-second rule in atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a widely used, though debated, guideline defining an AFib episode as an irregularly irregular heart rhythm lasting at least 30 seconds on an ECG, used to distinguish it from shorter, less significant atrial arrhythmias and help guide diagnosis and treatment, particularly for stroke risk and ablation success. While a standard for trials and device monitoring, newer research suggests shorter runs of AF might still be clinically important, prompting ongoing discussion about whether this threshold accurately reflects stroke risk and overall AF burden.
Symptoms of a blocked artery in the leg, often Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), typically start as muscle pain, cramping, or fatigue in the calves, thighs, or hips during activity (like walking) that goes away with rest, known as claudication. More severe blockage causes resting leg pain, cool skin, slow-healing sores, hair loss, shiny skin, or even gangrene, indicating significantly reduced blood flow.
See your health care provider as soon as possible if you have: Symptoms of infection, such as redness, warmth or tenderness, or you have a fever greater than100 F (37.8 C). A leg that is swollen, pale or cooler than usual. Calf pain, especially after sitting for a long time, such as on a long car trip or plane ride.
Poor circulation can cause a number of symptoms, including:
The lack of blood supply can cause dizzy spells or lightheadedness. Afib dizziness may be mild or severe, and may cause nausea or vomiting. Severe episodes can even lead to temporary loss of consciousness, known as fainting or syncope.
Stage 3 congestive heart failure
Even light exercise can bring on symptoms such as heart palpitations, fatigue and shortness of breath. You may also experience symptoms such as weak legs, swollen feet, legs and stomach,” explains Dr Hadjiphilippou.
Any exercise is good, but if you're not used to it or worried you'll make your AF worse, talk to your doctor or specialist. A brisk walk is suitable for almost everyone and getting out in the fresh air will make you feel better physically and mentally.
If you notice that your AFib episodes happen more often, last longer, or your medication doesn't help as much, your condition is probably getting worse. As AFib progresses, you might notice some signs. You might feel more weak, tired, lightheaded, and anxious about the condition.
The fluid buildup can cause shortness of breath and swelling of the legs and feet. Poor blood flow may cause the skin to look blue or gray. Depending on your skin color, these color changes may be harder or easier to see. Some types of heart failure can lead to an enlarged heart.
What is a Normal Heart Rate for Someone with Atrial Fibrillation? The normal heart rate for someone without A-fib typically runs from 60-100 beats per minute, while a patient with A-fib may see a heart rate jump to 100-200 beats per minute.
Watch for symptoms that could signal something more serious:
You can also get leg pains when there is something wrong with your body: problems with your blood vessels — such as a blood clot, or poor blood flow. varicose veins. arthritis — gout, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Leg pain can signal various diseases, often related to poor blood flow (like Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)), nerve issues (like Sciatica, Diabetic Neuropathy, or Restless Legs Syndrome), joint/bone problems (like Arthritis or infections), or muscle conditions, with symptoms varying from exercise-induced cramping to persistent aching, swelling, or numbness.
Possible symptoms include: Leg discomfort when active: You might feel pain, cramping, numbness or fatigue in your calves, thighs or butt. It starts during physical activity, like walking or climbing stairs. And it stops when you stop moving — typically within 10 minutes.
1. Your legs hurt when you walk. Sometimes called "window shopping pain" or claudication, one symptom of vascular disease is when your legs get sore when you are walking for a brief period of time. It is relieved when you stop or rest.
Any type of stress can cause episodes of atrial fibrillation. Periods of stress can result in the release of stress-related hormones that can trigger Afib. Furthermore, individuals under stress may tend to have sleep issues, consume more caffeine or drink more alcohol – habits that together can lead to an Afib event.
Current guidelines support the well-established clinical practice that patients who present with atrial fibrillation (AF) of less than 48 hours duration should be considered for cardioversion, even in the absence of pre-existing anticoagulation.
If you can't feel a pulse on your wrist, try checking under your jaw. Be careful as this makes some people lightheaded. If your pulse feels irregular, try checking for 60 seconds instead. The beat should be steady and regular.