I am confused! Ectopic beats v Atrial fibrilation?

[chickeninthewood]

My husband's GP felt his pulse and said he had Atrial Fibrilation and must go on blood thinners. He didn't suggest an ecg or any further tests. Surely this is rather highhanded? It could be just "ectopics"?

[Jetcat]

I’m no doctor or health professional but I would have thought he needs an ecg to be honest.!!!Get back intouch with the doctors and push for one.

[LSCE]

As Jetcat said AF would need to be confirmed by ECG

[EMBoy]

I'm not a doctor, but am a (retired) healthcare professional. I am pretty sure it is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis of AFib on just a pulse rate, so I agree with Jetcat. You should push for an ECG and maybe an appointment with a cardiologist. In the meantime, taking the blood thinners is a good precaution.

[Hephzibar]

Hi, taking a manual pulse can certainly help a diagnosis, but surely an ECG would be a definite confirmation. Perhaps there is a practice nurse/ HCA who can do one. As others have said - ask for an ecg!

[chickeninthewood]

thanks all, he will ask for one.

[Classicfan49]

Yes, I think he’d need an ECG, but immediate anticoagulants are a sensible move as AF increases your chances of a stroke by 5 times. The blood thinning helps to mitigate against this, so a good precaution perhaps before the diagnosis is confirmed.