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Overactive thyroid and afib
Ask the doctor
Image: © K.Bialasiewicz/Thinkstock
Q. After experiencing a racing heart off and on for several months, I was recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. I also discovered I have an overactive thyroid gland, for which my doctor referred me to an endocrinologist for treatment. Did my thyroid condition cause the atrial fibrillation?
A. The diagnosis of an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) suggests that probably was the trigger for the atrial fibrillation (afib) in your case. Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism include trouble sleeping, feeling uncomfortably warm, sweating more than usual, weight loss, a voracious appetite, and diarrhea.
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