Atrial Fibrillation, Part 1 - Fletcher Allen Health Care, Vermont

[WoundedEgo]

I liked this guy for a while, when he dispensed knowledge, but he wound up painting you into a "medication/surgery corner", and then started selling you his brand of remedy.. not really my idea of a doctor...

Have you tried bananas? They are loaded with Postasium, which is probably all you need...

[pedrowerberg]

Dear Dr. Fletcher I had atrial fibrillation in 2009 and after going through a long treatment--3 diversions included- I got rid of it for 2 years and led a normal life until I had a recurring episode a few days ago. Through a dripping of amoidarone the arrhythmia was reversed in hospital I am taking my pills now -amiodarone and Nebivolol Due to the side effects of amiodarone .My doctor is recommending a minimally invasive surgical ablation. Your input would be greatly appreciated..

[HarryTrumansGhost]

Do not attempt to have this doen at a teaching hospital: Google "Collateral Damage by Dan Walter"

[xzaxx]

its from 100 to 220 not 300 or 400. you will die and wont handle 300 in a minute.

[coolanddark]

I had a an AF attack 2 months ago. I was in the hospital over night. Im now on Atenolol beta blocker. I havent had any full blown AF episodes that lasted 3 hours like the one that sent me to the ER but I have had flutters and a few strong deep sinking arrhytmias. One time was really bad, I though I was going to die. I got light headed and had a panic attack. It lasted for about one minute. Im just waiting around to die now. Merry Christmas

[justcallmethelma]

@coolanddark my friend ,did u know how to spy on other people, if they dont fav something?!but comment, well thats how i found this comment of urs & i wish u had told me! i only check in to make sure one checks in, then i know they are okay!(its part of the YTs lack of privacy issues, that i hate bigtime & why i dont comment on things that i wish to keep secret!)well i sure hope ur condition is not as serious that ur waiting aroudn to die!...from a friend who really does care u know!! love&hugs!

[FletcherAllen]

@coolanddark I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing these symptoms. Based on the feelings that you describe during your heart rhythms I would strongly suggest that you get in to see your doctor soon. If you feel badly enough you ought to go to an emergency room.

[rocaho001]

@coolanddark oh my buddy :( im so sorry. im having heart issues right now also and im really spooked. i just turned 21 and i really dont want to die yet. i want to live a normal life

[skipheaton]

@coolanddark I have regular AF episodes, sometimes lasting for 8 hours or more. I go to 150 bpm sometimes, but mostly 120 or so. I take a beta blocker daily and a thinner. I had a heart attack 4 years ago and open heart surgery for 5 bypasses. Basically, don't let it get you down, live your life and stay positive. Eat right, move, don't smoke, cut down on caffein and alcohol. If you worry about it, that just causes stress, and you don't need that. Good Luck !

[fromthispoint]

I started a fib when i was 23 years old, my first drug was, Inderal is a beta-blocker, I took it for years , Then Tenormin , I could not sleep for five days , and was in awake or REM, Dr changed me to Calan, I could sleep,but my bowels all but shut down,I had to take a Laxtive for six years,sennacot,purdium,and then I had to change it to another beta blocker ,Blocadren,I have took Blocadren for almost 20 years, had to stop lanoxin,Valum 10 5 mgs a day with beta blocker bloc, no more a fib valum.

[pinggirl79]

Now, after this second episode the ER cardiologist has recommended he take DIGOXIN for the rest of his life. He does go into bradychardia in his sleep. We are concerned regarding the dangers of this medication vs. the benefit.

The AF was brought on by intense physical exertion. We are going to Emory for a second opinion, but in the mean time, I wonder what your thoughts are on the use of DIGOXIN to manage lone a-fibbers? Excellent blood pressure, average pulse in the 60's at rest. Thanks!!

[pinggirl79]

Hi Dr. Allen- Thank you very much for this informative video! I would like to ask you a question in regarding to "Lone Atrial Fibrillation." My husband is 34 and we just recently went through our second round with Lone AF, he had one episode of AF when he was 28. After which he did the nuclear stress test, wore a holter monitor, and underwent a heart cath. Everything came back normal, and we were advised to keep a healthy diet and low stress.

[JoelDres]

I'm 38 with AF. I would be grateful if you answer some questions pls (1) are there long term effects from continuing with my current daily medication: clopigogrel 75mg, tambocor 100 mg, metropolol 25 mg, perindropil mg. (2) when I was 21, I took some slimming pills, clenbuterol, could this have caused my AF? (3) if so, would the abalation still be a suitable treatement? (4) is there a risk of increased AF if the ablation doesn't work? Thank you in advance for this.

[FletcherAllen]

Before addressing your questions I must state that the only way to get complete answers to your questions is to talk with your doctor (no answers are complete without more information about you and your health).

That being said:

1) the medications that you mention have been used for quite some time and while they require monitoring by a physician they do not result in cumulative side effects.

cont...

[FletcherAllen]

@JoelDres

2) If it resulted in structural damage to the chambers or valves it could have contributed to development of AF (can’t really say without an echocardiogram)

3) Presumably ablation remains an option either way.

4) Ablations can result in 1) cure, 2) no change, 3) improvement but not out-right cure or 4) a new rhythm called atrial tachycardia which can be more symptomatic than AF (but it is unlikely to cause more AF).

Best regards, Dr. Spector

[JoelDres]

@FletcherAllen, Dear Dr. Spector thank you for your reply. I very much appreciate it. Kind regards, Joel

[powerhungryhyde]

oh my god - the management is now crystal clear to me. why did no one explain it to me like this??

[jgm1234567]

What do you mean?

[MotherMomOrama]

Dr. Fletcher, Can Cytomel cause AF in Hypothyroids,(non Hashi's)? I am 49, Female, and in good health otherwise, have been on 15 mg for months along with Levothyroxine, and all of the sudden I started having symptoms that finally landed me in the ER. Not sure if it's the meds though. Will be having an echo this week, but was wondering your thoughts. Thanks.

[pedrowerberg]

I really appreciate your quick response I am emailing you all the way from Argentina.

.I had the heart procedure done and althogh I feel bit better I guess the symptoms are back. again -I still have to see my cardiologist-but if cardioversion does not work what will restore my heart back to normal?

Thank you

[pedrowerberg]

Can cocaine cause AF?

Can crdioversion get your heart back to normal. Thank you for this instructive video

[FletcherAllen]

@pedrowerberg

Cocaine can exacerbate AF (and probably cause an episode).

Cardioversion can restore normal rhythm acutely (although not always effective) but does nothing to alter electrical properties and so does nothing to prevent AF from recurring (years, days or minutes after Cardioversion).

[FletcherAllen]

@pedrowerberg Cocaine can exacerbate AF (and probably cause an episode).

Cardioversion can restore normal rhythm acutely (although not always effective) but does nothing to alter electrical properties and so does nothing to prevent AF from recurring (years, days or minutes after Cardioversion).

[WoundedEgo]

@pedrowerberg Yes, it will push you near or into a state we call "death" but you probably won't care or even notice.

[puppylove226959]

Interesting....If your heart is beating so fast or hard that its making your chest move and last for several hours, could that be AF or something else? Plus if your heart feels like its shivering?

[baysideful]

AF can stop on it's own....Would exercise, vitamins, high potassium diet help?

What causes AF?

What prevents it?

best diet?

no sodium diet?......

what advice in thiese areas please

[FletcherAllen]

Exercise is always good, but it (as well as vitamins & high potassium diets) is unlikely to have much effect decreasing AF. In general things that increase the amount of blood in the atria or increase the pressure of the blood in the atria will lead to AF. For many patients we don't really know what causes AF.



Nothing really prevents AF. Having said that, general good health measures are important. And maintaining good blood pressure control is probably important also.

[HarryTrumansGhost]

Good advice for afib sufferers: Avoid Johns Hopkins Cardiology. Google "Adventures in Cardiology"

[FletcherAllen]

Glad our video was of help to you.

[georgedublin1]

i have been suffering from this for some time i used to have SVT and got an ablation done for that but i now have AF. i have been on numerous different kinds of beta blockers in order to rectify this at the moment im on sotacor, im surprised that the doctor said that if the heart beats fast for a few hours its not dangerous i thought that all fast heart rates were dangerous

[FletcherAllen]

@georgedublin1 Not all fast heart beats are dangerous. In fact many times the issue with abnormal heart rhythms isn't the danger they pose but the symptoms that they cause. There are a few circumstances when we are concerned about fast heart rhythms even if they cause no symptoms. If the heart beats too quickly for weeks at a time (not intermittently but constantly) the bottom chambers of the heart can be damaged. This is not a problem for short episodes of fast heart rates.

[rickyblount2007]

I have a question for the good doctor. I am 49 years old, and I have been checking my pulse lately. Occassionally (when under stress, e.g. walking, running) my pulse skips a beat. Does this have anything to do with atrial fibrillation? If not, please tell me what could be happening and how lethal this may be. Thank you.

[gondwanalon]

I've suffered on and off with a-fib for 9 years. I wish that I had seen this video long ago as it is very good.

[rfis2nasty]

Thank you for an honest and instructive video..