Re: Atrial Fibrilation

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on August 05, 1998 at 13:08:48:

In Reply to: Atrial Fibrilation posted by Dan on July 31, 1998 at 12:08:41:






I am a 28 year old male and weigh 195 pounds. I work out regularly with
weights and also do cardio on bike (3-4 times a week). I generally have
a good diet. I have atrial fibrilation which occurs for no reason every
once in a while. Generally, every 3-12 months. My heart just goes crazy
with beats ranging from 80 to 150 beats per minute sitting still. It is
uncomforatable when it happens as I get out of breath when walking
upstairs etc.
I have been going to a cardiologist for the past 10 years. After doing
many tests, which I must do yearly, he said that I have a very healthy
heart and that my atrial fibrilation is caused by "electrical" problems
and it is nothing serious. He has me taking 120 mg. of Betapace a day.
This seems to help but I still get episodes every once in a while. These
is Not just a case of a little flutter. This is quite an irregular heart
beat that will not go back to normal. I recently had to go the doctor to
get IV drugs to get my heart back to normal. I have had to do this a few
times before but it has been over a year.
Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.



____


Dear Dan,
It sounds to me like you have the diagnosis: lone atrial fibrillation (idiopathic).
This name is often given to patients such as yourself who have no obvious reason to have
a.fib., that is to say there exists no potential etiologic factors and that your left ventricular
function is normal on echocardiography.  Since it is agreed that atrial fib. does not happen
spontaneously, more than likely there is some kind of deranged anatomic or electric state of the atrial tissue that
allows for the arrhythmia to occur.  Familial a.fib is extremely uncommon.  Most if not all investigators agree that the
long-term prognosis is excellent for patients with lone a.fibrillation.  Of course this fact very much factors in to the fact that your physician
will do his best to prevent the episodes(with the beta-blocker type medication that you are on), however it is also in your best interest that he not
overtreat you such that you have side effects and or morbidity from the treatment itself.  Good Luck.  Information provided in the heart forum is intended for
general medical informational purposes only, actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your physician(s).
Regards,
Dan