Atrial Fibrilation

I am a 57 year old male. 6 years ago I had a T.I.A. My Doctor in NZ put me on 5 mgs of Warfrin as I have an irregular heartbeat. When my heart becomes irregular it can stay this way for days on end. I am also on Sotalol (Beta Blocker)
I was told this would stop my heart going out of rhythm less often but it still goes out for long periods anyway. So why am I still taking this if it is not stopping the problem. There is no specific time or thing I do that sets it off. When I bend over I can feel my heart go out of rhythm but when I stand up again it rights itself again.
I am also on Coversyl  for High Blood Pressure and Cartia. Is my doctor right in saying "Live with it" or do I need to see a specialist who will take my concerns seriously.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

It depends on how significant your symptoms are.  If you can live it and it doesn't affect your quality of life, the safest approach is to live with it.  When the AFFIRM trial compared an approach to control your heart rate versus trying to control your heart rhythm, there was a trend to more cardiovascular events in the heart rhythm control group.  That means that there was data to suggest it was safer control your heart rate than to try and control the heart rhythm.  This study was conducted in people with no symptoms or minimal symptoms.

If you have significant symptoms, it is worth seeing a specialist.  If you don't have symptoms, it is reasonable to control your heart rates and live with.

[stevesrav4]

A related discussion, lone a-fib was started.

[Joao1305]

A related discussion, EP's for chronic/persistent Afib was started.