fibulation

[rayman196]

I  have just returned from the E.R. I hade what the doctor called atrial fibrillation.I have been taking metoprolol 25 mg twice a day. I have hade these episodes before but not for 7 hours .This time it was a very long episode and also more painful especially in the chest and shoulder area.I have had this condition for 3 years now and have had about 8-10 attacks. The doctor told me to increase my dose to 37mg and everything should be ok. My heart rate was anywhere from 40 to 187 beats per min. What are the possible causes for these attacks?  

[medic0084]

an ablasion is where they electrically destroy an electrical pathway, or small sectionof the heart, to keep random electrical impulses from taking over the heart and causing rapid heart rates.

Typically its done for patients with heart rates consistantly over 150 a minute

[kl42]

question. what is ablation. is that electric shock

[Sweetwaterguy]

    The good news is atrial fibrillation is generally not regarded as life threatening as long as you are being treated for it.   My doctors told me however, the each episode comes easier than the first.  If that is the case, it is likely it will, over time, increase.
    I was with my wife on a cruise in Eruope and talked with a World War II veteran on our boat, and he told me about his ablation to treat a fib.  I had never heard about that before.  My doctors never discussed it with me.  I was especially interested because he told me his a fib was cured and he did not take medication.  
   I asked my doctors and got an appointment with a cardiologist who specializes in the treatment.  I did have the ablation and I no longer have the problem and take no heart rhythm medications.  
   To make my message short:  There are things to do.  Medication is one that works fairly well with most patients--but with side effects.  Ablation is another.  There are very slight risks and the success rate is upwards of 80%.  

[Jerry_NJ]

To add to what Brooke_38 said, there are also medications specifically designed to address (focus on) arrhythmia.  Some of the lower powered ones include members of the Propafenone family, including Ryhthmol.  These drugs are not beta blockers, I believe.  

[Brooke_38]

Hello...
  
Abnormalities in the heart's structure are the most common causes of atrial fibrillation. Diseases affecting the heart's valves or pumping system also are likely causes, as is long-term high blood pressure.

However, about a third of the people who have atrial fibrillation don't have underlying heart disease. In them, the cause is often unknown. Possible causes include:

Damage to the atrial muscle
Abnormalities within individual heart cells
Emphysema or other lung diseases
Exposure to heart stimulants, such as caffeine or tobacco, or to alcohol
An overactive thyroid or other metabolic imbalance

Rapidly firing triggers, or "hot spots" , often located in the veins  that return blood from your lungs to your heart (pulmonary veins)  that cause the atria to fibrillate.

Along with the Betablocker, you should be taking a blood thinner like Coumadin(Warfarin). Have you had a recent Echo, to evaluate any changes in your chamber structure?