Problem with meds

[psantos]

Hello:



I am an otherwise healthy 35 year old male,  in very good shape (sort of a fitness buff) about 4 years ago i was shocked to have developed Atrial fib which put me in the hospital for 5 days.



Testing showed borderline left atrium with some wall irregularities showing some evidence of a BP problem!!



I tried beta blockers(hated them) I finally found Verelan (verapamil) it worked great with very little side effects FOR 5 YEARS!!



UNTIL about a year ago I developed GERD,  "treatment" involves PPI's which give me several bad side effects. I have tried ALL the acid suppressing drugs. Thay eithor do not work or give me bad side effects.  GI feels the CCB's are causing my GERD!



1. WHY WOULD I POSSIBLY HAVE ATRIAL FIB? CAN STRESS BE A MAJOR FACTOR?? I AM A BIG TIME VASCULAR REACTOR! (WHITE COAT SYNDROME)

   EVEN AS A CHILD STRESS ALWAYS CAUSES MY HEART TO RACE.



I SEEM TO BE IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT HEALTH, IS AN ABLATION    OVERKILL ST THIS POINT??



2.  HIGH BP DOES NOT RUN IN MY FAMILY AT ALL!! WHY DO I HAVE BP PROBLEMS? I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE IT IS GENETIC?



3. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ANOTHER BRAND OF VERAPAMIL TO WORK WITHOUT ADDING TO MY GERD? MAYBE CALAN OR ISOTOPIN? I AM CURRENTLY ON VERELAN? OR IS VERAPAMIL THE SAME REGARDLESS OF BRAND NAME?



4.  IS ATRIAL FIB REALLY DANGEROUS IN AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY YOUNG MALE? RATE, WAS AT 160 WHEN I HAD ATTACK,  MY CARDIOLOGIST SAYS MY HEART IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT HEALTH.



Thank you for your comments!



Paul

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear Paul,



1. WHY WOULD I POSSIBLY HAVE ATRIAL FIB? CAN STRESS BE A MAJOR FACTOR??

A: Atrial fibrillation can occur in people of all different ages and fitness levels.  It is caused by focal "triggers" of rapidly firing cells in the pulmonary veins which activate the atrium to fibrillate. Stress may lead to an increased firing of these triggers but this is unproven.  Individuals with slower heart rates may actually be at a higher risk of the triggers causing afib.



I SEEM TO BE IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT HEALTH, IS AN ABLATION OVERKILL ST THIS POINT??

A: If you have failed to respond to other medications or you do not wish to take life-long medication then I think ablation is a good option.  I would be selective about where you have the ablation because not all doctors are familiar or experienced with this procedure.  If you wish to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic I would recommend Dr. Andrea Natale.



2. HIGH BP DOES NOT RUN IN MY FAMILY AT ALL!! WHY DO I HAVE BP PROBLEMS? I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE IT IS GENETIC?

A: Blood pressure has a genetic basis but that does not mean that family members necessarily manifest the disease.  Also it is possible that they may have had undiagnosed hypertension.



3. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ANOTHER BRAND OF VERAPAMIL TO WORK WITHOUT ADDING TO MY GERD? MAYBE CALAN OR ISOTOPIN? I AM CURRENTLY ON VERELAN? OR IS VERAPAMIL THE SAME REGARDLESS OF BRAND NAME?

A: Verapamil is verapamil is verapamil...



4. IS ATRIAL FIB REALLY DANGEROUS IN AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY YOUNG MALE? RATE, WAS AT 160 WHEN I HAD ATTACK, MY CARDIOLOGIST SAYS MY HEART IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT HEALTH.

A: There is an increased risk of stroke for individuals with afib. This is smaller in young people but is still present.