Can anyone explain to me can you have AFIB without other heart issues causing it? In other words everyone posting on here that have AFIB had stress tests and echos etc done and everythign else is ok except for the AFIB? I know high blood pressure and sleep apnea can cause it- but I am wondering if it is a disease in itself or always secondary? ANYONE?
thanks
Yes. It is a disturbance in the body's electrical system as opposed to the vascular system. It has nothing to do with cholesterol etc.. although having high cholesterol will put you at more risk for cardiac events.
Hi. I have PAF, with absolutely no other health issues. I have normal BP, even in my worst episodes, perfectly within range. Ive been MRI scanned incase of HoCM which was also negative. The only meds I take are 20 mg daily of Rivaroxaban thinners as a consequence of the PAF. As part of my diagnosis of it, i had numerous ECG tests, x-rays, 24hr, 7 day and 4 week monitors and an echo. So, as far as Im concerned, it stands alone!! Hope this helps. 😁
Thank you- i was just diagnosed and they have me going for two stress tests, echo, and halter monitor- makes me nervous that something could be wrong with my heart-
Thank you- i was just diagnosed and they have me going for two stress tests, echo, and halter monitor- makes me nervous that something could be wrong with my heart-
what is PAF - primary a fib? HoCM? sorry , new to this- lol
Hi, it is posssible to have Afib with an otherwise healthy/normal heart, but generally speaking there are a number factors/triggers can cause AF to occur.
In my case it was excess alcohol, obesity and severe sleep apnoea.
If you do some googling you can find out a lot.
The majority of my knowledge on AF has come from googling Prof.Prash Sanders and Dr john M
If i may be so bold to suggest googling "legacy PI throws down the gaunlet and Prash Sanders" . this wil take you to a Medscape page with a short and very informative interview with Prof. Prash Sanders (one of leading people in this area of medicine).
It would appear that in the majority of cases, AF is a lifestyle related disease, rather than a disease in it's own right. Having said that, my mother(who's 85yo)has lived with AF for the last 15 years, so I probably had a genetic prediposition to it, but my overindulgent lifestlye caused it to occur with me two years ago at the tender age of 48!
Anyway, happy googling, there's lots of info out there.
Hi, I think AFIB is just something on its own and not caused by any other heart issue. I was diagnosed 5 months ago, everything else on my Heart is ok except one of the chambers which is causing AFIB.
Good Luck
PAF is paroxyml atrial fibrillation, thats to say Im not in it all the time but have episodes of it - mine range from 4 to 26hrs. And HOCM is hypertrophic cardiac myyopathy which causes a thickening of the heart walls. AF can contribute to that according to my consultant, due to the repeated bouts of irregular rhythm. It can also be genetic, or lifestyle related. One of the big risks with AF is stroke due to clots forming in the heart during an episode, then getting fired out. Hence the very strong likely need for a blood thinner.
Hi PJoy, I had no other heart issues when my AF statrted. Working in Paris and I was running in the park several times but picked up a chest infection on a flight resulting in pneumonia. After antibiotic treatment I noticed I was out of breath cycling to work and when I saw my GP back in the UK I was sent to A&E where AF was confirmed.
Hi, yes, it can just spontaneously arise with no underlying cause. I am one of those lucky ones! I'm otherwise extremely fit, slim, don't smoke, enjoy only the odd glass of wine (honest), take oodles of exercise, don't have diabetes, etc, etc, but it happened anyway. Its fairly unusual, but does happen. I think they refer to it as "lone" afib. Anyway, don't know if you already have, but get yourself a good cardiologist and talk it all through. I've just come off a course of Flecaine to help my heart hold its rhythm and so far so good. Had a couple of dodgy moments, but seem to be getting on top of the problem. All the best for the future.
All heart tests given to me were negative; i.e, showed no abnormalities prior to the holter monitor which indicated afib. Therefore, I believe afib is a disease in itself, or at least it is in my case.
What ever it is its a pain in the arse !
I couldn't agree with you more, John. What I have learned is that you must be proactive in your treatment and learn everything you can about this disease. Not only does it help in your communications with your doc, but it gives you some peace of mind that what(ever) it is you are going thru is normal for this disease. Good luck! Suzanne
The gut-brain axis is a diagram of how the contents in the intestines interact with many of the things extending from the gut - through the heart - and into the brain. The vagus nerve is the electrical primary conduit of the blood-brain axis. The vagus nerve controls the heart beat, so if you disrupt the conductivity of the vagus nerve, heart beat problems can result, even if the heart is quite normal and healthy.
An avaerage adult can have as much as 5 pounds of bacteria in his/her gut. These bacteria are exceptionally important for countless reasons and they are a part of us all as they maintain normalcy on issues related to everything from the immune system to the nervous system. For example 95% of the body's seratonin is produced by bacteria in the gut.
Bacteria in the gut also keep immune system modifyers, like histamine, in check. If histamine can overload the body, then heart problems can ensue, originating from the gut, although this often is not obvious to the patient or cardiologist.
So, antibiotics used to wipe out a bacterial infection can also wipe out good bacteria in the gut as is often the case. Because of this, antibioitics can be included as causes of everything from heart rythms problems to mental depression.
I went on 90 days of doxycyclin, a strong antibiotic, for diagnosed lyme disease. Within a month, I had bad stomach issues, but also heart rythm problems later diagnosed as PAF.
When I realized what had happened, I finally found suitable probiotics to replace my gut bacteria wiped out by doxycyclin - result - NO MORE AFIB! It took a few months, but I feel victorious nevertheless.
To me, AFIB is an annoyance and a total pain in the ass. For those with AFIB episodes that are triggered by something eaten or drunk, there is a strong chance that the gut bacteria are out of sync and need to be replaced.
Frank
thank you for explaining that to me- i appreciate it. So most everyone on here probably has PAF? Not sure?
Thank you so much for explaining all that -Both my parents had AFIB- my dad lived until 87 and my Mom is 87. I am going to be tested for sleep apnea, i am a bit over weight, high blood pressure but not that bad it is under control. No alcohol or cigarettes. I just hope and pray all of these test with my heart come back fine and they get this under control. It just started for me. My last EKG was with my physical in NOV 2015 i then began with symptoms the last two weeks and thought it was stress. I finally went to Doctor this past Wednesday. Did EKG and sent me to cardiologist the next day. Now i will have halter monitor on Monday and then Echo and 2 part stress test will not know the results until Sept 1. Oh II hate waiting gives you more stress. My son is getting married out of state on Sept. 10 so i hope all is ok. I am on Eloquis and something to slow heart rate down right now. I will do some googling. THank you again and good luck to you with your health.
thank you so much - i hope so! take care!
Wow, sounds like you were healthy and something like that just comes on. I know there is a genetic component too and both my parents had it- those damn genes- THANK you for the info and good luck with your health.
Thank you so much for the info. I hope they get you back to your tip top shape! God Bless you!