Hi everyone I’m 40 years old and few days ago went to a and e with palpitations found to be in fast Af couldn’t get heart rate down for 20 hours. The cardiologist seemed to think it was caused by drinking the night before, I don’t have any medical problems and don’t drink often anybody else heard that this is correct. I’m very scared that this is going to happen again. I’ve not been put in medication and hope to see cardiologist again in few weeks I’ve also been under lots of stress lately could this also be a trigger? Any advice would really help
I think alcohol and stress both contributed to it. Did you get it while you’re awake or sleeping?
Hey Lee, I was recently diagnosed with new onset A-Fib which resulted in a dangerously elevated heart rate and was hospitalized and put on blood thinners immediately to avoid a stroke which is one of the most serious possible outcomes of A-Fib.
I met met my new cardiologist in the hospital who recommended an electric cardioversion which shocked my heart back to a normal rhythm. My elevated heart rate and blood pressure were restored to normal immediately.
I had a 2 week follow up with the cardiologist today and they did another EKG and am happy to report that it was normal. I am also taking meds for high cholesterol and blood pressure and am now on Pradaxa, a blood thinner, for life.
FWIW, I am a 68 year old male and was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat many years ago which caused no problems until now.
Since you are 40, it’s a good time to start paying closer attention to your health with regular doctor visits. Welcome to middle age, like it or not. 😉
Do some research on the internet, including helpful forums like this. I think you’ll find that stress and heavy drinking are triggers for A-Fib. Just consider your recent experience a wake up call, followup with your doctor/cardiologist and you’ll be fine. Good luck!👍
Alcohol and caffeine can bring afib on. I don't drink but loved my coffee doctor put me on a Mediterranean diet and no alcohol no caffeine! I had a pacemaker put in2 weeks before Christmas this last year.
Hi Lee,
I had 2 and half years of palpitations, mostly in the morning about 8 am ish. I tried getting several ecg's done but by the time I got an appointment at my surgery they had stopped. Bang ! outta the blue one day I went into atrial flutter then into full blown AF. Aged 65. Official diagnosis was paroxysmal AF - the consultant stated that I could also be in AF and not know it - that is - I'd have no symptoms at all. From memory now my heart rate locked in at around 160 bpm, I was hospitalised for 6 days whilst all manner of tests were done and despite medication it took over a day to get my heart rate down.
Look its not the end of the world ........ just the start of a new one. Oh! by the way, I thought I was superman too, super fit at 65, very few ailments during my life - the point is (in my humble non medically trained view) AF is all things to all people and causes and triggers are all things to all people. Look - drinking alcohol, caffeine, binge drinking ( as in being a party animal), food and genetics ( have any members of your family had heart conditions, had AF, had sudden, inexplicable stokes or mini strokes), also stress - can all contribute, individually and collectively to AF. My daughter in her early thirties developed AF during both her pregnancies. Once she was treated, and now since she has stopped breeding no more AF. What happens when she hits 65 is another matter.
I eventually discovered that my AF kicked off after eating. Long story short - I consulted a nutritionist she helped me identify foods that could aggravate the vagal nerve. Cut out a range of foods, cut back on booze, and I've had no AF since April 2015.
I would say, if your body has a predisposition to AF then without any lifestyle changes, loose weight, cut back or cut out booze, watch what you eat, when and how much, get more exercise etc. Eat smaller portions, don't eat a large meal late at night it could return. You had a magic warning.
You may be better off seeing an EP - an electrophysiologist - a person who is a cardiologist with an extra speciality of the electrics of the heart. Think of a car - part mechanical, part electric and today, part computer - well, that's the heart. Then there is the vagal nerve (which is my problem). Its a major nerve of the central nervous system which acts like an information superhighway between the brain, the heart and the digestive system. It also can impact on other organs too.
hope this helps. Good luck.
John
Same here. I had to go tee-total some years ago. Alcohol is a big trigger for most people, definitely me anyhow. I've also cut out most caffeine as well, just use decaf coffee and tea, and drink alcohol-free beers and wines, some really good now when you get used to them.
That is exactly how my AF started, my heart rate was very fast and irregular. I didn't get to see a cardiologist for 3 months and no medication was given.
stop the alcohol, you may not have another attack at your age for years. I am now in my 60s and am taking medication to control the AF. Carry on living ,you won't die! One in twelve people have AF by the time they are my age.
Hi Lee, lots of good advice following your post. However the most noticeable comment you make is not having been prescribed an anti-coagulant. If you have any risk factors you should go back and see doctor/cardiologist and ask why not.
I speak from experience, aged 68 and diagnosed with atrial flutter just over a year ago, not prescribed an anti-coagulant, had a stroke a couple of weeks later, and not a TIA, which has left me with impaired vision. Arrhythmias are a known source of stroke, and your situation should be assessed using the CHADs-VASc risk assessment tool. This looks at age, weight, smoking, alcohol, genetic predisposition etc to assess your risk of a stroke. Ironically, immediately after the stroke I am now on an anti-coagulant for life.
Best Wishes
Sherpa Al
Hi Sarah, Curious what med you are on to control your AF? Thanks!
Hi Lee,
As others have stated, both alcohol and stress are common afib triggers. That said, pinning down a trigger can be hit or miss, especially if you've only had one episode.
When you say "couldn't get heart rate down for 20 hours" -- are you talking about your rate or getting your rhythm back to normal? My experience and understanding is that rate is fairly easy to treat within a few hours either in a hospital setting, or out, with rate control drugs. Rhythm, on the other hand, will sometimes be restored by itself, sometimes rhythm drugs are used, and sometimes they shock the heart back to a normal rhythm with electro cardioversion. It's unclear if right now you're in normal rhythm or not, or still in afib?
Jim
Patrick I was put on bisoprolol 1.25 mg daily and Flecainide 50 mg twice a day. As soon as I turned 65 yrs I was also put on the blood thinner rivaoxiban. I still have breakthrough episodes but infrequently and they stop fairly quickly.
I am treated in London at the Heart Hospital at Barts
A lot of advice for putting Lee on blood thinners. However, without knowing his history, at 40 years old, his Chad score could be zero for all we know. If his Chad score is 0 or 1, don't see why he needs to be on thinners if this turns out to be an isolated case or even if it occurs infrequently. I also had my first case of afib in my 40's and since then (Over 70 now) have had four other episodes, averaging every six years or so. My Chad score is 2 and I'm still not on thinners because the episodes are infrequent and I can identify each. Arguably I could be on thinners but my cardiologist is OK with my decision as long as my situation remains the same.
Jim
Jim
Hi Jim, your information is very encouraging for me. I had my first afib last year when I was 36. Then I had another three episodes in the following three months. But since then, I haven't had any episode for 90 days, and I'm not on any daily med. I hope can follow your luck to have very limited episodes in my up coming years.
My cardiologist said even after a successful ablation and no visible AF he would still keep me on blood thinners for life as AF is very unpredictable and you can develop irregular beats and not notice them. The cause of your AF never goes away.
different opinions from different EPs,you just have to make your own mind up in the end,whatever suits you best.
Thank you to everyone who has replied, my score was 0 and I have no past medical history and I don’t very often drink. I have an appointment in two weeks to see cardiologist again he didn’t want to put me on blood thinners because of my score.
So my heart rate came down to 120 but I was still in af after 24 hours and bisoplol and digoxin I went back into sinus rhythm so I’m keeps my fingers crossed that it doesn’t happen again
Hi li,
Afib presents in many different ways. Hopefully you will be able to identify your triggers (not always easy) and have few if any more episodes. My trigger had always been drinking very cold beverage or ice cream. If you can't identify your triggers, more general advice is to stop smoking, no binge drinking and get to an ideal weight. Many here have given up or cut down on caffeine. For some there may also be a food/afib connection and suggestions range from doing a food diary to limiting the size of meals. Stress management with mindful meditation/breathing or otherwise never can hurt. Exercise is a plus but overdoing it can cause afib for some.
How did they get you out of afib each of the four times?
Jim
Hi Sarah,
A new study came out suggesting OK to go off thinners after successful ablation. Also, some suggest that very brief episodes of afib or subclinical (not caught on a regular ekg) may not warrant thinners as much as clinical afib. In my case, I always know when I'm in afib since my heart starts racing over 170bph, but I realize everyone is different and I agree with you that it comes down to a personal decision based both on your unique situation, Chad Score, and how much risk you are willing to to take. Profession and lifestyle may also be a consideration as the bleeding risk of thinners versus their benefits. FWIW what I've found is that EPs are very bullish on thinners and ablation, while cardiologists are less so.
Jim
Your cardiologist makes sense but be prepared for different opinions if/when you see different docs, especially EPs. In the end, it's your decision.
Jim
If you're seeing another doctor, you might want to discuss how to handle future episodes that hopefully you will never have. I'm unfamiliar with the bisoplol/digoxin combo for initial afib treatment. Dilitiazem (cardizem) always gets my rate down usually within an hour. Sounds like your hr was a bit high for a longer period but can't argue with success. How long did it take you to get back into normal rhythm after the episode began? I assume you were not electro cardioverted?
Jim