What Causes Atrial Fibrillation

I've had this condition for about 5 years, but so far, the only treatment offered is high blood pressure medicine.  This month, I spent 4 days in the hospital because I blacked out when my heart beat went under 30 bpm which caused me to fall and hit my head on concrete steps.  I had every heart test imaginable and a brain scan. On discharge, I was not given any advice except to quit smoking!

This is a frightening condition, and one most doctors ignore. While at my doctor's office, my heart rate is just fine. But during the day, and especially late at night while trying to fall asleep, my heart either races, or slows way down. Periodically, I feel dizzy too, and have to sit down.

I do not drink, but I am 15% overweight, and smoke 1 pack a day.  WHY ME? is a great title. I did hope for more advice than what was offered here.

I am 83, trim figure, played tennis and or biked daily and never ever had high blood pressure. In remission from leukemia for 8 years and had ox valve replace my aortic valve seven years ago. Got a/fib recently and was put on coumadin, a beta blocker called Metoprol, and a baby aspirin. I am anemic. Anyhow I am very short of breath now with little exertion. I don't understand why my Cardiologist put me on that powerful drug Metoprol.  melvinruth@aol.com

saw a lot of possible causes but not a mention of the one that affected me  Right Atrial Myxoma benign cardiac tumor)  I know that it is rare but I do feel is should be put out there so people can get early treatment  myxomas are usually found during autopsy guess I waslucky had the surgery  two years ago 20% of tumor had to be walled up because it had attached itself to the septum and could not be removed what they did remove was the size of a large lemon

  Many cases of atrial fibrillation cases are caused by a nutritional deficiency

of IODINE, of which 99.5% of all Americans are deficient in. I have many cases of atrial

fibrillation or atrial flutter that have been given a concentrated form of iodine and potassium iodide called Lugol's Solution and seen them convert to normal sinus

rhythm spontaneously. They stay in sinus rhythm as long as they take adequate amounts of iodide/iodine from that point on, and the chances of converting are greatest when started within a few weeks of the onset of atrial fibrillation. After 6 months or longer of atrial fibrillation, there does seem to be some scarring or fibrosis process in the atria, or some other biochemical process that goes on that makes converting to sinus rhythm with iodine much more difficult.

Randy Ice PT, CCS

Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation

Rancho Physical Therapy

Murrieta, Calif.