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.
Hi Randy,
Its been two years since my diagnosis of Afib and the only treatment has been conventional medication....no iodine or potassium. I wonder if it is pointless for me to try to supplement these in my diet. Also could you comment on any other possibilities for correction to sinus rythmn short of ablation? Will my situation get worse. Its pretty tolerable as it is but I am mostly thinking of my future. Im 68. Thanks so much for you input.
Motiger
You can reply directly if you wish at: pcbrawner@gmail.com
Abnormalities or damage to the structure of the heart are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation. Possible atrial fibrillation causes are: high blood pressure, heart attacks, abnormal heart valves, congenital heart defects, hyperthyroidism or other metabolic imbalances, exposure to stimulants such as drugs, caffeine or snuff, or alcohol, sick sinus syndrome - malfunction of the heart's natural pacemaker, emphysema or other lung disease, previous cardiac surgery, viral infections, stress due to pneumonia, surgery or other disease, sleep apnea
i nmenopayuse. had started bioidentical hormones (wiley protocol, which is contrvoersial high dose homrones) a year before a fib started. had such bad side effects of protocol (vertigo in bed) that i stopped cold turkey. then a fib started, also in bed. i just learned that a. fib can be triggered from sudden drop in estrogen. that would explain it! estrgoen dropping anyway due to menopause but esp so after stopping wiley program.
just re-started bioidenticals on normal low dose and so far so good. hope the a. fib is gone for god.
cardiologist said there is no reason i should have it since im above average healthy (always low blood pressure, never drink or smoke or drugs. not overweight. eat organic food. walk exercise. low stress lifestyle).
but also since i am exeriencing a lot of grief i wonder if a. fib triggered from heart ache? what do you think? i think its plausible. or is it empathic if loved one, (parents are in 80s) about to die or also suffering from weakening heart? like a heart connection. i think its possible. focusing on heart and thinking good thoughts/wishes.
A-Fib started for me when I was 54, in the spring of 2010. I have been off all hormones since September 2008, but my hot flashes grew more severe (and have always been accompanied by palpitations and blood pressure spikes. Evening primrose helped to some degree, but my hot flashes continued and I ended up with persistent A-Fib. An ablation attempt did not work for me, because too much of my heart was involved, but I am now on medication that seems to work pretty well.
Except when I have hot flashes. Then I still have palpitations. Tonight I'm doing a sleep apnea test, and I really hope the hot flash results show up on all the tests (because we all know nothing really exists till it shows up on tests, right?). I'm kind of hoping that I'll get put back on hormones, frankly, though my current primary care physician is one of those people who doesn't believe in them for older women (blast that one study, sigh). I normally have fairly low blood pressure, but it's been trending upward lately. Here's hoping I can get some help for the hot flashes, because there are times when my neck feels funny during them, and I don't think that's a good thing.
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Atrial fibrillation is the most common irregular heart rhythm that starts in the atria. Due to irregularity of sinus node many impulses rise in atria causing missing of pulses. Causes are hypertension, Coronary artery disease, heart Failure, Congenital heart disease.
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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.
Ablation is also a possibility, with a success rate of some 70% for the first ablation, and a success rate of some 90% if a second ablation is required. Choose an experienced doctor.
What is ablation? You have my curiosity up, so I will do some research and find out what it is. My only guess is it means to shock the heart, which should steady the rhythm, right?
Did you have this procedure? Did it work for you?
Thanks for the information.