heart enlargement?

[Blooto]

If you have permanent AF and the heart rate is ok at say resting 60 to 80 beats per minute ( not the heart rhythm) will your heart be ok as the rate is controlled, or will you get heart enlargement?

Should all AF sufferers have a yearly echocardiogram even if symptoms have not worsened?

Thanks.

[souljacs4]

Hi I put a similar post under Echocardiogram here a few days ago there are some answers there hope it helps

[rosyG]

we had a talk on Cardioversion last night and the speaker said AF with a lower heart rate might be better for someone who would have a rate that was too low if they weren't in AF ( as heart rate would normally be very high with fibrillating atria) - an interesting take on things which I hadn't heard before but quite comforting for you??

[AnticoagulateNow]

We shouldn't confuse ventricular heart rate - that measured on the pulse - with the turmoil that is going on inside the atria when in AF. It is the latter that can lead to an enlarged heart (atria) not the 60+ beats felt on the pulse.

[Marion62 in reply to AnticoagulateNow]

Hi AnticoagulateNow

Any suggestions please for those of us in permanent AF about how we could check what is going on in the atria - (my pulse is around 70-80.)

My GP said he would take my pulse and BP once a year. I don't think this is adequate and appears that this will not show if the heart is enlarged.

Thanks

Marion

[Bryonny]

Dear Marion, my EP said he would monitor/scan my heart every two years, however, if symptomatic I understand investigations would be brought forward. Medics first picked up the enlargement of my atria when I had an echocardiogram about 18 months ago. I have had two MRI since then, which I have assumed would also show size of atria. I will check with my consultant when I am seen in a couple of months!

[Marion62 in reply to Bryonny]

Thanks Bryonny for your reply.

It must be reassuring to know that you will be monitored / scanned at least every two years.

I was discharged after just one visit to the consultant

and back to GP "care".

My only scan about 18 months ago showed my left atrium to be mildly dilated but I have no idea if it is enlarging and if it is, to what extent. I am not sure how I would know.

It is the " not knowing " that worries me most.

Thanks again

Marion

[Blooto in reply to Marion62]

my heart has not been scanned for about 6 years and the GP said tests are only done if symptoms worsen or change, so how do I know what's going on with it. This seems inadequate to me.

[Marion62 in reply to Blooto]

Exactly Blooto

What changes or worsening symptoms are we actually looking out for?

[Blooto in reply to Marion62]

I think they mean symptoms such as exercise tolerance being reduced and any breathlessness worsening