Dr Sanjay Gupta...The 2 types of AFib - Atrial Fibrillati...
Dr Sanjay Gupta...The 2 types of AFib
Thank you for the video on 2 types of Afib. I fall into type 1 I believe. Unfortunately the Cardiologist in Forth Valley Hospital, Falkirk, Scotland was very unreceptive to ablation for me, saying it was a very intrusive, risky procedure and that I was overweight and she wouldn't consider sending me to see the EP as I would just be referred back to her. I really look forward to your videos on Afib as you have answered many questions I have about the condition and your explanations are just so clear and helpful, once again, thank you. You are quite brilliant.
Forth Valley seem to have taken a less positive approach to Ablation recently and I think the consultant you saw has had quite a few failures - but, you should ask your GP to refer you to another consultant to get a 2nd opinion.
There is a consultant at FV called Dr Padfield who has extensive knowledge of ablations ..
Thank you for this. Very interesting as usual particularly for those newly diagnosed I would imagine.
Thank you for video on two types of afib
I fall into cat 1 was diagnosed in Feb and my cardiologist has referred me for ablation so seems to match Dr Gupta thoughts I am under 60 no other health conditions but still scared out of my wits re afib
Love this forum as lots of reassurance from afib friends
Thank you everyone
Deb
Hi Deb 
Did they happen to say if you could be drug free after the ablation?
I'm excited for you !
Hi Jfib
Hope you are well
Will need to stay on anti coagulation after ablation but that will be it assuming it is successful
How you doing now you are on anti coags ? Well I hope. Xx
I sure hope it is successful, but since it is recent onset, it sounds like all should be in your favour
I'm doing well, thanks! Just trying to deal with, ahem, lady issues with relation to Apixiban 
Oh poor you I don't have that anymore but do feel so much better knowing I am anti coagulated do you
X
I really enjoyed this very clear and understandable explanation of A fib. The only question I am left with is what are the suggested lifestyle changes? I guess give up alcohol which I have done; Lose weight, which I find difficult, eat a healthy diet, which I do. Does exercise figure? I walk 40 mins, half of which is steeply uphill, every day. Any other suggestions?
Hi Nannychickens. I think the most common views are:
get back inside you bmi. think of every 2 pounds overweight as a bag of sugar on your back - 1 stone = 7 bags of sugar, etc.
Stop the coffee.
get a fitbit or garmin or similar. You may find that you may be better off looking at the amount of daily exercise as a whole. I try and do 10,000 steps a day now after starting low and working my way up. the device will also remind you to get up and move every hour or so
I am 72. Since I was 58 I have had Afib, atrial flutter, an open heart operation to fix my valves, along with a maze procedure, a cardioversion, (lasted 14 days),followed by amiodarone ,an ablation that worked well for a year and fixed the flutter, but the afib is back -but it is not as bad as it was.
My Doctor tells me I am asymptomatic and is of the opinion that I have a decision to make along the lines "we will do a heart scan to check for enlargement- if it is ok you may want to keep an eye on it but essentially put up with it, or you can go back on amiodarone (with all its nasty side effects) and try for another cardioversion. He is very wary of another ablation ( with a one in twenty risk of a hole in the heart, stroke, etc).
I wish you well on your journey
Ian
Consider whether vitamins/minerals will help you, eg magnesium (search on here using the box in the top right hand corner) for details, but discuss with your doctor first in case you have any contraindications.
Not sure which box you mean. I don't see any
On my computer it is at the very top - 'HealthUnlocked' on the left, and 'Search AF Association' on the right - type in the 'Search . . .' box.
This is great i love this doctor 👏🏼
He certainly thinks about things aNd does not just accept what others do
I have always said that Af is something that many doctors are not sure of And in that case we as people need to always think what OUR bodies need not to be just told what we need 😳
It makes sense for those who do not have any heart disease and are in PAF to not have the same treatment as those people with heart disease and helath issue
Afib is all very new aNd is on the increase
Many Questions have yet to be found out
It reminds me of years ago when health visitors came to give advise to mothers with new born babies
They would say "don't put the bAby on his back to sleep its dangerous "next its "dont put the baby on his side "
All this confusment because they don't know the answers just guessing aNd causing poeple who listen to them to be totally confused
I never listened after that i realised in life one has to think for themselves and not follow like sheep to a slaughter house without questions
if u are not happy with sonething u dont do it just research and question
🌺
Fascinating.
Thanks for another wonderfully instructive talk. Initially, I wasn't clear on the advantage of replacing a descriptive word like "lone" with a number "1", which has no meaning. But I get it: you just want to underscore that they are two distinct conditions and, like diabetes, should be treated differently.
I wonder how we can be sure if we have "type 1" or "type 2". Is diagnosis about the presence of co-morbidities *at the time* AF rears its head? (i.e., AF that arises as a consequence of one or more co-morbidities = "type 2").
How to understand the idea that one "type" of AF might be relatively benign, the another not so benign.
As an analogy, two people can experience vertigo. For one, the vertigo might be associated with an otolith and the condition is totally benign. For the other, there might be an underlying neurological problem. So even when outward symptoms are identical, they can often occur for different reasons and have different implications for health and treatment.
Thank you, this was very interesting. I am learning more every day !
I developed Afib at 57 (I think) and now 62. Think I am type 2 ?
After 3 Cardio Versions I am still in AF. My Consultant was of the opinion that as I am practically symptomless the small risk of having an ablation was not worth taking. My GP was a little dissapointed with this I think. I see by this forum it is not a guarnteed fix so I live with taking anticoagulants in the hope my symptoms don't worsen. I wonder if that as I would like to live to 120 is this likely, or is it a forgone conclusion things will worsen?.
Joining this forum a few days ago I have only just realised the importance that lifestyle can make with the management of the condition, so that is now the main area I need to concentrate on. I do exercise a bit and watch my food but carry far too much weight.
Looking forward to any information available in order to reach my goal of reaching 120 !
As always an excellent video. Personally I seem to fit into both types, all my symptoms are as type1 yet I am 68years old, AF first diagnosed in October 2015. One factor not mentioned which I believe has much influence with my AF is periodic gastritis.
Same with me, at 72 with no other co-morbidity. My EP told me that progression of my AF would be brought about by the rate of ageing of my body.
Thanks for your comment, I am left wondering if you have had or are considering an ablation? I had one just before Christmas, told to reduce the flecainide I was taking to 50mgs twice daily but alas had to return to the 100mgs following 2 episodes in A and E. appointment with consultant next week but feeling that it hasn't worked.
No, my preference is to stay with drug therapy whilst my quality of life is good - also my EP feels that this is the best option but, if/when things deteriorate, he is willing to ablate. I have personal and other issues which make me content with this situation - so far.
I'm sorry that you have had a return of AF but hopefully, the increased dose of Flecainide will enable your heart to stabilize during the six-month post-ablation period. Best wishes with your appointment - don't give up hope yet.
Do we know our biological age some people in their sixties are a lot fitter than some in their forties
I seem to fall into both categories or just type 2 as all my tests have said I have nothing wrong with my heart, however I have mild sleep apnea which he describes as s co morbidity.. is it still a comorbidity if it's treated with cpap??
Dr Sanjay Gupta
