Hereditary

[Witchypoo2]

Hi all, I have Paroxysmal AFib with terrible symptoms, my sister has permanent AFib with no symptoms and now my 39 year old daughter has been diagnosed with PAF. I am now wondering does this run in families or are we just terribly unlucky. I would be very interested to hear if any of you have the same situation.

[DGET1]

Hi, I have PAF. My father and his sister also had it, and the Cardiologist said it's probably part hereditary and partly as a result of my raised BP.

[Tazzydee]

Having been diagnosed lady Nov at 49yrs, I discovered I was on the same meds as my 73 yo mother. As all my Grandparents died of strokes, it is very probably in our family and I've pull a short straw genetically.

[CDreamer]

My father had AF but we his children didn't know until we read his medical notes after he died (of old age at 87). He just ignored it though and called it palpitations and said his mother had it, which I vaguely remember as a child.

[jeanjeannie50]

My mother and cousin both had it.

[mandysmith34]

I'd say it's hereditary!!!!! My mum had paf, so did my aunt - it ended up killing them both. I don't subscribe to the "it's mostly harmless" as it leads to other stuff which is harmful! I've got permanent AF with awful symptoms, pacemaker, heart failure etc etc at 53 and one of my sons has started showing symptoms at 26. Oh, and a cousin has it too. Sorry to be a misery but it's about time EPs took it a bit more seriously and it needs serious research - but it's not a new interesting, sexy disease, so they won't. Sorry.

[BobD Volunteer]

To have AF one needs a pre-disposition which can either be genetic or acquired. There is research into gene errors which may predict the possibility of AF in time but one must accept that this is all very new science. Those sufferers who acquired it from over exercise, binge drinking or drug use (ibuprofen for example) may not have any genetic link.

Until the early nineties one was likely fobbed of with "it wont kill you get on with life" and then about ten years later the link with stroke was more widely known and the shift to anticoagulation more understood and advertised. I think it wrong to say that it is not taken seriously. Some old school cardiologists may not be yet up to speed but the growing number of electophysiologists around the world must show some progress. I think Dr Gupta got it right when he said that it isn't the AF that is the problem it is the company it keeps and it may well be found one day that AF is actually a symptom of a wider condition.

In the meantime thanks to AF Association a lot of people in UK and around the world are able to benefit not just from an exchange of views on this forum but a great deal of published material which just was not available ten years ago.

[Hidden]

Personally, I think almost anything CAN be hereditory; doesn't mean it will be, but can be. My dad had AF, I'm a chip off the old block and have it, along with most of everything else he had, vitiligo, personality (sorry dad!), mean with money etc.

I've bred many thousands of sheep and cattle, and found the same with them too. Plenty of "faults" are passed down, even miss a generation or more, only to re-appear further down the line.

Koll

[Icenae]

My brother had an arrythmia. Pacemaker at 42 after being fobbed off 'panic attacks'. I started af at about 47. (Sick sinus syndrome diagnosed privately). Pacemaker at 50. Warfarin 2 years later.

My brother was not treated very well by nhs, Barts. Finally put on clopedigrel at 55 and had a mild stroke at 56. Then a massive bleed around his kidney at 57 ish. Remaining very active throughout that period. (He was refused ablations i think he was in persistent af by then.) Til he was 61. When he started to retain lots of fluid severe oedema. He then went on to be finally diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy. Had heart transplant at 64 but tragically didn't make it. 😭

i am 65 now. I had my third ablation last year with lots of complications but have settled very nicely. I think the magnesium has really helped. I take bisoprolol and rivaroxaban when af bad. BUT. I have had private care throughout as I had insurans, which is what I paid for with my DLA. Dont know where I would be without.

My nhs appointment oct 16 was bumped to May 17, then again to Oct 17 !!! When I queried this the secretary said they had a big backlog of new referrals. I really fear being reliant now on nhs. Be really proactive in your own healthcare folks otherwise you get lost.

[Alan_G in reply to Icenae]

The problem with moving to private healthcare from NHS is that they rarely cover conditions that you already have prior to signing up for it. I suspect if you are already on record as having PAF, then treatment for it will be excluded from any policies you may take out with private healthcare.

[jennydog in reply to Icenae]

Icenae your last sentence is SO important. Always ask for a copy of any letter to be sent to your GP. This way you can take control.

[Bridges4 in reply to Icenae]

Couldn't agree more. I've had private health cover for the last thirty years but have only needed it in the last ten years and boy is it now paying dividends!

The real reason for this post is to ask about the use of a pacemaker with AF. I am getting mixed signals on this one as there is a body of opinion that says a PM is not recommended for this condition. Is it possible to expand on your experience please? Thanks in advance

[Icenae in reply to Bridges4]

Hi. I had af for a few years, getting longer more frequent attacks, so was on meds for it. I was diagnosed finally with

Sick sinus syndrome tachy/brady variety. So sometimes my heart would go too slow. Down to 20 bpm and I would nearly faint. So had pacemaker, which also inserts good beats in an af tachy episode.

I was 50 at the time I had my first pacemaker, for the first time in years I didnt sleep on the sofa for 2 hours before bed 😊 The incision is a bit unattractive but mostly hidden by bra strap. I dont mind it. Feel better for it. Glad to have it otherwise I would have to give up driving as could faint.

I was reluctant at first but be guided by your cardiologist. (And if you do have one and are a girl, do wear a very supportibe bra whilst healing )

[Alan_G]

The problem with moving to private healthcare from NHS is that they rarely cover conditions that you already have prior to signing up for it. I suspect if you are already on record as having PAF, then treatment for it will be excluded from any policies you may take out with private healthcare.

[Icenae]

This is true. Fortunately I already had insurance. But to reduce premiums l now have to pay to see consultants. Just tests and treatments covered. Initial consultations are about £200 here. Follow ups £150. EcgS extra. Most consultants are also in the nhs and will refer you if you need ablations or echos, and the mostly junior docs you see at the hospital receive some guidance on what you need.

I am a great supporter and advocate of the nhs and have paid my national insurance for 48 years but unfortunately due to cuts and strangulation by the government feel I cant get the help when I need it anymore.

I also had a severe back problem and the waiting time was a year. Constantly getting bumped again.

[meadfoot]

Yes. My dad had it in his later life, so did his nephew and me too.

[fannywiens]

I have two sisters, and all of us were diagnosed with persistent Afib at age 66 years! All three of us are relatively or completely asymptomatic, with no other underlying health problems. We discovered that Afib was mentioned on our father's death certificate at age 80, but as far as we know he was unaware of his condition. We have a nephew who has paroxysmal Afib. We think there must be a genetic component!

[Hidden]

I am one of 11 second cousins ,ranging in age from 54 to 73,,,our grandparents were siblings,,,,,so far,3 of us have afib,,,and who knows how many more will develop it as we all age,,,,,????

[Hidden]

I think it does run in families my sister has it . I think my mother had AF too but she was never diagnosed with it. I can remember when I was just young she was always getting palpitations.

[wilsond]

I was told it does. My mum had it,along with heart failure. I have Paroxysmal AF and my son does.

[buddje]

My mum and grandmother and mums brother all had some form of AF.

[nymima01]

My mother has afib, as does her 1st cousin on her father's side. My sister also has it. All were diagnosed in their early 60's. My mother is 91 yrs old now and went from paroxysmal to persistent. She is in afib almost all the time now, but she is handling it pretty good. I would say they have the hereditary gene for this.

[Kaiser78]

My mother and her sister have af and both their sons have Lone AF, it's got to be!

[Barb1]

Yes. It can be. The consultant insisted both my boys be tested

[A-U-B-Y in reply to Barb1]

Hi Barb I

What test did your boys have?

I hope you don't mind me asking.

[Barb1 in reply to A-U-B-Y]

ECG ultra sound and X ray of heart

[A-U-B-Y in reply to Barb1]

Thanks the info

I have a son and the fact that this condition can be hereditary worries me.

Regards

Auby

[Rellim296 in reply to A-U-B-Y]

AF doesn't run in my family and I feel it isn't that bad, really. I've had it for years but I'm the one in the family who has lived by far the longest - the rest, with their excellent hearts, fell by the wayside long ago.

I would add two things: I've been lucky and have had excellent care from the NHS and future generations can probably look forward to advances in treatments that are not presently available.

[Barb1 in reply to A-U-B-Y]

Talk to him and your GP and consultant about having the tests

[rosie321]

Hi, i had an ablation in January for AF (age 52), my dad had a severe stroke last year and didn't know that he had AF. His brother (my uncle) was diagnosed in his mid 60's and had an ablation and his son (my 1st cousin) had an ablation in his 20's. So far my 2 younger brothers are clear.

[Hidden]

Hi Witchypoo,

Like many things, there can be a genetic link - but of course - I can't prove that scientifically. My paternal Grandfather died (in 1964) from a series of strokes, but, there is nobody alive today who can say if these were AF related. Probably in 1964 nobody knew about AF ?

I was diagnosed with pAF, 2nd cousin on the paternal side has had an ablation for AF. My daughter in her 30's twice had AF when she was pregnant and was treated during each pregnancy. Since she has stopped breeding - no more AF - yet ! No surgical intervention either. I would also say I'm one of those whose consultant has written in my letters that I can be in AF and not have any symptoms, in other words I can be asymptomatic.

Interestingly, my grandfather and 2nd cousins grandfather were brothers but again, nobody is alive today who is sure of cause of death of 2nd cousins grandfather.

So for me the jury is out on your question - but - I do suspect there is a genetic link.

John

[Mullaloo]

I don't know about the hereditary thing but I know that I was suffering awful symptoms with PAF too until I took up aquafit three times a week. I never seem to suffer with it when I'm doing regular exercise. I have DCM aswell and don't have much exercise tolerance on land but in the water I can do so much more. Very odd but true. Hope that helps !

[ericapacemaker]

My father had some type of heart arrythmia over 30 years ago but am not sure if it was AF. I have had AF for about 14 years and have just had a pacemaker fitted last week . Hopefully, this will mean no more episodes of dizziness or blackouts in future