Good article 'Living with AF' from BHF. Basic info for newbies but also looks to future developments.

[Buffafly]

bhf.org.uk/heart-matters-ma...

[Finvola]

Thank you for the link Buffafly - that's the second report referring to genetic research for AF.

Some of the statistics quoted are worrying and will probably provide more impetus to find causes and hopefully, treatment which lasts.

[doodle68]

Hi Buffafly I have read this article before and while of interest as so often with these articles I was annoyed that yet again AF is 'played down' with phrases like this...

[''Other symptoms can include breathlessness, tiredness, dizziness and feeling faint. Some people experience mild symptoms, and others may be unaware of any.'']

In very few places other than this site have I found people who experience the same severe symptoms when having an episodes of PAF as myself . Thinking you are 'the only one' can increase a sense of the anxiety and while I wouldn't want to scare anyone I do wish mention could be made that some people experience debilitating and frightening symptoms particularly organisations like the BHF who speak for those with heart condition.

[Buffafly in reply to doodle68]

Maybe there should have been a comma after 'feeling faint'? Can I just point out that this is a general article to reassure. The more extreme attacks of AF can include another element (eg my first very bad episode was possibly precipitated by a pericardial effusion caused by a virus, a local young lad with the same condition had a cardiac arrest) So it would be dangerous to think extreme symptoms were caused by 'normal' AF. I cheerily carried on with my supermarket shop while in AF with chest pain. I was pleased with my stoicism until I ended up in hospital the next week with a suspected MI!