Is the term Afib used to describe a specific instance when the heart is beating erratically? Or is it used to describe a condition that causes irregular heart beats(ectopic, flutter, rapid, etc)?
I had an episode of Afib a few months ago, but am taking flecenaide to help control and lessen the arrythmia. Without the flecenaide, I have persistent ectopic beats. So does that mean those beats are from Afib? Or are they merely irregular beats that could potentially turn into Afib?
AFib is just short for Atrial Fibrillation and this is different to flutter . It's an irregularly irregular heart beat!!
Some people have ectopics just before AFib but many people have ectopics without any other problem.
Yes to the first and last questions. Unless the ectopics are ventricular [PVC ] rather than atrial [PAC]
Interesting topic ncernaa.
I blame the presence of AF for all my arrhythmias, including ectopics and various forms of SVT, assuming that the substrate changes wrought by AF in the first place and the irritability of my heart’s cells encourage them.
Hi ncernaa
I believe that af or atrial fibrillation as it is short for and atrial flutter plus ventricular ectopics are all under the umbrella of irregular heartbeat. Ectopics are when the heart momentarily stops. Apparently lots of people have ectopics but it is the length of time the heart stops for that is important. My wife has recently been fitted with a pacemaker because of af and long ectopics during the night. I am not entirely sure of the difference between atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
Regards Flyer.
I also am unsure of the difference between flutter and fibrillation.
I am post second ablation, over two years since the last. When I went for my most recent annual checkup with the rhythm doc, he told me my frequent, but not consistent nor long in duration, episodes of arrhythmia are not abnormal and "everybody gets those". They are very much like the ones I got before developing persistent af, resulting in the first ablation, and are definitely exacerbated by stress. As long as they don't become debilitatingly frequent or last more than a few seconds, I'd call them ectopics.
Mine last for a few seconds. But they will happen all throughout the day, so that it is very debilitating.
Thanks for the replies. I am currently taking flecenaide because I was experiencing extra beats that were persistent, either lasting the whole night, or coming and going throughout the day. They were very debilitating. I still feel pretty weak due to the flecenaide, but at least the heart rhythm is more normal now. Can't wait to get the ablation over with.
How irregular is AFib?
Paroxismal Afib, diet and lifestyle
Afib and irregular heartbeat 
Is this AFIB or SVT?
Can Afib turn into an irregular heart beat instead ?
