Afib in families

[Blondies]

Something within my family that our cardio doc found unusual, the fact that myself, my two sisters and my niece all have afib. Three of us have had ablation. My niece and I just recently undergoing our second. Anyone else with this familia history?

[Hidden]

Hi Blondies,

Not quite the close relationship as with your family, but, yes I have this genetic link.

All on my paternal side of the family. My paternal Grandfather died from a series of strokes way back in 1964 - cause unknown. I have AF, a second cousin whose Grandfather was my Grandfathers brother had AF and my daughter then aged 31 to 33 during her two pregnancies was diagnosed with AF - when she stopped breeding her AF stopped. She now plays around in some areas of martial arts - no AF.

I think you will find that with many sufferers with AF there is a fairly common genetic link. There again in many cases this can be true with other medical conditions.

John

[Pam296]

Hi Blondies. When I was diagnosed with AF, I put it down to my weight and blood pressure. I've since found out that my mother and her twin brother both have AF and her older brother also had arrythmia issues. One of my cousins is having an ECG this week as he has been having palpitations. There definitely seems to be a link in our family.

[CDreamer]

Hi - I think there is quite a lot of verbal evidence that AF runs in families but I am not sure it has been properly researched but my understanding is that ther is some genetic research about to happen to see if there is a genetic element. My father had AF.

Will my family develop atrial fibrillation?

Sometimes AF can run in families. This type of AF is called familial atrial fibrillation. Recent research suggests as many as 30% of all AF cases may be familial.

Although genetics aren't always the cause of AF, the research shows your family is at greater risk of getting AF if you've been diagnosed with it.

If you are worried about this, have a chat to adult children and close relatives about the early symptoms you experienced. You could encourage them to talk with their doctor about their risk of AF. From heartfoundation.org.nz/your...

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[jedimasterlincoln]

Dad has permanent AF picked up about 8 yrs ago before routine skin surgery. On warfarin never and issues or symptoms of note.

I have PAF picked up 5 years & 1 month ago, debilitating episodes of fast AF that knocked me for 6 every time and still do after 20 cardioversions and 4 ablations (soon to be 5) although the longer it goes on the less intense/frequent the episodes are.

Although they break through hefty medications, I've not had an episode since July.

[Hidden]

Me too! I'm 58 and recently had an ablation for AF. My sister is 62 and started with AF about 12 months ago. We have a strong family history of heart disease and stroke.

[ILowe]

A few years ago, when I had a night in hospital under observation because I was given a high dose of Amiodarone orally in an attempt at Chemical Cardioversion, the next morning my wife took my portable ECG machine and recorded herself, then showed it to the doctor, pretending the ECG came from me. She asked, "Is this AF?". The doctor confirmed that it was. Then she admitted that it was a recording of her own heart. Quick as anything the doctor teased: "This is the first time I have seen that AF is contagious".

[jeanjeannie50]

My mother had AF, but it wasn't discovered until she was terminally ill with cancer. My parents never visited the doctors surgery and it makes me wonder just how many people there are with it today who are unaware.

The question is, do they really need to be aware they have it and do the pills we're given sometimes cause more problems than the AF?

Jean

[baba in reply to jeanjeannie50]

They may need anticoagulation.

[DK81 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

In some cases the drugs do cause more problems than the condition. I took an approach reflecting this view until I had a stroke.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to DK81]

Sorry to hear that, certainly a good warning to others then. The fear of a stroke is certainly the reason I would never stop taking my Warfarin.

[starry-eyes]

My brother and I, father and uncle have AF so there is a strong suspicion in our family that it is hereditary in some part but no proof I know of. I believe lifestyle changes can reduce the risk to some extent but I imagine these are all pieces in a giant jigsaw.

[julesp]

My mam and dad and myself all have afib. My dad just going through all the usual tests at min to def confirm it. My mam has had hers for a good few years and after numerous ablations and cardioversions now has a pacemaker. She doesn't really suffer any symptoms now. I was diagnosed 4 year ago and had an up to now successful ablation a over a year ago so I def think it runs in families x

[RichMert in reply to julesp]

Snap

[AndyDuk]

Yes I do, my father has AFIB, my sister is undergoing diagnosis for a racing heart, and I lost my grandfather and both uncles to heart conditions. There is something definately there. It appears to have hit after the age of 40 in all cases.

[Barb1]

Yes. All close family should be tested.

[Amcech]

Yep! My dad, my sister, my nephew (her son), and one uncle, myself all with afib. My dad passed away from CHF.

[Dunstall47]

Yes l do believe our mother had AF we knew she had a heart proplem,

I’ve had AF for several years, now my younger sister has it.