This is food for thought: go... - Atrial Fibrillati...
This is food for thought
I have been saying for many years that many EPs believe that early intervention by ablation stands the best chance of a successful outcome.
My EP recommends early ablation as outlined in this article. He said that often it takes a while for the correct diagnosis to be made and in the meantime many people, especially women, are treated for anxiety.
“Especially women”?
Yes, I have read a number of articles/studies about the gender difference in both symptoms and the treatment of heart conditions. Next week I’m going to a presentation by a female cardiothoracic surgeon who has written a lot about this. I’m looking forward to seeing what she has to say.
I didn’t think anxiety familiarizes with one particular gender, much like A-AFib itself. Equal opportunity misfortune. And some of the guys I know are real whimps about going to a doctor even. 🤣
I think that’s half the problem - women go to the doctor and say they’re having palpitations but unless it’s caught on an ECG they’re told it is probably anxiety and they are told not to stress or are given pills to ‘settle the nerves’. Many men don’t go to the doctor until things are really bad 👩🔧👨🔧
That is it!!! Can’t wait to see what the female surgeon’s remarks on this.
Her book is great. “Can you die of a broken heart?” By Dr Nikki Stamp
Very interesting, good to have some up to date stats Hidden 😀
Kind of puts options in simple terms as well
I may have missed it but I don't remember any mention of Flecainide or Propafenone? Perhaps something to do with the beginning of the article which indicated it was referring to persistent AF for which Flecainide/Propafenone are not effective?
The article states....
[quote “The best outcomes we saw were with patients who were ablated in the first year after they were first diagnosed with persistent AFib.”..............
Research suggests ablation improves symptoms for most patients with persistent AFib.]
Note the word 'persistent' there is no mention of Paroxismal AF .
This was so correct for me. I actually wanted to hold off when my EP suggested it right away and try meds first. I did for a year and then Risked ablation at 80-85% success first time out. I still carry PIP and have adjusted my lifestyle and stress with living authentically. Only time will tell as the years roll on if It was a correct decision. *I was backed into a corner with more and more AF episodes coming more often so I made a managed risk decision.
You made the right decision, you are lucky you had the ablation availability to go for, i would have jumped at it in those early miserable days
I first got A/Fib 14 years ago and in New Zealand they barely acknowledged A/Fib let alone Ablations.
As time passed and they became available i have had 3 Ablations now
They still did not fixed me completely but so much better than being on those antiarrhythmic drugs they hand out like sweets
Interesting research - I am pleased I will be having an ablation within a year of diagnosis of persistent AF.
This ties in with other research that shows that treating persistent AF is more difficult than paroxysmal AF. I had paroxysmal AF for about 15 years. My EP then said my time in AF was up to about 80% and heading towards becoming persistent, so I had my ablation then. Fortunately techniques had improved a lot over those 15 years and the ablation was successful.
BRAINS - is this treatment for me?
Food 
Food
Coronavirus and shopping for food
Food is the trigger to AF???
