Heart Failure

[heartbeat4]

Does AF always cause heart failure.

[Hidden]

In a word...no. However untreated AF particularly a high rate over a long period of time can cause heart failure. This is what I was told by a cardiologist. I'm not a medic.

[Amcech in reply to Hidden]

I was told the Sam by my EP. He said the rate is actually more damaging to the heart than the irregular rhythm. He always goes for rate control first.

[Amcech in reply to Amcech]

"Same"

[Hidden]

I’m not medically trained either but I agree with Yatsura

[CDreamer]

I agree - not always and there are many people on this forum who have been in permanent AF for many years and haven’t developed HF. As far as I can tell there are many underlying factors so Lone AF - unlikely. I think biological age may be an important factor. I’ve had PAF for over 12 years now and no sign of HF yet.

[Edm174 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi can I please ask if you are just on medication for your AF I recently diagnosed with PAF and now only take bisoprosol as the consultant told me to stop my apixaban until I’m 65 ???

[CDreamer in reply to Edm174]

I don’t take any AF medication now at all (other than anti-coagulant Apixaban being 65+) and haven’t since September 2014. I found I felt much, much worse on any Beta Blocker and AF broke through Flecainide so there was no point in taking it. I refused all other drug regimes. My AF was treated with Pacemaker and I now feel Bionic in comparison to how I used to feel.

How do you feel about not taking anti-coagulants? Knowing what I know now and having had a TIA, I think that although I pushed to stop anti-coagulants after ablation which gave me 3+ years AF free, I would push to continue them.

Best wishes CD.

[Edm174 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi thanks for reply !! I feel a bit unsure about not taking them but the consultant I saw says I don’t need them as I have a score of 1 ?? And have more chance of having a bleed ? I only had them due to CV !!! And they won’t do ablation as she said it probably wouldn’t work! This AF is not nice ! I’m out to lunch for mother’s day so going to chill with a nice glass of wine!! Eileen

[CDreamer in reply to Edm174]

Hi Eileen - just a few points. Firstly with a CHADS of 1 then it would be recommended but not advised but research is starting to indicate that everyone with AF would benefit from taking A/Cs so in your position I would do several things:- do your own homework regarding anticoagulants and do a simple mind experiment by asking yourself

Would I be more comfortable a) taking an anticoagulant or b) trusting the advice of my consultant?

Personaly, I would seek a second opinion, especially regarding the possibility of having an ablation or at least seeking an investigation to see if it would help you.

Secondly - did your consultant do a assessment called a HABLED? There are several conditions which may make the risk of bleeding be more than the risk of having an AF stroke - however - consultant opinions differ greatly and not taking an anticoagulant if you do suffer AF episodes does mean your risk is much higher that’s someone of your age without AF.

Please read the AFA advice regarding anti-coagulants and if you think it would help you - ring them. They are so supportive and helpful.

You may find this link very helpful as to questions to ask heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

You may find Treatment Options also helpful.

Best wishes CD

[Edm174 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you !! I will read up on it, I too would have thought anyone with AF should be on anticoagulants ?? Is it because I don’t have any symptoms could that be the reason ? Apart from feeling tired and Sob when I climb the stairs! !

Eileen

[CDreamer in reply to Edm174]

I think it is just cardiologist’s opinion - they do seem to vary. Just because you don’t experience palpitations doesn’t mean you aren’t in AF. SOB when climbing could be a symptom that you are in ‘silent’ AF, although there are loads of other conditions which would cause fatigue and SOB. You would only know if you took an ECG, which is why so many of us will have an smartphone app such as Kardia - or a new one my neighbour showed me yesterday SnapECG - which looks very similar to the Kardia but seems to be about £10-15 less to buy.

[Edm174 in reply to CDreamer]

I might look that one up !! Thanks again for your help !

[etheral]

I am a 67yo male who went into acute heart failure from new onset AFib. After being cardioverted on Dofetilide I have remained in NSR and the heart failure has resolved.

[Waverly1 in reply to etheral]

My husband has a very similar story, he's 56. His heart rate was at 180 when he went to the ER, and probably had been very high for weeks considering how he was feeling. The dofetilide didn't convert his AF so he had a cardioversion which worked. Now he's on dofetilide presumably indefinitely. His heart failure seems to have resolved after two months. His ejection fraction went from 28% to 62%. He's still on other medication for the HF, not sure when he'll stop that.

[Barb1]

I had dilated cardiomyopathy with undiagnosed AF . Now with medicated AF I have mild heart failure which is why I have to take a diuretic..horrible things!

[Thomps95]

In general - AF is a ‘marker’ of underlying problems so heart failure that is concomitant with AF is *usually* caused by the underlying issues that gave rise to AF in the first place. If heart rate and stroke risk are treated effectively, then longevity is similar in people with and without AF.

[heartbeat4]

Thank you so much for the replies I feel a lot happier now.

[pirnough6]

Sometimes heart failure can bring on AF and when the heart failures symptoms are reduced the AF can be controlled more easily

[Junoesque]

I have just been diagnosed with heart failure after 20 years with PAF. I do have coronary artery problems too, so maybe this has contributed to my HF.