AF and heart failure

[olqp]

I was reading that in some cases Af can lead to heart failure I started with AF five years ago didn't even know i had it no symptoms.I am anti coagulants and rate and rhythm control you can still feel irregularities if you feel your pulse.you go on the internet and read scare stories about a how the heart works and lack of oxygen leading to heart failure.Is this inevitable even if you are on meds and keep your self fit and healthy go to gym

[BobD Volunteer]

Uncontrolled AF can lead to heart failure yes but not generally if you are rate controlled and of course anticuagulated for stroke prevention. In such cases there is no increased risk of morbidity. In fact many people use their AF as an opportunity to look long and hard at lifestyle so many will live longer.

[CDreamer]

Yes it can - doesn’t mean it will.

I’ve had AF now for 13 years and no sign of HF. Many on this forum had it for a lot longer, no HF.

So many variables, my husband was in HF - he also had valve problems, found treatment which worked for him and no longer has HF - which means that the heart is failing to pump enough blood around the body to function without symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue and dizziness.

If you are able to go to the gym and are otherwise healthy, are monitoring yourself, taking AF controlling drugs then you are an unlikely candidate.

[Crystalbowl in reply to CDreamer]

I didn't know that it was possible to recover from HF. I thought once you had it it was probably only likely to get worse not better.

[smn100]

When I discovered I had AF 20 years ago my heart was in failure, however since taking medication for rate and rhythm and anti coagulation I have recently been informed that although I still have permanent AF I am no longer in heart failure.

[WhitstableWanderer in reply to smn100]

May I ask how the medics are measuring HF so they can advise if you still have it or not? Is it via an echocardiogram and defining your EF (ejection fraction)? Thanks, this is quite relevant for me

[smn100 in reply to WhitstableWanderer]

It was echo

[WhitstableWanderer in reply to smn100]

Thanks, I'm in a similar situation

[smn100]

Sorry should say 10 years not 20

[doodle68]

Hello olqp

This is a short video explaining heart failure by our own lovely Dr Sanjay Gupta

youtube.com/watch?v=JRujYGC...(Not working as expected?)