My p a-fib is very intermittent and usually very brief, lasting about 20 minutes to an hour, probably 1-2 times a week. Often less frequent.
Does the risk of stroke increase with the duration of the a-fib, and what is the MINIMUM number of hours before the stroke risk becomes serious. Thanks.
Mine is the same, but any bout ultimately puts a strain on the heart, so being anti coagulated is extremely important. Some have permanent AF which you may or may not be aware of, however this is sometimes considered to be more comfortable for some as they are used to the feeling, unlike us who suffer paroxysmal a-fib where the onset is often quite apparent and scary.
The reality is that any bout no matter how long could hypothetically cause a blood clot which could cause problems, which is why having the anticoagulation is important as it helps to minimise that risk.
Hope that helps....
Any episode of afib can cause an increased risk of stroke. However it's less likely to happen if you are in afib for a short period ie 20 minutes***
However that's not a reason for you not to address the issue.
The clot will have less time to form in a shorter time frame BUT even 20 minutes increases your chances of a stoke.
My suggestion is to discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor will access your risk of stroke and maybe put you on medication to reduce the risks. This may depend on your age and Chad score etc.
Why not contact your doc and ask for a 'virtual' appointment. I'm sure you will be OK but have it checked so you are playing on the safe side.
It also depends on other factors. This may / may not be worth reading.
uscjournal.com/articles/ide...
Paul
*** That's just my personal opinion as a fellow afibber - I don't have any medicial qualifications so please check this with your doctor.
The number or length of AF events has no bearing on stroke risk I'm afraid. Or to out it another way, it is not the AF that gives the stroke risk but the company it keeps. (Dr S Gupta York cardiology)
Thanks for clarifying that Bob. I need to research more about this - I didn't know that even a short episode of afib could still put you at the same risk of stroke rather than 'longer term' afib.
That's the benefit of posting on a forum like this. There is so much to learn.
Paul
Don't be misled by the title it is as BobD says. Coincidence that this popped up on YouTube for me this morning.
Just watched video. Makes total sense thank you. Hope you ok. How is your tooth? X
With my first encounter with AF I was in it for nearly 48 hours before medical intervention was given because it was over a bank holiday weekend. Short staffed in A & E etc 😤. Eventually when I was taken seriously, because I had been in AF for so long, they wouldn’t perform a cardioversion until I had been given an echocardiogram to check for any clots, as they were concerned the cardioversion could dislodge it & cause a stroke. No clot found, so had cardioversion intravenously. I now take an anticoagulant & Flecainide as a PIP
So I think the longer AF goes on without the proper treatment the higher the risk of stroke.
This was my personal experience anyway
Best wishes Ally
I’ve had no AF in the six years I have been taking Flecainide but my stroke risk remains. A person’s CHADsVASC score indicates his or her stroke risk and AF is not one of the factors - hence the advice that the company which AF keeps is the real cause and fibrillation of the atria is one of the mechanisms of how a stroke occurs.
My cardiologist told me that with such short, infrequent episodes, the risk of long-term damage and/or deforming of heart valves is very low. The blood clot thing, however, is a separate issue and anticoagulants are in order.
Given the risk of stroke, I would get into a habit of taking anti coagulants religiously. While you may not notice any difference, take them anyway. Stroke may be the biggest risk of afib.
Hi Dippitydo,
As with the responses above, my own is down to personal experience and the responses I have received from Doctors to my own queries. My view is that being anti-coagulated would be of benefit to those of us who suffer as you do (I also have p-AF, but probably a bit more frequent than yours). However, despite virtually pleading with my GP and a face to face meeting with the practice's Anti-Coag Specialist, that is not possible for me.
The practice maintains that they strictly follow CHADsVasc2 and at 54 I don't score a '1' yet. My BMI is around 23-24 and aside from a bit of asthma, I have no other issues. My typical BP is 135/78, but I often see readings of 145/90 and yet they still tell me the risks of anti-coagulation are greater than those of a stroke. For my part, I am not so confident about this, but like so many previous episodes in my nearly 40 years with AF, I have to accept what I am being told and back off, as continued angst and worry over the issue fuels the AF and makes things far worse.
So, in short, if your GP is minded like mine, they will rigidly apply the CHADsVasc2 scores and act according to those. IMHO that is crazy. As I said to my practice's 'Specialist' - are we really saying that as I turn 65, my score goes from zero to one? Surely, at 54, with BP often higher than ideal, I should be regarded as a "0.8" and treated accordingly? No, apparently not.
As with everything AF related, I would advise finding a mindset you are comfortable with that doesn't make your condition worse and trying not to think too much outside of that.
I wish you the best in your journey...
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