AF. - heart disease ?

[Alan1947]

I have got involved on another forum where there is a dispute over whether AF is a heart disease or not. I say it is an electrical fault rather than a disease but others disagree. I think there may be a difference of opinion between UK and USA. What is the view here ?

[BobD Volunteer]

AF is a condition rather than a disease in my opinion. Diseases can often be cured which is not the case with AF.

That said it is really just being pedantic isn't it. There is something wrong with you whatever you call it.

[Alan1947 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob. I think it arose from a question on a pre-treatment dentists questionnaire eg “Are you suffering from heart disease?”

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Alan1947]

In that case yes is a safe answer and then elaborate.

[S11m in reply to BobD]

AF is a disease of the nervous system - but it is a problem with the nerves within the heart, so it is a heart disease.

My AF has been cured - or at least it is in remission, after three cardioversions, two catheter ablations and two pacemakers.

I thought that disease was defined as any deviation from normal - (which would include trauma).

The dictionary says: "a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury."

...but, what we think of as diseases are infectious diseases... but some of them are not curable.

The degenerative and hereditary diseases... are they "diseases"?

[Hidden]

I believe it's a pure and simple electronic malfunction, which, even today is not totally understood. However, it is influenced by so many day to day issues, like, food, drink, genetics and lifestyle. I also would add that it requires a person to have a predisposition to it of some sort.

A disease, surely is something insidious, which is usually contracted by a person who has been in close association with a carrier of ....... whatever. An electrical fault is not contracted.

Not very well expressed, best I can do after a busy day.

John

[S11m in reply to Hidden]

There are deficiency, hereditary, and non-communicable diseases.

[Sfhmgusa]

I think it is more a heart condition rather than a disease.

But the big issue is if asked on insurance forms etc what do you say? And where do you put it ?

I say that I have “diagnosed and medicated atrial fibrillation. “ This covers disclosure and I put it if possible in the “ other conditions” box

[Brad43]

It fits the definition of disease. So it's a heart disease caused by an electrical fault.

[Hidden]

Definition of disease:

“a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury”

Yes it is a disease

[Cocotex]

When asked to check a box for heart disease, afib is not. Heart disease is cardiomyopathy, enlarged heart, reduced EF. Long term effects of permanent afib may cause heart disease. That was the explanation that was given to me.

[S11m in reply to Cocotex]

I think that enlarged heart or reduced Ejection Fraction are symptoms or heart disease... a disease is, I think what causes the problems.

...but I think that high or low pulse rates (bradycardia or tachycardia) are considered to be diseases? ...or symptoms?

[Mrsvemb]

Before I was old enough to have a free flu jab, I tried to get one on the basis of AF, as if you had heart disease you met the criteria. I managed to wangle one on that basis.

However, the next time I saw my GP he told me that AF is not classed as heart disease and did not meet the criteria for a free flu jab.

That was a few years ago and the criteria has probably changed now.

But on that basis, I don’t class AF as heart disease. Heart disease is conditions like narrowing coronary arteries.

Like Bob says AF is a condition rather than a disease.

[Jajarunner in reply to Mrsvemb]

I get free flu jab cos of AFib

[Mrsvemb in reply to Jajarunner]

Yes I did say that the criteria has probably changed now. 7 or 8 years ago you couldn’t get the flu jab for AFib.

[wilsond in reply to Jajarunner]

Me too,I'm sent a letter each year

[opal11uk]

When I was diagnosed over 20 years ago my cardiologist said that A/F was a chronic condition and was due to electrical malfunction of the heart and that I did not have heart disease, so as far as I am concerned I do not have heart disease.

[LHDLondon]

Splitting hairs doesn't get round the fact that this is a common problem for people with heart disease. It's manifested as an electrical fault but treatment should be viewed in the round together with other ailments. My heart disease caused my AF, not the other way round. AF further weakens and stresses heart muscles and blood flow, so it exacerbates te overall situation. Your cardiologist is best qualified to treat the whole condition. They may well seperate things to different experts but that doesn't mean they won't keep an overall view of the heart in its entirety. To do otherwise would be negligent.

[Janith]

I asked my cardiologist that very question ... “Doc, do l have heart disease? “ He said “yes” ... l down deep disagree with him ...

[jeanjeannie50]

I've always thought of disease as something that slowly eats into your body and alters cells etc. It can often be infectious too, like myxomatosis in rabbits. However, the more I think about it the less I can define what is and what isn't.

Re AF, no I wouldn't say that was a disease. Our heart is deformed a little in it's firing, it's purely a physical, bodily malfunction, not something we've caught, or anyone else can catch from us. It's no more a disease than having an ingrowing toenail is.

Jean

[Aegean56]

Heart "disease " refers to pathology of the heart muscle and blood vessels altering the ability to pump blood and supply oxygen efficiently . A fib is one of many rhythm disturbances due to mis- firing of electrical signals much like seizures are not brain disease but misfiring of electrical activity of the brain

[Cha275rL]

I was only diagnosed with AF 4 weeks ago, and at the time I asked if that meant I had a heart problem. The consultant told me that I did not have a heart problem, just with the electrics of it.