Toby1947

[Toby1947]

I am not happy your organisation is suggesting Af is heart disease . It’s not

Talk to any heart surgeon

[Hidden]

Amazing suggestion! That's what I have been telling at this forum for years, but nobody was taking it seriously. The heart itself is sound at the onset of the first problems with arrhythmia (not all hearts, of course). The problems originate from heart control system, sending wrong signals to the heart. It causes AF, among other arrhythmia. When the signals get normal again, the heart reverts to NSR from itself, everybody has had the chance to witness this!

[Peony4575 in reply to Hidden]

Some arrhythmia s doctors classify as “functional disorders” rather than disease benign ectopics being such a one . If not treated they don’t harm you. Not sure AF if frequent and persistent falls into that category as it does have the potential to kill you one way or another . A one off episode with a discernible cause is not disease if it happens a lot and you need treatments or invasive procedures like ablations I definitely regard it as a malady of some sort . As Shakespeare said “ a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet” so personally I don’t give a monkeys what they classify it as I still don’t want it

[Sfhmgusa]

Terminology can get under people’s skin, I would guess condition is probably a good term. For my own part I tell people that the “ pump” is working but the wiring is faulty

[Pdotg in reply to Sfhmgusa]

The first thing my cardiologist said when I first saw him about AF was "You do not suffer from a heart 'condition' ". So I guess it's a matter of definition.

[Hidden in reply to Sfhmgusa]

Yes, I say heart condition when I want a bit of sympathy and that it's an intermittent electrical fault with the heart and you know what a bugger they are to fix in anything, when I am trying to play it down. We had one with the dishwasher which sorted itself out eventually- wish my system could manage that!

[BobD Volunteer]

Sorry which organisation? I only ever use the term "heart condition". Yes it may be a symptom of a disease but that is just semantics.

[CDreamer]

Define disease?

Wikipedia says - A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism, and that is not due to any immediate external injury.

I would say AF comes under that definition.

My definition - dis-ease and AF is certainly that!

What would you prefer? Condition? Dysfunction?

I agree that terminology needs to be precise to avoid misunderstanding but I don’t think using disease with reference to AF is incorrect.

I have nothing to do with the AA organisation by the way, just a grateful for this forum member.

[Singwell in reply to CDreamer]

Nicely put.

[jeanjeannie50]

I've never thought of AF as being a heart disease, but more of a heart condition. Where on this forum have you seen it referred to as being a disease?

Welcome to the forum, sorry that your first post is a complaint.

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yeah me too Jean, exactly as you say, not a disease, just a condition.

I mean, as you know, my AF has now proven to be a product of a dysfunctional vagal nerve. So does that mean my vagal nerve is diseased. Of course its not ! I still wear an AF label, and I still have medication, and I try and follow a sensible lifestyle and diet and since April 2015 I have had only one AF event, in February 2018.

Yes my heart still acts up occasionally but no AF ............ and I know you'll appreciate it ....... no heart disease. 😀😀

John

John

[doodle68]

Hello Toby when doing some research I noted that some countries class 'arrhythmias ' as heart disease , I will give you an example from the USA..

''What are the symptoms of heart disease?

Sometimes heart disease may be “silent” and not diagnosed until a person experiences signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. When these events happen, symptoms may include1

Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Arrhythmia: Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations).''

cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm

The UK does not class AF or arrhythmias as heart disease, they are generally considered to be the results of some other health condition or cause.

If you have any comments to make about the content or running of the site they really should be should be addressed to Admin and not the members,

See below...

support.healthunlocked.com/...

[Hidden]

I couldn’t care less what you call it, just want it to disappear......what I find unusual is that your profile says you have been a member since 2016 and according to your profile, this is your first post and reply......

[wilsond in reply to Hidden]

Yes I thought it was odd too! Hmm

[Hidden in reply to wilsond]

😎👀🥸

[Blondie1985 in reply to Hidden]

Ha your first sentence made me laugh. I wholeheartedly agree 👍

[Peony4575]

Perhaps we should refer to AF as “it which cannot be named “ to paraphrase JK Rowling

[Singwell in reply to Peony4575]

👍

[Paulbounce]

Afib is an electrical fault with the heart. I compare my heart to a car engine - the engine is fine but the starter motor is faulty.

Some people with afib have heart disease too - others not. I'm not a medic but it's possible one can lead to the other.

I'm sure you will find useful information on here (I know I do) some of which you may / may not think is correct. You are of course fully entitled to your point of view.

It's your first post so welcome to the forum.

Paul

[Singwell]

Heart arrythmia condition tends to be how I describe it. If no structural issues, electrical fault is another term I also use. Ultimately it's the patient experience that matters and that's what this forum is for. I've been active only since April this year but I've never seen any posts referring to AF as heart disease.

[Hennerton]

Why be so aggressive? We are just normal people here, trying to get through life any way we can and trying to help each other on the way. Be glad you found this site. I am more on Thyroid UK that helps with thyroid disease but members here are equally kind and helpful. Be thankful you found us.

[Hidden in reply to Hennerton]

Fortunately it doesn’t happen very often. Normally a “first poster” would at least acknowledge those who have responded to their post. I sense there is something a bit unusual about this one........

[Frances123]

I have only ever thought of or referred to Afib as a condition and not a disease. Have never heard anyone on here, or a cardiologist, electrophysiologist etc refer to it as anything else. Not sure where your gripe is coming from. It could be that someone has suddenly developed Afib, feels really poorly, had various tests etc and is scared ****less and thinks they have an awful disease. If this is the case then cut them some slack as they are scared. Yes, it could be they have a heart disease as well but we don’t know but if it’s afib alone then someone I am sure would have gently said Afib is not a disease and most refer to it as a condition or wiring out of kilter etc.

I wonder how many of the surgeons you refer too say blood thinners and not anticoagulants!.

[Hidden in reply to Frances123]

Oh my Gawd.......please don’t go there.......😳😉😂😳😩🙏🙏🙏

[Frances123 in reply to Hidden]

😂🤫

[wilsond in reply to Hidden]

Nooo! Never on a Sunday !🤣🙄☠️

[Cha275rL]

Does it really matter? We all have AF on this site, and are all just desperate to get rid of it. I was told by the consultant that there was nothing wrong with my heart, just the electrics, so that’s good enough for me.

[Barb1]

You mean the forum? Haven't seen this myself. can you be more specific?

[mikelocke]

If it's a spade, might as well call it a spade. It might help get the attention and resources it definitely needs to treat it and stop pussyfooting about it as some GP's may be inclined.My EP has said that I have "an underlying sinus node dysfunction and conduction system disease". Not pretty but real. He has had thirteen years training, so who am I to argue.

Taking it seriously, we have between us, got on with it, surgically and with medication, beaten it .

[EngMac]

I seem to remember reading that in the US once the word "disease" is used it must be treated by an appropriate medical doctor and prescription drugs can be used to treat. There is likely something behind this approach to make sure "others" cannot legally treat the "disease".

The priority also can be what liability insurance covers and not the solution for the problem being treated. At least this is what my doctor told me and I am in Canada where often our "big neighbour" influences what happens here.