hi all
If I have AF showing in my monitor but a Heart beat of 63 is the AF still doing damage to the heart ?
The cardio nurse explained my LVH was in larger a little due to AF but is that still the case if the actual pulse is fine . She said AF is like your heart muscle having a work out like any muscle so it will grow if untreated
Sorry if this is a daft question
Not at all. It may be that before you were put on medication to control your heart rate your heart was working a bit too hard and that enlarges the heart more than normal. Quite often it is an atrium that enlarges but once AF is controlled or reduced it can go back to normal size. AF isn’t good for your heart but at a ‘normal’ rate it won’t do the same damage.
Hopefully someone who is more knowledgeable about the technicalities will be along soon with a fuller explanation but in the meantime I hope that helps.
What monitor do you use? We always like to know what’s available.
Hi NGLA,Please can I ask what heart rate monitor you are using? Is it a Kardia?
Is around 60 beats a minute your normal heart beat, now you’re on bisop etc? I know you take quite a large dose….and how long are you/have you been in AF for?
I am not an expert but if it stays around that rate, I wouldn’t think it would do any more damage, it’s the higher AF rates that the heart can sometimes find difficult of course, but others may have different views.
I think all medical experts have differing ideas on it…I asked my cardiologist if having further attacks would cause my heart damage and he said it wouldn’t, but I’m not entirely convinced. My AF was in the 180s though at it’s highest, so that does give the heart a good workout.
Hi I was diagnosed in May I believe I had it longer maybe years but only now and then
So being in AF doesn’t do the damage it’s more the rate ?
Hi,
Ah, I too had it years too before diagnosed. Because AF is usually such high rates without medication, it’s that I believe that is the biggest issue plus the irregularity which adds to it. It’s also dependent on what other health factors of course, that you may have going on with the rate as to risks of stroke. I’m not on any Anti coagulation yet as I’m 56 and deemed low risk, but it is still a bit of a worry when I’m high rate AF, but (Touchwood) haven’t had an episode for months.
I haven’t heard of your monitor, but if it is basic, and If you can stretch to it, it would really be worth getting a Kardia - these are £100-£150. Lots on this forum use them and you can take ECGs with them which are acceptable by EPs, Gps and cardiologists. They can tell you quickly whether you are in Afib or any other arrhythmia and you can connect it to your smart phone. They have a 6 lead version at £150 which is a similar, portable version of like they use in hospitals.
I bought mine direct from Kardia. I also have an applewatch which is fine and does all sorts of things related to health and the heart, if I’m out and about etc, but the Kardia does take ‘better’ ECGs In more detail and detects more Arythmias.
There are never any 'daft questions', but just daft people if anybody thinks it is not right to ask! 
Medication may control pulse rate as indeed my sotalol does for me, meaning I rarely have a rate much above 55 to 64. But I am in permanent AF and have an enlarged atrium. Although I am not a doctor of course, it seems logical to me that if the heart muscle is not being overworked as it is in tachycardia, the irregular beats are not going to make things worse in this respect. But of course, the danger of blood clots formed in the atrium in instances of fibrillation remain the greatest danger. Thank heavens things like apixaban reduce the risk of that quite significantly.
Thank you for your kind informative reply
De nada!
The beating of the ventricles (i.e. the 'pulse' you feel in your wrist and elsewhere) can be very different from that of the atrium (which, in AF, isn't beating but twitching and can't be felt). The potential for harm is the same, but my elderly friend is now nearly 89 and has had permanent AF for many years without any treatment except warfarin. He has slight regurgitation and enlargement but is otherwise well in himself and active. My son's colleague is 74 and has had 4-5 ablations, still has AF, and is similarly well.
I think you're very likely to be fine, too!
Steve
Not a doctor of course, but isn’t the greater risk a stroke vs heart damage? Seems the stroke risk is present regardless of heart rate.
Yes it is but as the rate is lower then the disturbance is less chaotic and therefore the risk of clotting is less. In fact 2 cardiologists I have spoken to or know about aim for rate managed permanent AFib as a long term outcome as they believe this is a better outcome (for some) than the dramatic flip flopping that can come with NSR attainment and maintenance
Hi, not to belabor it. I’m treated for paroxysmal AF, treated with anti-arrhythmics, so not an expert on permanent. But anecdotally, my father and brother in law have permanent afib, which was never felt. So I’m pretty sure they have normal heart rates (had, in the case of my dad, as he’s passed). Their only treatment is / was an anticoagulant.
My brother is in permanent AFib and hasn't even been given anti-coagulents as his CHAD score is 0
Hello, I had Paroxysmal AF for 10 years before successful Ablation in 2016. " weeks ago suddenly I started to get short runs of AF lasting half hour, Then the runs became longer until I was in AF almost constantly. I have an EMAY heart monitor that records ECG's and pulse and can download onto APP and print out readings. I know my heart so well that I dont need a monotor to tell me when Im in AF, sinus or Ectopics. My AF has never had a fast pulse it always remains normal 70-80. But the palpitations were/are big and aggressive. Makes we laugh when Doctor/Cardiologists ask "How do you know you are in AF" disbelieveingly....my answer is "because it feels like Ive got the whole team of Strictly Come Dancing in my chest doing every kind of dance!!!" I used to feel like my chest was being lifted off the bed it was so aggressive. Anyway back to know. My recent AF continued for days, I was exhausted, having chest pains and getting breathless. Pulse rate slow to normal. I went into A&E as worried. Was in overnight (nightmare experience) sat in waiting room feeling dizzy exhausted and anxious. Because my pulse rate was slow to normal they werent bothered. BP, blood tests etc all normal. I am on Bisoprolol 2,5mg a day. Had been taking extra 1.25mg during AF period thinking it would help. A&E Doctor when discharging me told me not to take extra as heart rate was 45 on occasion in A&E. They wouldn't give me any Anti-Arythmia medication have been referred to Cardiology for Holter Monitor etc.
The A&E doctor said as long as heart rate is slow to normal in AF not to worry, just ride it out. As Im on Bisoprolol and also on Abixiban since 2016 I will be ok!
So I was in AF for about 10 days and it then gradually settled day by day. 2 weeks later- today its normal with the odd short blip. However what is strange is that since the AF has stopped my resting heart rate is 45-55. So 2 days ago I cut it down to 1.25mg without any effect, so yesterday I stopped the Bisoprolol completely. This morning my heart rate has gone up to 64. I am worried that the AF caused some damage which is why my heart rate is slow now?!
AF and Fitbit pulse monitor
Slow AF, raised BP
AF with low heart rate?
Heart Rate Monitors
Af. Rapid pulse at rest
