Hi.
Male, 52, reasonably fit with no concerns until August 2018. Upshot seems to be Atrial Flutter. Went on bisoprilol 2.5 and seemed OK, a light gym session on bike seems to have triggered another episode, moved to 5mg.
What's the difference between flutter and Fibrillation?
I've been told I am zero rating on stroke list but it all seems rather concerning.
Atrial fibrillation is an irregularity irregular rhythm that can vary in speed. Atrial flutter is more regular and generally quite fast, especially in the atria, so fast that not all beats make it to the ventricals. You may have a 2:1 conduction rate (which is what I had when I first had atrial flutter in April) where the atrial rate is 300 bpm and the ventricular rate is 150bpm (pulse rate). I needed an electric cardio version to slow my heart down and get it back into sinus rhythm however 6 weeks later it went back into flutter and then morphed into atrial fibrillation.
Atrial flutter heart beats are regular but fast full AF or Atrial Fibrillation it beats irregularly and fast.
Atria can beat a lot faster than the ventricles so heart goes completely out of sync when having episodes
In both cases the heart is basically quivering and does not pump efficiently which means other parts of body do not get enough blood or oxygen.
I don't know why u was told u are zero rating for stroke in both cases the blood can pool in the heart and begin to clot. Which can then move around body causing a stroke in both cases!!
I'm 54 very fit and I had a trail flutter and AF. Was diagnosed with Paroxysmal AF.
Which basically means comes and goes it can be weeks months or years between episodes. But I am still on meds. All fine on the medication.
What meds are you on?
Alison
Bisoprolol, Rivaoxaban
I am Bisoprolol, it's taken my normal resting BPM to less than 50 at times. Is that safe.
My resting heart rate before surgery and arythmia was 50 but I was classed as very fit My current heart rate is still around the same. It depends on how fit u are a trained athlete can be lower. In an average person resting heart rate should be between 60-100bpm so some docs may class u has being bradacardic. If it is causing other health issues like faints or blackouts. It needs looking into.
Stroke risk factors. Age, sex, BP, diabetes, etc. There's a defined risk scale for strokes. My rating is currently zero.
That defined risk group does not work with AF or Atrial flutter!!
It would work if AF not present.
I am not diabetic, BP fine, male, 54.
So my rating is also zero to low.
It is the AF Atrial flutter Arrhythmia that causes the blood to stagnate and pool in the heart causing it to begin to clot. If the clot breaks up there is a risk of stroke.
Even though the defined risk is zero.
If u have Atrial Fibrillation u are still at risk.
Are you on blood thinners. I'd say I'm overweight but relatively fit. I took up cycling about 2 years ago and until all this was doing the 20km a day. Active job and lifestyle too. My BPM before all this was say 70-85. On the 5mg bisoprolol it's in the 50s. I feel OK physically, it's just the mental concern that, "is 50s safe", sometimes high 40s
What my consultant said was, yes, the risk is increased but that if general rating is low, they tend not to advise blood thinners as this could cause problems too.
I'm in a strange place, I feel fine, but obviously am not.
Have you had a discussion about ablation?
No I'm fine now no issues, no arrhythmia heart rate fine and controlled with medication. Plus it was paroxysmal AF so not there all the time. Episodes can be years apart.
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