Atrial Fibrillation – Part 1: Your Questions Answered

This two part program answers all your questions about Atrial Fibrillation. Part 1 covers types and progression of afib; causes and risk factors; symptoms; and diagnostic tests, including personal monitors or devices. The doctors then discuss how these factors are taken into account when deciding on ablation and the use of blood thinners.

Questions are answered by atrial fibrillation experts Oussama Wazni, MD, Section Head of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing and Mandeep Bhargava, MD, Staff Cardiologist, Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing

[richconklin]

Great job doctors! Very informative. I have been diagnosed with Afib recently. Currently going to the Cleveland Clinic for treatment.

[JudiLaurinaitis]

I have AFib and a leaky mitral valve and tricuspid valve. Is non invasive surgery possible or open heart.
Without surgery what is life expectancy.

[hebaefat]

I have this butterfly sensation 3 times in 1 year, each last 30 sec ..
No other associated symptoms..
Should I seek medical attention

[whynotbekind]

I am a 57 year old female. I have proximal afib ...and have a dual chamber pacemaker because my resting heartrate was staying in the 40s, so i could not tolerate beta blockers for the very high heart rate during my afib episodes. I have been cardioverted 4 times. I was originally put on flecanide 150mg per day, atenolol 25mg day and Eliquis 5mg BID. I also have tachy/brady syndrome. After I got my pacemaker my doctor told me that I could go off the blood thinner and use the flecinide as a “pill and a pocket” per my blood pressure good and my A1C was question i’m not on a blood thinner and I go into afib that dosent resolve on its own with the flecinide, does it make it riskier to cardiovert my afib without being on the blood thinner? Would it make it more likely that the next time I go into afib that i’m at risk of bloodclot? I have heard differing opinions. My afib is very symptomatic when I have it and I have very high heart rate with that jumps around erratically with it....I also have been wondering if I should have an ablation...because I would rather have it before things are real bad and before i’m in permanent afib. I live in West Virginia and wonder if I should have it done here locally or come to cleveland clinic to have the procedure and evaluation to make sure that is the best option for me? My mail worth is whether i need to be on the blood thinner or not....I worry about stroke. I’m young (relatively) and want to live a long life

[marinoperna]

72 year old male with diagnosed permanent A-Fib. I've have prostate surgery about 16 months ago (confirmation of no A-Fib at that time). My heart doctor had me do an Echo. Heart muscle is strong, no valve issues though the technician said an interesting thing where he pointed out a light gray triangular area stating that he sees this in patents having had covid-19.
I do not take any heart medicine other than Eliquis. Resting pulse is 60-80 resting while with major physical activity (hard lifting - to near exhaustions) about an hour's worth i still do not get palpitations just weak and tired (what i would expect with a person being older and somewhat out of shape (6'4" 230lbs.)) I've seen a pulse of up to 130ish.
With that said, My concern is that I'm being told by an electrophysiologist that I must do ablation soon (after a year NSR is not as likely) or i will digress to a point of needing constant medication and/or pacemaker.
Should i have Ablation or just wait?