Dr. Pubbi Discusses Atrial Fibrillation
Dr. Dinesh Pubbi was recently featured on First Coast Living and discussed Atrial Fibrillation also known as AFib.
What is atrial fibrillation?
- Also called AFib.
- Most common arrhythmia in USA and world wide.
- 5 to 6.5 million now. By 2050 eight million will be effected.
- Irregular heart beat from upper chamber of heart.
2- What are the signs/symptoms? What Do People Feel?
- Some people may complain of palpitations shortness of breath, chest pain, racing heart.
- Flip flops in heart fluttering or flopping.
- Fatigue and tiredness.
- 30% may not have any symptoms at all.
3- Are women more likely than men to have irregular heart beats? What about Race; are Afro Americans more likely than the white population to suffer from irregular heart beats?
- Women tend to develop atrial fibrillation at an older age then men; 4 years older.
- Risk of death higher in women with AFib.
- Women need to see electrophysiologist sooner.
- Caucasians have higher prevalence of AFib.
4-Is atrial fibrillation associated with stroke or heart attack risk?
- AFib is the leading cause of stroke.
- Risk of stroke five times higher than normal population.
- Up to 80%of strokes in people with AFib can be prevented.
5 -How is AFib treated?
- Depends on how long you have it.
- Three kinds of AFib – paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent.
- Reset the rhythm.
- Prevent blood clots from forming.
- Coumadin and the new agents.
6-Can a person be cured of AFib? Can it go away?
- Antiaarrhythmic medications, cardio version.
- Ablation can be a cure for some patients.
- Catheter ablations minimal invasive.
- Can use heat Radiofrequency energy or freeze cryotherapy.
- Used to treat hot spots or abnormal cells.
- This corrects the arrhythmia without the need of medication or implantable device.
- Need to see Electrophysiology doctor.
