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Atrial Fibrilation

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macca 53 Nov 2019 8:08am, 8 Nov 2019 27,119 posts	0 macca 53 As....
GregP Nov 2019 8:30am, 8 Nov 2019 116,039 posts	0 GregP Macca 27117 is fascinating
Flatlander Nov 2019 9:29am, 8 Nov 2019 1,521 posts	0 Flatlander macca 53, you're right that athletes become aware of AF because we are monitoring our hearts. However, any trained athlete is at a higher risk of developing AF because the atria become enlarged due to the demands placed on the heart during exercise. AF is also age related, and can be precipitated by other provocations, see nhs.uk e.g. I am old and have asthma although my AF was more likely caused by my dilated atria.
DazTheSlug Nov 2019 10:36am, 8 Nov 2019 2,122 posts	0 DazTheSlug I'm fairly sure my AF is just genetic - my mother, uncle (on mother's side) and brother have all had it, and none of them have done much in the way of regular/strenuous exercise
Heinzster Nov 2019 6:40pm, 8 Nov 2019 1,449 posts	0 Heinzster AF is really common, also picked up at routine pulse and BP checks. That's why I use a manual sphyg to check BP over an electronic one (well, one reason). I assume new stroke patients are ECGd but don't know for sure.
LouLou Nov 2019 8:46pm, 8 Nov 2019 7,611 posts	0 LouLou Flatlander - AF is actively looked for in any person presenting with a stroke. They would have an ECG and if no AF would then have a longer ECG recording typically 24-72 hour to look for paroxysmal AF
Flatlander Nov 2019 9:08pm, 8 Nov 2019 1,524 posts	0 Flatlander Thanks LouLou, I wondered if something like that happens.
GregP Nov 2019 6:16am, 19 Nov 2019 116,223 posts	0 GregP So the news is all good, now I’ve processed it. I do have an irregular heartbeat and an enlarged aorta (watching an ultrasound of your own heart is pretty cool). Because of my age and fitness and low CHADVASC(?) score the cardiologist sees no need to take any action. I’m to come back in a year to make sure my aorta hasn’t got any wider and I may need blood thinners when I hit 65, but apart from that I’m to carry on. He even encouraged me to run more because it is good for my heart. Yay.
Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Nov 2019 7:16am, 19 Nov 2019 29,172 posts	0 Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Most excellent news Greg
R4R Nov 2019 9:11am, 19 Nov 2019 3,152 posts	0 R4R Good news Greg but I can trump your ultrasound - my PVI was done under low sedation rather than general anaesthesia, and I could see the screen that the surgeon was using to perform the procedure For the uninitiated, the procedure involves passing a catheter from your groin into your heart, and burning around the Pulmonary Vein to isolate it from the surrounding area