11 Responses to “Ask Dr. Andrea Natale Your Questions About Atrial Fibrillation”

1. marcia sandeen // Jul 30, 2008 at 10:27 pm

   What can I do to lessen my chances of a stroke with a-fib. the only advice I get from my heart specialist(s) is to take coumidin. I will not take rat poison for anything. Any thing else besides aspirin which I hear is not that much help.

2. Mellanie // Jul 31, 2008 at 7:35 am

   Marcia,

   You might ask your doctor about the new Watchman device that catches clots.

   There is also a new anticoagulant (rivaroxaban) that has just been filed for US approval, but could take a year to get approved and on the market.

   Mellanie

3. Terry Loveless // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:18 pm

   I have had ablation,uv nod ablation,pacemaker installed,I take Tikosyn, warafin but still have bouts of afib that sometimes last two weeks.Is there any hope for a cure?

4. Mellanie // Aug 11, 2008 at 8:35 pm

   Terry,

   I have heard that surgery is sometimes an option after an AV node ablation, but that would be on a case-by-case basis.

   You might find a surgeon to discuss this with. Feel free to check our Afib Services Locator at http://www.StopAfib.org, or let me know where you are and I’ll let you know if I know of any in your area.

   Mellanie

5. mary peterka // Aug 17, 2008 at 9:29 am

   After having Dr Andrea Natale’s ablation procedure for Afib, is carrying a defibrillator with you recommended? If so, how long?

6. Mellanie // Aug 17, 2008 at 10:21 am

   Mary,

   That’s a very interesting question. Most patients don’t have a defibrillator (AED, Automated External Defibrillator) to carry around with them, so I’ve never heard that question asked.

   I’ve asked the folks at the Journal of Atrial Fibrillation, where Dr. Natale was answering questions through yesterday, to please add in your question. But since you already have a relationship with Dr. Natale’s office, you may want to contact his office right away rather than waiting until August 26 for his answer.

   Mellanie

7. Mellanie // Aug 17, 2008 at 10:25 am

   Marcia and Terry,

   I’ve requested that your questions be added to the list of questions for Dr. Natale over at the Journal of Atrial Fibrillation.

   Dr. Natale’s answers will be posted August 26. This link will tell you more about the current status and how to view the answers: http://www.stopafib.org/newsitem.cfm/NEWSID/82

   Mellanie

8. Harriet Palatnik // Sep 29, 2008 at 11:25 am

   I was just treated in the hospital for af and wanted to know if coumadin is a drug to take for life? Does this af shorten my life and will most patients have a stroke within the next 5 years? Will I always be on blockers for my heart as well.

   Please advise

9. Mellanie // Oct 12, 2008 at 8:50 pm

   Harriet,

   If you continue to have atrial fibrillation, you’ll probably want to stay on Coumadin, if you can. And you’ll probably also stay on blockers, unless they stop working for you.

   Are you in continuous afib, or does it come and go?

   Continuous afib can overwork the heart, which can lead to heart failure. That’s why many people in continous afib consider having a procedure that can stop the afib.

   As far as stroke risks…no, most patients don’t have a stroke within 5 years. About one third of afib patients will have a stroke at some time, and women are more at risk. Here are some important statistics to know regarding stroke and afib: http://www.stopafib.org/stroke.cfm

   Good luck to you.

   Mellanie

10. greenturfco@meadowcrk.com // Jun 16, 2009 at 11:13 pm

    How big is the normal size atrium? Is dr.andrea Natile hard to get for help? and what about the cost?

11. RICARDO MARTINEZ NIÑO // Mar 12, 2010 at 10:01 pm

    Dr Andrea Natale,
    Cordial saludo,
    Soy medico Pediatra de Colombia tengo 55 años con una cardiomiopatia dilatada desde hace 5 años, porto un cardiodesfibrilador hace 2 años ,a raiz de una muerte subita con ACV . hace 6 meses me someti a una ablacion con carto de venas pulmonares por una F.A.en la Fundacion CardioInfantil de Bogota , tengo alblacion del nodo av , actualmente mejore la F E al 35 % estoy anticuagulado con warfarina IRN 2.3 , tomo dia; enalapril 10,amiodarona 200,betaloc Zoc (Metroprolol succinato)75, espirinolactona, bromazepam1.5,
    Socilito una cita con Ud , En texas o en Boston pues mi condicion de salud no ha mejorado Posiblemente con una arritmia Ventricular no sostenida y hace 15 dias mientras dormia tuve un sincope tras dolor pecordial opresivo
    Por la atencion a mi solicitud quedo de Ud muy agradecido.
    Dr Ricardo Martinez Niño.