Comments on: Does Alcohol Put You At Risk for Atrial Fibrillation?

By: Can Avoiding Dehydration Prevent Atrial Fibrillation "Holiday Heart Syndrome"?

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:11:33 +0000

[...] culprits they are portrayed to be in causing atrial fibrillation? You can read those articles at Does Alcohol Put You at Risk for Atrial Fibrillation? and The Role of Coffee in Atrial [...]

By: Mellanie

Mellanie — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:04:39 +0000

Clive,

It sounds like you really have it figured out. Congrats!

Mellanie

By: Mellanie

Mellanie — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:01:20 +0000

Chris,

Thanks for your kind comments about the site.

I wish we knew the answers to your questions, but everyone is different and what happens with one may not happen with another. Generally, afib gets worse (is progressive), but it’s possible that there are exceptions. You may be able to do something to make it better, especially if you focus on avoiding dehydration, and take supplements such as magnesium and potassium (being careful with doses–Hans Larsen’s Lone Afib Forum, which is listed in our resources, has lots of good info on supplements).

Good luck.

Mellanie

By: Lawrence Crosthwaite

Lawrence Crosthwaite — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:16:28 +0000

I have had chronic Afib for at least 5 years. Before that I had an episode and had a cardioversion which lasted for 2 years.Now my doctors tell me just to stay on Warfarin for the prevention of clots and get my INR done every 2 weeks am 79 years old, and had two blocked arteries. This happened after I went into the chronic AFib . My heart rhythm is constantly irregular . I have low blood pressure and apart from arthritis I feel pretty good and am active. Anybody else with chronic AFIB?

By: Gerry

Gerry — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:09:30 +0000

64 year old male. Drank 1-2 drinks per day, more on weekends. Get stressed out.
Wake up once or twice every night. Diagnosed with afib couple of months ago. Under went successful cardioversion. No alcohol or caffein in the 2 weeks since cardioversion, have tried to manage stress better, and I still seem to be in sinus rhythm. I would like to get back to at least having the occasional drink, but my cardiologist won’t hear of it. Thinking of getting a second opinion. Priorities are to stay in sinus rhythm, get off coumadin, and maybe get back to drinking but much more moderately.
Appreciate the website.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 01:00:36 +0000

First, let me say what a great site this is. I have found more information here than I have been able to elicit from Dr’s. It always frustrated me that everything was so vague about this condition but it seems that research is ongoing and it is, as Seinfeld says ” a riddle wrapped in a coundrum”. My first episode took me by surprise after a full on morning working in the sun and after mowing the lawn. I went to A&E and overnight in ICU and then went through the usual stuff most others have written about. First I was told I had AF then next episode I was told it wasn’t AF originally but A/Flutter then eventually when I saw the Cardiologist he told me I had BOTH!
What I would specifically like to know is:

1. After being diagnosed with both, is it both every time or is it AF only?

2. I have had 6 episodes in 6 months but they are getting further apart the longer it goes. Do I have AF, A/Flutter for life or is it possible to modify your lifestyle to prevent further attacks, thus avoiding an ablation.

From what I can self diagnose my findings are similar to most of the other comments, stress and Alcohol/dehydration. I had a stressful job and I used to come home from work and pop a bottle of red practically every night, not necessarily drinking it all, but it became a habit. I believe (all self diagnosed and no advise from medical prpoffession) it became a cumulative process and I was a time bomb waiting to go off. I have since retired and cut down my alcohol intake to a max af two standard drinks a day but often 3 or 4 alcohol free days a week. I feel terrific for it and not having any stress I don’t feel the need to drink as I used to. I’m now on half a metoprolol twice daily but I sleep like a baby however I still have the same lingering doubts and anxious moments descibed in previous letters, it’s a horrible feeling but at least I know that other people are in the same frame of mind. When I asked the Cardiologist the Q’s above he looked at his feet without commenting. No one ever told me to ward of dehydration by drinking plenty of water, which I do. Will it just go away?? Who knows, and no one seems to. All comments gratefully welcomed. Thanks everyone.

By: Mark Mitchell

Mark Mitchell — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 23:53:22 +0000

I am 50 years old and was diagnosed in Oct. 2005. I used to be a regular drinker but have stayed away from alcohol and caffeine. I have had 2 ablations and been cardioverted after the first unsuccessful one. The 2nd one has given me good results for about 2 yrs then my mother died 2 months ago. My initial problem was flutter then Afib came on and lasted for a week. I had an Ekg that confirmed afib and am on the new blood thinner Pradaxa 150mg 2x a day and was waiting for a blood test in 10 days then was to have a TIA and then be cardioverted. However I woke up with a normal pulse today. I did start drinking again after 4 years but have not had any in over a month. I work outside in the heat and exercise bike riding over 30 miles weekly. I lost 70 lbs and have maintained the lost for 2 yrs. I do suspect dehydration as a serious trigger and need to watch it more closely. I have sleep apnea and have been on Toprol and was on Flecanide and will probably be put back on it. My episodes usually stay under 115 bpm and while in afib had good blood pressure. Maybe my exercise has made my heart stronger I would like to think so. I must resolve to live my life try to not sweat the small stuff it is not possible to be totally stress free but we all can choose how we deal with it. I TRY TO COUNT WHATEVER BLESSINGS I HAVE AND THANK GOD FOR THEM AND EVERY DAY?

By: greg

greg — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:01:10 +0000

Have had cardio version three times all last about 8months. I am 57 year old male, have two to three liquor drinks about 5 nights a week. Just went into afib nite before last at 3am. after having 3drinks. dont know whether to go for an ablasion or quit drinking all together and go for cardioversion again. any thoughts would be appreciated.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:05:09 +0000

I am 24 y/o male, in great shape maybe a little underweight, I eat right and am very active. I first experienced afib when I was 23 after a hard 18 hr day of work. I live on a farm and have always worked hard. There is no heartt6 history problems on either side of my family. I played basball for 13 years, basketball and ran track, I have trained for wildfire fighting (3 miles in 40 min with 45lbs on your back) and those never set off my afib. I work at a grain elevator and am on my feet all day moving climbing, pulling, pushing, lifting. I had 5 episodes of afib some I thought may have correlated to alcohol consumption the previous couple days so I stopped the alcohol, still had an episode. I then scheduled my ablation with Dr. Natale. Had ablation done on April 12th was Afib free for 2 months, then went into it on the 2 month night, had to cardiovert me. I am on Multaq I meet with my dr to figure out the next step next week. I just feel so frustrated that I cannot do the things I used to do with out a seconds thought and so is my future wife, its causing problems with us as I restrict my self from alcohol and all our friends want to go out a couple times of week I feel like the dead weight.

By: Andy Meldrum

Andy Meldrum — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:30:58 +0000

I am a 47 year old male. I have sleep apnea but I use a Bi Pap machine every night without fail.
For me it is alcohol. I never drink in excess but it is triggered by alcohol just the same.
I stopped drinking all together January 14, 2011. I went to a polo match in Tennessee and had one mojito (6 ounces) during the match. I drank about 50 ounces of water afterwards and went into Afib that night at 2:30 am.
I always go out of rythm while I am sleeping.
When I go out of rythnm it may only be 150bpm ,but it willnot convert itself and usually jumps up to 250+ bpm and I can hardly stand without falling over. My blood pressure drops to 68/40 and I feel like I am dying.
I am going thru stress testing this week and hopfully the die in the heart procedure to rule out blockage. Truthfully; this afib has gotten into my head and I am becoming a bit fearful. I own 3 companies, I am a husband and a father of 3 children, …this is really humbling. Good luck to all!
Doctors at Vanderbilt do not seem alarmed and really do not seek treatments aggressivily. Is this common? Are the heart doctors all like this?