RHYTHM AND BLUES

I have AF which is short for Atrial fibrillation which is a heart rhythm disorder or arrhythmia. This is where the heart's upper chambers beat chaotically and out of sync with the lower chambers , leading to an irregular and often fast heartbeat.

I've had this for quite a few years and am used to the symptoms and the effects and have been well instructed on the risk factors.

Generally, when I'm having an 'episode' I have palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness and can feel in my chest a fluttering or pounding heartbeat. I generally get these about twice a year and have learned to rest and stop any over-exertion that might have caused the spike.

My AF is known as Permanent AFib where the irregular rhythm is ongoing and cannot be reset back to normal. I've had discussion with a heart surgeon who set out various surgical procedures none of which would be a permanent fix and some of them having high risk. I've chosen to 'live with' my AF and to continue to take the medication prescribed to keep things in check even if my heartbeat is irregular.

The above ECG chart shows how AF differs from normal heartbeat although, when I have a spike my ECG looks more like a seismology read out of a major earthquake.

How do I know this? Well, I have been hooked up to ECG machines in hospital at various times but for the last couple of years I get my ECG readings from the Apple Watch I wear. This nifty little machine tells me that I'm in AF (continuously) and when I take a 30 second test it shows me a chart on the little screen that looks like that S-wave one above. I can also have the results sent to my computer or to my doctor. It was my sister who is a GP who convinced me to buy and wear the Apple Watch as she uses one herself. I've found it to be very useful not only for the ECG function but also for the heart pulse readings it provides, sleep monitoring, walking and exercise monitoring plus it receives phone calls, texts, email alerts and a lot of other things. Oh - it also tells the time.

So why am I telling you this now seeing as, over the last few years I've written a few other posts about it?

Well, Richard of RBB, good friend and fellow blogger has recently been diagnosed with having AF and has had a couple of spikes that have sent him variously to the doctors, A&E and hospital stays. The most recent was a couple of days ago. In his latest post he wrote:

"I spent most of Sunday night in A & E and got to bed at 3am. Same problems, different day. I'm feeling like I'm on the mend today and will most likely return to work tomorrow."

I phoned him today and was pleased to learn the he's OK or, back to normal. I guess, like me he has to live with the fact that he may be continually in AF and that medication is important and spikes to be treated by rest.

I try to advise him given that I have experience of this and to reassure him that sticking to his medication and trying to keep fit and active is important in mitigating symptoms and effects. In New Zealand Atrial fibrillation affects 1% to 2% of the total population though the rate increases sharply with age and affects specific groups differently. 

See this from the Heart Research Institute:

Prevalence by Age and Population

• General Population: Around 1% to 2% have diagnosed or undiagnosed AF.
• Ages 35 to 74: Nearly 1 in 35 people (about 2.8%) are diagnosed.
• Ages 65 to 74: Affects at least 5% of people.
• Ages 75 and Older: Rises to 11% or more.
• Ages 80 and Older: Up to 10% to 18% of older adults live with AF.
• Lifetime Risk: Roughly 25% of New Zealanders aged 40 and above will develop AF in their lifetime. 

I've suggested to Richard that he buys an Apple Watch which I think would be a sensible investment into his health. Now's the time to consider this with the Black Friday sales soon to take place in November.