Afib & Atrial Flutter

Bob K. said:

Does Atrial Flutter transition to Afib?

I get brief episodes of atrial flutter (90 bmp) which go away usually in an
hour or two. My resting heart rate is 60 bpm. Occasionally (a few times a
yesr) I get rapid heart rate, I assume atrial flutter, at a much higher
rate (I don't know how high)that tranisitions to afib after a very short
time (seconds). The afib lasts about one day.

I thought for many years that the rapid heart rate was anxiety attacks.
Now I think not.

I am under a cardiologist's care and have recently started taking
flecainide (as well as atenolol).

I am not a Doctor but have had both A-Fib and Atrial Flutter totally
controlled by Flecainide. It sounds like you are probably getting
both A-fib and Flutter, and need to have a Holter Monitor to be sure.

For much information on A-Fib and A-Flutter, visit www.afibbers.comj

The Doctor may want to increase your dose of Flecainide, don't do it
on your own

Bob.

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 01:03:27 -0500, "Bob K." <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Does Atrial Flutter transition to Afib?

I get brief episodes of atrial flutter (90 bmp) which go away usually in an
hour or two. My resting heart rate is 60 bpm. Occasionally (a few times a
yesr) I get rapid heart rate, I assume atrial flutter, at a much higher
rate (I don't know how high)that tranisitions to afib after a very short
time (seconds). The afib lasts about one day.

(not a doctor)
How can you say aflutter? and afib? I see you mention "rapid heart
rates" ... but afaik afib/flutter are rather characterized by an
"irregularly irregular heart rate". In past years my heart rate used
to stay around 60-70 bpm even during afib/flutter episodes.
--
uplbet
(in email reply delete NOSPAM from the address)

(uplbet) said:

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 01:03:27 -0500, "Bob K." <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Does Atrial Flutter transition to Afib?

I get brief episodes of atrial flutter (90 bmp) which go away usually in an
hour or two. My resting heart rate is 60 bpm. Occasionally (a few times a
yesr) I get rapid heart rate, I assume atrial flutter, at a much higher
rate (I don't know how high)that tranisitions to afib after a very short
time (seconds). The afib lasts about one day.

(not a doctor)
How can you say aflutter? and afib? I see you mention "rapid heart
rates" ... but afaik afib/flutter are rather characterized by an
"irregularly irregular heart rate". In past years my heart rate used
to stay around 60-70 bpm even during afib/flutter episodes.

It's common during episodes of A-Fib to have your heart rate
intermittently go up to 120-130- BPM, without exerting yourself. I
saw this numerous times while I was in the Hospital.

Bob

On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 01:23:02 GMT, Bob Cardone

cardone1!@!mindspring.com said:

Again, not being a doctor, I am guessing at some of this, but here
goes. Apparently the Av Node divides down the Atrial rhythm when you
are in A Fib before sending it to the Ventricle. If this did not
happen your ventricles would try and beat at the same speed as the
Atrium when it is in Fibrillation, and you wouldn't have enough blood
pumped though your body because the Ventricle can't pump efficiently
at that speed. So while your Atrium is fibrillating at say 220 BPM,
your Ventricle is sent a signal to beat at a lower frequency but in
the safe range for you circulation.

I understand.
Afaik, the electrical impulses are some 400-600 per minute under afib
and 150-200 under aflutter.
In any case, my afib/flutter used to be always characterized by a
relevant irregularity in rate. My pulse sounded like:
bum, bum, bum bum bum, bum bum, bum ...
In rest condition, the number of my beats per minute when in regular
sinus rhythm was 45 to 55. During afib/aflutter, was 65 to 90.

Now I have a pacemaker implanted and afib/aflutter get manifested with
a completely different set of symptoms.

Regards
--
uplbet
(in email reply delete NOSPAM from the address)

Bob K. said:

Does Atrial Flutter transition to Afib?

It can.

Quoted message said:

I get brief episodes of atrial flutter (90 bmp) which go away usually in an
hour or two. My resting heart rate is 60 bpm. Occasionally (a few times a
yesr) I get rapid heart rate, I assume atrial flutter, at a much higher
rate (I don't know how high)that tranisitions to afib after a very short
time (seconds). The afib lasts about one day.

I thought for many years that the rapid heart rate was anxiety attacks.
Now I think not.

I am under a cardiologist's care and have recently started taking
flecainide (as well as atenolol).

Good.

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/