There are two dangers that Afib patients face every day: the danger of blood clotting, and the danger of strokes. For the time being, the best way to prevent both of these conditions is through the use of blood thinners. In 1954, the blood thinner Warfarin (also known under the popular brand name Coumadin) became an approved medication. Yet it was initially introduced as a pesticide that targeted rats and mice. It’s actually still used for this purpose every day. […]
READ MOREThe First Cardiologist Appointment After My First Atrial Fibrillation Episode
As I was being discharged from the E.R. for my first “official” afib episode (and my first electrical cardioversion), the doctor gave me a sheet for the Cardiovascular Consultants in Robbinsdale. She explained that while atrial fibrillation itself wasn’t anything serious, I should make an appointment with one of their cardiologists just to make sure everything was o.k. with my heart. Side note: The Cardiovascular Consultants center appears to no longer exist – at least by that name. The link […]
READ MOREPart 2: A Night of Hard Core Drinking Leads To My First "Official" Afib Episode
This was my first time in a hospital as a patient so it was overwhelming to say the least. As I was lying there, it was a continuous stream of nurses. One was giving me an EKG. Another was giving me an I.V. drip. Yet another was asking me questions and taking notes. These people were pros and extremely efficient. Eventually during all the chaos the doctor manning the E.R. department that evening came in and introduced herself. She was […]
READ MOREPart 1: A Night of Hard Core Drinking Leads To My First "Official" Afib Episode
I never drank an ounce of liquor in my life until I turned 18 and moved to Minneapolis with a couple buddies. One of my buddies had always been a drinker and partier so one of the first things he did was stock our fridge with beer. One Friday night I thought I would try one. I got drunk, had a great time, and I have never looked back. Ever since then I have been a heavy drinker. Vodka 7 […]
READ MOREOsteoporosis Drug Fosamax May Increase Risk of Developing Atrial Fibrillation
There was a study done in 2008 that was conducted at the University of Washington. It was led by researcher, Susan Heckbert. The study found that women using Fosamax were nearly twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation than those who had never used it. A recent study was published in Chest Journal, the official publication of the American College of Chest Physicians. The objective of the study was to evaluate the risk of serious atrial fibrillation (episodes that required […]
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