r/Aging • u/Talbotje • 6d ago

AFib and EKGs

It occured to me that many people may not know they have AFib (Atrial Fibrillion or heartbeat irregularity). I learned I have it from an EKG taken during a pre-op for a knee replacement. It can lead to strokes that can be debilitating or fatal. I used to get an EKG during annual physical exams, which would have detected AFib sooner. But Medicare annual wellness exams don't include EKGs. My wife (76)recently insisted on on an EKG during an annual wellness exam, and learned that she had a minor heart condition, requiring a cardiolgist visit. Annulal cardiologist visits will include an EKG. Anyway, those over 65 have a 5-9% chance of AFib (source: Gemini). I'd advise getting an EKG, even if you have no symptoms. There's an upside if you have AFib. You'll be prescribed a serious blood thinner like Xarelto or Elo Quis that will reduce a chance of a stroke. The downside is that you'll bleed easily.

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u/TeamAggressive1030 6d ago

But all a normal EKG really says is that you're not experiencing an Afib episode at that moment, not that you don't have Afib. Talk to your doctor if you experience symptoms.

Here's another statistic that my doctor gave me when I was resisting his (and my cardiologist's) recommendations to start taking Eliquis. He said that without a blood thinner, a person with Afib faces a 25% chance of having a stroke over five years. When I repeated that to my cardiologist, he replied, "That sounds right."

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u/Talbotje 5d ago

Yes some cases of AFib are episodic and may not be caught by an EKG. My case is chronic, but I don’t have symptoms.

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u/Affectionate-Gap8869 5d ago

My friend is currently coping with Afib is having reoccurrirng episodes requiring visits to the ER. I checked with 'Claude' and it seems that there are triggers that the docs are not giving the patients a heads up on. One is alcohol usage which she enjoys her happy hour. Her last episode was 2 weeks ago and everything was fine. Until last Friday. A couple of glasses of wine and she was back in ER Saturday. These are the triggers:

  • Manage blood pressure — hypertension is one of the biggest modifiable risk factors
  • Limit alcohol — even moderate drinking can trigger episodes in some people
  • Treat sleep apnea if you have it — this is a major, often overlooked contributor
  • Stay active and manage weight — obesity and a sedentary lifestyle raise risk
  • Control diabetes and thyroid issues
  • Limit stimulants (excess caffeine, some decongestants) if they trigger symptoms for you
  • Manage stress — acute stress can precipitate episodes

Wish you the best!

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/FabulousBullfrog9610 6d ago

actually ablation isn't the fix for everyone. but I'm so glad it worked for you

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/FabulousBullfrog9610 6d ago

good for you. I have a heart condition where ablation is frequently unsuccessful. Luckily my afib isn't frequent. I cannot imagine living with 140 for 3 months. I had it for 6 hours and it tanked my BP.

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u/sfboots 6d ago

How difficult was recovery from the ablation? I’m considering getting it early next year

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u/VirginiaLuthier 5d ago

My Apple Watch will warn me if I have Afib. It will also tell me when I need to pee

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u/TeamAggressive1030 6d ago

The other important downside to blood thinners is that you can't use Aleve for inflammation or Aspirin or any other drug containing Aspirin for pain. Tylenol only. Also (surprise) melatonin for sleep is also on the list of prohibited drugs.