Fact or Fiction? Common Misconceptions Associated With Afib

Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a common heart condition, but many misconceptions surround its causes, risks, and treatments. In this article, we will delve into the common misconceptions about atrial fibrillation.

Key Points

Afib only affects old people

While the risk of Afib increases with age and most commonly this arrhythmia is seen in people over the age of 60, it does not only affect older people. Especially familiar atrial fibrillation, which arises from a genetic predisposition, can have an earlier onset. It is known that this form of arrhythmia can develop in people younger than 50 and in some cases even in teenagers. If a close family member developed atrial fibrillation at a younger age it will result in a higher likelihood of relatives also developing Afib earlier than usual. Although highly unlikely there have even been cases of fetuses developing familial Afib in the womb. Read more about familial Afib.

Afib is harmless

On a day-to-day basis, with proper treatment, atrial fibrillation attacks can be relatively manageable but this does not mean that Afib is a “harmless” condition. Just like all cardiac disorders, it should be taken seriously. Afib has been associated with a variety of comorbidities such as hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, obesity, chronic pulmonary disease, and stroke/transient ischemic attacks. Most notably Afib has been seen to increase the risk of stroke five-fold. Therefore it can be said that atrial fibrillation is not a harmless condition. 

Everybody experiences Afib the same way

The most common symptoms of Afib that are experienced include fatigue, low blood pressure, dizziness, heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing. In addition, patients have also reported feeling strong feelings of fear and anxiety as well as throbbing in the neck area. A more drastic manifestation that has been reported, is a loss of consciousness due to an Afib attack. For many people the arrhythmia can have no symptoms at all, therefore the experience of the condition varies from person to person. 

Ablation works for all Afib patients

Ablation is a popular treatment option for patients with drug-resistant Afib but this should not be considered an “easy fix”. A single procedure with no use of antiarrhythmic drugs has a success rate of approximately 57%, according to a meta-analysis. Several ablation procedures and the use of antiarrhythmic drugs showed a higher success rate of 77%. Other studies found that 10% of patients had Afib recurrence one year after their ablation and up to 20-40% in a longer period. An interesting correlation was found between diagnosis-to-ablation time (DAT) and the likelihood of Afib recurrence. Namely, for each year increase in DAT, the risk of AF recurrence increased by 20%. These figures point to the fact that ablation is not a treatment that will work for everyone and for over 40% of patients one ablation is not enough to get rid of Afib symptoms. Read more about why Afib may recur after ablation. The AFIP foundation aims to collaborate with patients and heart professionals to find personalized Afib solutions.

Only people with an unhealthy lifestyle have Afib

While lifestyle factors have a heavy influence on the risk of developing Afib and smoking, poor diet, and excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to this risk, the condition is not exclusively experienced by people with unhealthy habits. Research shows that athletes, particularly endurance athletes such as marathon runners, cross-country skiers, or cyclists, have a higher prevalence of Afib compared to the general population. A study estimates that the risk of arrhythmia is 2.5 times higher in athletes. An increased risk has also been seen in non-athletes who engage in very strenuous exercise. Interestingly a higher risk was seen in athletes under the age of 55 than in older athletes. Although exercise is generally beneficial for cardiovascular health, prolonged and strenuous exercise can be a trigger for Afib in certain individuals due to the strain placed on the heart, especially those predisposed to it. Read more about lifestyle and Afib.

Fish oil can help prevent Afib

For many years fish oil has been recommended as a supplement that is highly beneficial for cardiac health due to the perceived advantages of Omega-3. Did you know that recent research shows no positive effects of taking fish oil and actually indicates that this supplement could be a risk factor for developing Afib and many other adverse cardiovascular outcomes? A major cohort study showed that fish oil supplements possibly exacerbated the transition from healthy status to atrial fibrillation or other negative outcomes. Even high doses of fish oil have not been seen to reduce Afib recurrence or inflammation. The only potentially beneficial aspect of fish oil has been seen in cases of secondary prevention but even this protective effect is very mild and needs to be studied further.

Understanding the facts versus the myths can help people manage their health more effectively, ensuring better treatment outcomes and reducing potential complications.

References

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