Could you have A-Fib and not know it?

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Five million Americans are believed to have Atrial Fibrillation, a condition where the heart’s smaller chamber stops beating and fibrillates and many don’t even know it.

A-fib, (also called an irregular heartbeat) can cause a host of problems including congestive heart failure and leaky valve; however, the biggest concern is stroke.

The problem lies within the left atrial appendage that hangs off the back chamber of the heart. During fibrillation, blood doesn’t pass through as it normally would. Stagnant blood can easily harbor a clot which can break off and travel to the brain. It’s so common that one-third of A-Fib patients will suffer a stroke. Here today to tell us more is Paul DiGiorgi, M.D.

Many people mistakenly think A-Fib is a concern only for the elderly. Not everyone experiences symptoms, so you can be a young, otherwise healthy adult, have A-Fib and not even know it. Lee Memorial Health System is offering relief through a hybrid Maze treatment,  a new twist on an old treatment that is so successful it’s being called a cure.

Symptoms include:

• Palpitations
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath

For more information see your cardiologist. Click here to visit the Lee Memorial cardiology website. You can also call 239-343-6341.