dtoce wrote:
when you are feeling an 'irregularity' to your pulse, you may or may not be having a-fib--
when there are lots of ectopic beats (pac's or pvc's-early extra beats from the top or bottom heart chambers), that can feel very similar to AF but it is NOT the same in terms of risk
Agree. I hope you would also agree with me that both would warrant a check up.
dtoce wrote:
and people may or may not be symptomatic-which is why rhythm control may not be needed or desired, but AC (anticoagulation), when indicated, will certainly lower the stroke risk-and an aspirin, although not a 'blood thinner' since it works on the platelets and makes the blood 'slippery', does work to somewhat lower the risk
Also agree but I did say "rate" control. I guess I was being more generic in my answer of controlling the rate of AF if it is too rapid...the setting in which I see it the most. Apologies to all if I've added to any confusion.
The point of my post was twofold.
1. To thank AC for a well thought out summary on AF (I forgot to thank him for emphasising reducing the risks for those prone to AF)
2. To get people to check their own pulses. It is not diagnostic as you and Thomas point out but it helps! At the very least it will confirm or deny your HRM and it will help your doc when you see him or her because by then the AF may be gone and your pulse is back to normal.
("First, check your own pulse", Samuel Shem "House of God"!).