A growing body of research suggests that even moderate drinking can trigger A-fib in people who are susceptible to the heart rhythm disorder
I have been diagnosed with a heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation. My doctor says alcohol makes it worse. Do I have to give up drinking?Doctors have long known that binge drinking can trigger episodes of atrial fibrillation, or A-fib. An excessive amount of alcohol in a very brief period of time disrupts heart function – even in relatively healthy people.
Normally, the various chambers of the heart work in a co-ordinated and systematic fashion in order to distribute oxygenated blood throughout the body. The heart’s electrical system controls the contractions. People experience these irregular heartbeats in various ways. They may feel chest discomfort, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and might even faint. And yet some of these individuals don’t notice anything out of the ordinary, except for occasional bouts of fatigue.
The risk of developing A-fib increases with age. About 2 per cent of people under 65 years of age have A-fib, while 9 per cent of those over 65 have it. And, in the over 80 group, the prevalence jumps to 15 per cent, Dr. O’Brien says. Some patients may require invasive medical procedures such as ablation, in which misfiring electrical cells are destroyed.
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