Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...
"A-Fib.com is a great web site for patients, that is unequaled by anything else out there."
Dr. Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
"Jill and I put you and your work in our prayers every night. What you do to help people through this [A-Fib] process is really incredible."
Jill and Steve Douglas, East Troy, WI
“I really appreciate all the information on your website as it allows me to be a better informed patient and to know what questions to ask my EP.
Faye Spencer, Boise, ID, April 2017
“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD
“Is Atrial Fibrillation a prelude to a heart attack?”
In general, no, A-Fib is not like a heart attack.
A heart attack is a physical problem with your heart muscles or heart functions. For example, a blocked artery may result in what is called a “myocardial infarction” in which part of the heart tissue actually dies due to a lack of blood.
Conversely, A-Fib is primarily an electrical or rhythm problem, though it may be related to other heart problems like hypertension and Mitral Valve disease. For more about the physiology of A-Fib, see our Overview of Atrial Fibrillation.
However, A-Fib untreated over a long period of time could eventually stretch and weaken your heart, and possibly lead to heart malfunction and a heart attack.
Go back to FAQ for the Newly Diagnosed A-Fib Patient
Last updated: Monday, June 18, 2018
