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

Doctors & patients are saying about 'Beat Your A-Fib'...

"If I had [your book] 10 years ago, it would have saved me 8 years of hell.”

Roy Salmon, Patient, A-Fib Free,
Adelaide, Australia

"This book is incredibly complete and easy-to-understand for anybody. I certainly recommend it for patients who want to know more about atrial fibrillation than what they will learn from doctors...."

Pierre Jaïs, M.D. Professor of Cardiology, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, Bordeaux, France

"Dear Steve, I saw a patient this morning with your book [in hand] and highlights throughout. She loves it and finds it very useful to help her in dealing with atrial fibrillation."

Dr. Wilber Su,
Cavanaugh Heart Center, Phoenix, AZ

"...masterful. You managed to combine an encyclopedic compilation of information with the simplicity of presentation that enhances the delivery of the information to the reader. This is not an easy thing to do, but you have been very, very successful at it."

Ira David Levin, heart patient,
Rome, Italy

"Within the pages of Beat Your A-Fib, Dr. Steve Ryan, PhD, provides a comprehensive guide for persons seeking to find a cure for their Atrial Fibrillation."

Walter Kerwin, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

Hiker Offers Insights About High Altitude and A-Fib

Published July 9, 2018

After reading our post, FAQ: How Does High Altitude Affect Atrial Fibrillation?, Michele Straube shared some insightful comments about high altitude and A-Fib. Michele Straube had A-Fib for 30 years until her successful ablation. She is an active hiker including walking the Alps.

“There is “high altitude” and then there is “really high altitude”. Plus, even at “high altitude”, it is possible that anyone who has ever had A-Fib may feel some adverse effects. I offer two stories:

Michele S.

1. I was “cured” of A-Fib in 2009. In December 2015, my family climbed Kilimanjaro taking a longer route up so we had time to acclimate. While the rest of the family summited, I stayed at base camp (15,580′) because my heart was no longer in NSR [normal sinus rhythm]. It returned to NSR as soon as we got down to 12,000′ elevation.

2. We do a lot of hiking in the mountains. Even though I’m not in A-Fib anymore, I feel the elevation (above 8,000′) more than most of my hiking companions. I don’t go into A-Fib (thank goodness), but my heart races and I often get dizzy. It takes me up to 5 days to acclimate, even at that not-so-high elevation.”

I admire Michele’s fearless attitude toward hiking and mountain climbing and her boldness in leading an A-Fib free life. Thanks, Michele, for sharing. To read Michele Straube’s story, go to ‘Cured after 30 years in A-Fib by Dr. Marrouche‘.