‘Silent A-Fib’ More Dangerous Than ‘Symptomatic A-Fib’

Dr. John Camm of St. George’s Hospital
Dr. John Camm of St. George’s Hospital in London, England discussed how silent (asymptomatic) A-Fib can have similar long-term effects as A-Fib with symptoms. Silent A-Fib may progress and get worse just like symptomatic A-Fib. But all too often people with silent A-Fib have a stroke and only then find out they have A-Fib.
Doctors today have a wealth of new A-Fib monitoring devices to detect A-Fib, such as the Medtronic Reveal DX which is inserted just under the skin and can monitor the heart for over a year, or the Zio Patch which you wear like a Band Aid for 1-2 weeks, or phone apps like the
AliveCor Heart monitor for SmartPhones.
BUT—how can we get heart monitors to the people who need them the most—people with silent A-Fib? Read more of Steve’s summary of Dr. Camm’s presentation->