"Every Day And In Every Way I Am Getting Better And Better"...
.
.
.
The heart beats in mysterious ways ...
http://www.ConsciousMediaNetwork.com/members/jbarrett.htm
Once detected, atrial fibrillation can/should be treated
?DR. SIDNEY GOTTLIEB
National Post
nationalpost@ccf.org
For 20 years Dana felt the rapid heart beats, the weak feeling and the dizzy spells usually associated with stress. Once, she stood up to make a presentation at work and collapsed on the floor. The episodes were intermittent, lasting from minutes to hours, and devastating her life. She was told that it was all in her head, that she suffered from panic attacks. Then one day, an electrocardiogram revealed something else: An abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation, or afib in doctorese, is one of the oldest and most easily diagnosed problems. Atrial means upper heart chamber and fibrillation means rapid and irregular heart beating, and you can detect this by merely taking your pulse at the wrist.
One mystery [or natural symptom of Individual stress-associated HYPOglycemia] is why patients respond so differently to this condition. Some have no idea there is a problem, despite the fact that their heart rate is wildly irregular and VERY fast, at rates of 150 beats/minute or higher. Others experience severe palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pains, dizziness and even fainting spells with the same condition. Afib can be intermittent (paroxysmal), or continuous (chronic). The episodes can last from seconds to hours, and tend to occur more frequently and last longer as time passes.
To treat afib, we first control the rate and then consider thinning the blood to avoid a stroke. Controlling the rate usually makes people feel better, reducing the severe symptoms described above. But many still feel poorly, tired and fatigued, with a reduced ability to exercise.
The major risk with afib is stroke: When the atrial chambers pump the blood regularly during normal heart rhythm, the blood is constantly moving and is less likely to form clots. In afib, however, the atrial chambers are just short of wiggling chaotically, and the blood pools in the nooks and crannies of the chamber, which can lead to the formation of blood clots inside the heart. When these break off and travel to the brain, the patient has a stroke.
At this point, there are two available strategies, rate control or rhythm control. Rate control means simply that — we prescribe medications sufficient to control the heart rate to within a normal range, and blood thinners to reduce the risk of stroke — and that’s it. You can live your entire life in rate-controlled afib and be quite well.
The other strategy is rhythm control, when measures are taken to change the afib rhythm back to a normal sinus rhythm. One way of doing this is cardioversion, in which we use an electrical shock to regulate the heart’s rhythm. There are also medicines that can convert atrial fibrillation to a normal rhythm. The first steps in rhythm control include a trial of drugs and cardioversion, if needed. Sometimes just one cardioversion is enough to convert. For others, the afib comes back, and the options include more medication and repeat cardioversions.
So if you have fast heart beats, keep in mind that it could be afib. We have a lot to offer to treat this condition, but we have to diagnose it first.
Sidney O. Gottlieb, M.D., is director of cardiology for Cleveland Clinic Canada (clevelandcliniccanada.com), which offers executive physicals, prevention and wellness counselling and personal health care management in Toronto.
http://www.DailyMail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=492163&in_page_id=1770
Although the researchers also found healthier arteries in Diabetics who fasted, they insist it might be dangerous for those with diabetes to start fasting without medical supervision.
Dr Horne said: -
"... the difference persisted even after allowing for smoking habits ... This study does not provide evidence that Diabetics should skip meals ..."
[WHY?]
National Post
01 May 2008
Posts
