Do You Ever Have Heart Palpitations or Sensations of Fluttering in your Chest? AFib is an Alarming Condition.
Dr. Joseph Freedman has many years of experience as a cutting-edge cardiologist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiac diseases. Dr. Freedman was trained at the well-known Cleveland Clinic, which has been continuously ranked as #1 in Cardiovascular Care, where he focused on cardiac imaging.... more
AFib is an irregular heart rate that is often rapid with palpitations and causes insufficient blood flow. More than 6 million individuals in the United States have AFib. Hereditary heart disease can cause the disorder, but other factors contributing to heart arrhythmias are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, heavy alcohol use, and more. A disruption to the top chamber of the heart, prompting the heart's rhythm and rate to fluctuate, causes an arrhythmia. The timing of the heart’s contractions is directed by the cardiac electrical system, not the pumping system.
AFib can also be brought on by other health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy (seeing a lot of this due to Covid), lung and thyroid disorders, and carbon monoxide poisoning. However, not all AFib cases have a distinct cause, in fact, fit people can still develop the disorder.
Triggers and Symptoms
Some common triggers are things like smoking, excessive alcohol intake, caffeine, and being obese. Common symptoms of AFib are a fluttering sensation in the chest. Along with this symptom, fatigue, weakness, confusion, chest discomfort, dizziness, and an irregular heartbeat are also common warning indicators.
Risk of Stroke
AFib can come and go, or it can be consistent. If you have AFib, you are at a very high risk for having a stroke. Those with AFib are 5 to 7 times more likely to suffer from a stroke. Here’s why—When the atria are irregularly and rapidly beating, the blood cannot flow properly and often clots are formed. If the clot breaks loose it can travel to the brain causing a stroke and if it travels to the heart, it causes a pulmonary embolism. AFib also weakens the heart muscle. These clots can also travel to other organs in the body.
Diagnosis is critical for the prevention of stroke, embolisms, and also to treat the specifics of your AFib.
Diagnostics
A cardiologist will run tests such as ECG, Holter monitors, and portable event monitors. The goal is to get your heartbeat regulated and to prevent blood clots. There are many types of treatment, depending on the severity of the cause of your AFib these could be medications, lifestyle changes, ablation procedures, closure devices, pacemakers, and surgical intervention.
LAAC Device (WATCHMEN)
If you have AFib not caused by a heart valve issue, you may be eligible for an innovative procedure that will prevent strokes and get you off blood thinners permanently. The WATCHMEN procedure, which is an implantable left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) device, has proven to be a highly effective procedure to reduce the risk of stroke.
If you are concerned about AFib or other heart-health issues, please see an experienced cardiologist immediately.
Joseph Freedman, M.D.
Dr. Freedman brings many years of experience as a cutting-edge cardiologist specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of all cardiac diseases. He trained at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic, continually ranked #1 in Cardiovascular Care, where he focused on cardiac imaging. He achieved five board certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Comprehensive Adult ECHO, Nuclear Cardiology, and Cardiac CT. During his tenure as the lead noninvasive cardiologist at Florida Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale, he helped lead the hospital to achieve Level 5 chest pain certification, the highest designation of cardiac excellence.
He has spoken on national health care radio programs and has appeared on local news, highlighting the latest in cardiovascular care. Dr. Freedman prides himself on being an advocate for the patient. Every patient is unique, and he works carefully with leading local and national experts to make sure patients receive the best specialty procedural care possible for that specific case. Dr. Freedman has done research in cardiac MRI studies of the heart, in nuclear scanning, and has participated in the research trials of several leading cholesterol-lowering drugs. Dr. Freedman also has extensive experience in pulmonary hypertension and ran a large clinic in Broward County for these specific and often undiagnosed patients. Dr. Freedman speaks Spanish as well.
3208 Chiquita Blvd S
Suite 110
Cape Coral, FL 33914
(239) 574-8463
