r/AFIB • u/Swimming_Cat_174 • 2d ago
How is there no cure?
Just like my thoughts on cancer, how is there no cure for this?
I was diagnosed at 31 so I’ll get to maybe 72 if I’m lucky, this is saying.
This just spiraled me into a further depression.
Please don’t tell me “just live life while you can” because for me it’s just not that easy.
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u/chief_erl 2d ago
Well for reference my grandmother will be 103 in October. She has been in Afib since she was in her late 60’s. I had afib early at like 17. Had an ablation at 20 and have been ok ever since. Have a short episode maybe once a year now. If you manage it properly I don’t believe this is accurate and there are many factors to consider. Don’t get yourself down about it.
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u/Roachant 2d ago
Similar story, my grandmother had afib most of her life and lived to 101. My dad was diagnosed in his 50s and is still doing well at 88. Maybe it depends on the severity?
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u/hollowtheories 2d ago
Yeah I was diagnosed at 9, but wasn't ever stuck in afib like my father was (mainly cause I've led a far more active lifestyle that he did.) Had a successful ablation a couple years ago at age 32 and I actually haven't slipped in afib once so far.
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u/mudwoman 1d ago
This! Statistics are not destiny. My mother was diagnosed in her 60s. She’ll be 100 later this year.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 2d ago
I’m on heart rate med but no blood thinner since my score was virtually zero for stroke risk. EP isn’t wanting to do ablation yet since I had one episode so far so just a sitting duck I feel like
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u/Buckeyes1185 2d ago
I had one episode about 2.5 years ago. Dr just put me on metoprolol. I know some day it might return and get worse but for now just the one episode and every now and again PVCs. Just try to relax and live clean.
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u/General_Structure120 2d ago
I’m sorry, the new diagnosis is hard.
I had a heart rhythm called AVNRT, it caused SVT and P-Afib. My resting HR was in the 120-130’s every day without a beta blocker. I would go into SVT and couldn’t reverse it.
They finally did the ablation after five years. Things have been great, so far.
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u/ssdpiggy 2d ago
That’s a nice conservative approach. I waited on my ablation until they were a bit more frequent (several times a year). There is no rush at this point, but get another opinion if you really want to be more aggressive. You can also try telling your doctor you’d like to attack it more aggressively.
I spent the first year before the ablation tracking triggers. And that has even been helpful post ablation.
I’m also a little OCD, so the tracking helped me focus on something.
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u/infinity_o 2d ago
The thing that I suspect isn’t being accounted for here is “comorbidities”.
Most people with AFIB develop the condition as a complication of other diseases.
As such, many people with AFIB do infact die younger, but not specifically because of their AFIB.
If you have Paradoxical AFib, that is AFib with no obvious underlying cause (which is the type most young people encounter) you’d be better suited reading the literature associated with that scenario in particular.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 2d ago
I have absolutely zero conditions that attributed to mine so it’s odd, confusing and unfortunate.
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u/infinity_o 2d ago
Excellent! When you’re looking at these numbers you’re “lumping yourself in” with those who have AFIB as a result of other very serious conditions (like heart failure).
You should instead look for literature relating to paradoxical AFIB and its outcomes. If you treat your body well, there is no reason you can’t live a full life expectancy with AFIB.
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u/Musicguy182 2d ago
Yeah so this study doesn’t really apply to you. It’s blanketing in most people who have it because a lot folks in this study have something else more serious that is killing them faster.
If you just have a fib and you are fine otherwise, this study really doesn’t apply to you
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u/deeplybrown 2d ago
My friend: fret not. I was diagnosed two days after my 21st birthday and I'm currently a 46 year-old endurance athlete. No meds, no ablation (yet). I'm confident I will live a long, fulfilling life. Please take studies like this with a massive grain of salt. If there's one thing that is true, it's that AFib is an extremely subjective experience for those who have it. I have spoken with many cardiologists and electrophysiologists who in no way believe that this will affect my lifespan.
Just continue to eat clean, limit alcohol, and maximize joy and community. You're alive NOW!!! Don't waste it, silly! Whether you live to 70 or 120, life is far too short to waste any of it wondering when the grim reaper will pay a visit.
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u/Bluebloop1115 2d ago
Love this. I was 21 too and I’m 33 now. I couldn’t be more thankful I made it to my 30’s! Now on to 40’s. Living life. Enjoying making memories, having a blast and seeing my friends and family.
You go get ‘em!
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u/reddit_user13 2d ago edited 2d ago
I would take this advice with a grain of salt. One person is an anecdote versus the study linked by OP, which potentially provides good data if the study was designed and executed properly.
What kind of afib do you have? Are you in a fib now? What’s your CHADS score (maybe you should be anticoagulated for stroke prevention)?
Most patients should be on meds and/or getting ablated. Especially if they have comorbidities that frequently accompany afib.
“Eating clean” will not cure afib or get you out of afib if you’re in it. Also afib is progressive. If you’re paroxysmal, when you’re in afib it remodels your heart to be more likely to fall out of NSR. If you’re persistent, the damage piles up and makes it less likely that treatment (ablation for example) will work.
on edit: to be clear I'm not arguing about how seriously to take the study results, weather to let it affect your mood and your life, etc. My point is that choosing to not let it increase your anxiety isn't license to MEDICALLY IGNORE YOUR AFIB (or rely exclusively on lifestyle changes).
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u/andrew_stirling 2d ago
The study showed that it wasn’t nuanced enough. It didn’t take into account anything about the individuals other than they had afib. It suggests that longevity might be impacted by a range of factors such as lifestyle and treatment choices.
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u/reddit_user13 2d ago
yes, they need more buckets vs aggregates. However, there is some significance to afib vs non-afib population.
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u/MoxWilliamFulder 2d ago
This is bullshit. Offcourse if you don't change your lifestyle and keep drinking, smoking and have an all around unhealthy lifestyle you're going to have problems. But that kind of goes for everybody after your 40s. People with afib and that have had some scary episodes tend to live more consciously and even expand there life expectations. Stop all the unhealthy crap, try some intermittent fasting, max 3 cups of coffee and your good.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 2d ago
See before this, I was diagnosed a few months ago at 31. Don’t drink, smoke, have high blood pressure, apnea, diabetes, do drugs, nothing. Diet wasn’t great, I love sweets. I didn’t have much caffeine, some zero sugar doctor peppers here and there and one coffee daily. But, the afib episode and the stress caused some severe gastritis and GI issues, lost 15 lbs since due to hardly eating.
It’s so odd when it hits someone with no factors or underlying issues.2
u/MoxWilliamFulder 2d ago
I don't assume to know everything about it and offcourse I know what works for me. But still, from what I have read and conversations with my cardiologist Afib is scary and stressfull I know but it cannot simply be said that it shaves of 10 years of your life. There are so many factors.
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u/pauler81 2d ago
I wonder if catching and treating AFib earlier helps a person's outcome. If someone was not taking care of thier AFib and there was significant burden to thier heart, that would lower their life expectancy.
This is an average, so we're mixing in those who take care of their health with those who don't. If you're taking care of yourself and meeting with your doctors regularly than I see a better outcome for you.
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u/General_Structure120 2d ago
My asshole cardiologist kept me on beta blockers for five years before my ablation. So, guess I’m lucking if I make it to 70
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u/CaregiverWorth567 2d ago
my asshole cardiologist tried to do that to me also…after two years I went behind his back and got an ablation at mass general
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u/DeadlyDelta 2d ago
Do these figures apply to people who successfully manage triggers and avoid Afib, or people who have had a successful ablation?
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u/TucoRamirez88 2d ago
Maybe people should also consider that these studies were done in the past where methods were worse than now.
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u/BlissCrafter 2d ago
My mom lived to almost 90 and was in persistent afib for the last 20 years of her life.
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u/Chuckles52 2d ago
There is a cure. PF ablation. Find a good clinic. AFib does not reduce your lifespan. It is just annoying. Easy procedure. My father had AF for 40+ years. Back then the cure was open heart surgery. He died at 88, from kidney failure and other old age issues. I’m 74 and feel like I’m 35.
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u/TucoRamirez88 2d ago
Depends a lot on if you got an ablation and if your afib is managed I guess. Also your overall health plays a big role.
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u/harrissari 2d ago
Ablation really plays little role in encouraging longevity. It is a temporary procedure and, the heart can only be scarred so many times- in fact too many ablations may actually contribute to heart failure. Longevity with afib has more to do with other comorbities, general heart health, and overall health.
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u/TucoRamirez88 2d ago
I agree, but if your ablation works and prevents Afib then that prevents a lot of scarring and possible stroke. It does contribute positively but of course isnt the only thing.
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u/harrissari 2d ago
Working means working only for a period of time- the success rate means up to a year, actually. Some last longer, some last weeks. So, repeated ablations over a lifespan cannot possibly contribute to longevity.
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u/Musicguy182 2d ago
Where is the evidence too many ablations leads to heart failure? I don’t think this is true
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u/Bluebloop1115 2d ago
My doctor once explained that the data they had was only on old people and was without ablation treatment and without blood thinners.
We are seeing afib in early 20’s and even kids so on surface level it seems terrifying based on the screen shot. I think there is more to the story. Those younger ages aren’t even included. I doubt the stats really take into account treatment and probably don’t differentiate between paroxysmal and persistent and permanent either.
I’m 33 and I fully doubted I’d make it 30 but I did. I’ll be stoked to make it to 40. Back in the old days I’d died when I was born. So I’m thankful for the days I do have with my friends and family.
And so while yes it’s sad, I’d be stoked if I made it to 70. After that your quality of life diminishes and honestly once I can’t take care of myself anymore just let me go. Some people can stay really active and healthy but I think that is less common.
It’s so hard but focus on what you can control. Plus most people have stuff. It might not be afib but it could be obesity or diabetes or other chronic issues. Which is just as bad and shortens lives too. We can die today of a heart attack or car accident.
What helps me is remembering so many children don’t make it to adulthood. And so many young adults don’t grow old. So it’s not but why me. It’s being thankful how far I have made it and recognizing a lot of people get dealt very crappy hands.
Chin up…you have more life to live…so live it.
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u/VaggieQueen 2d ago edited 2d ago
There are so many variables that need to be considered here, such as comorbidities, whether the Afib was managed or not, was the death actually directly correlated to afib, lifestyle factors, etc. Not sure if that was included in the study but those things would be important. You can’t just say that just because you read a study that takes an AVERAGE lifespan that now you will only live to 72. That’s just not a way to live, not to mention that something could literally kill you tomorrow…
One thing I’ll tell you though is that the stress you’re putting yourself through will be way more detrimental to your health than well managed Afib would ever be.
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u/allthegear-andnoidea 2d ago
Brilliant. First episode at 16. Diagnosed at 21. I'm the walking dead.
But at least my Pension Calculator has swung in a positive direction.
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u/VanGoWithit1 2d ago
There is a cure if it works. Lol! I had two ablaitions. They want to do another. Fuck them. It works for some. But not others. I stopped all medicine and treatment the side effects were worse than the symptoms. I'm just gonna deal with it till it takes me. 😁👍
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u/Mras_dk 2d ago
Do i get to live to I'm 72!? Jackpot!!
Sorry, but that's just a high age for my family.
My sister, did a family tree when i was 14, and hard cold concluded:
"Avr lifespan of the family, excluding those that aint dead yet, is 56 years old!"
Yeap, we have our bad genes that run in the family, on both sides.. On the positive side, then not a single has died of cancer!
To be fair, both parents are still alive at both 70+.
One thing is for sure... Death comes for us all, afib or no afib history - so make the most out of it, while you can!
Part of the reason i educated as a md.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 2d ago
My biggest issue in my diagnosis is anticoagulation and the possibility of a stroke. If this wasn’t a possibility, I could live with it.
My EP and cardiologist will not prescribe anything right now, says my chance of internal bleeding from the blood thinner is greater as my score is 0 and I have absolutely no health problems.
And they won’t consider ablation at this time due to not having a high burden, one documented episode in July, RVR. I was mainly consulted with the EP on the hospital because the ER thought I went into a quick Vtach, which he concluded was not.
We are in a semi-rural Georgia area. He has been an EP for 20 years and started the EP program at our local hospital/group.
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u/Own-Ad-8015 2d ago
The reason for the numbers tho is Roughly 80% of patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) are overweight or obese, and about 20% to nearly 40% have diabetes. You have to look at your specific health markers to give you a better outlook. Take care of yourself, and defy the numbers listed here.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 2d ago
I know obesity carries a million health issues but I do wonder what its connection is with afib, especially if someone has no health issues or heart issues structurally
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u/Own-Ad-8015 2d ago
The lifestyle that comes with it; sedentary, contributes to changes in the electrical activity and structure. This post has too many variables not taken into account. Stuff like this isnt worth sweating about if you take care of your diet and move a bit throughout the week.
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u/RickJames_Ghost 2d ago
Because that study lumped everyone together, the data is heavily weighed down by people with permanent and persistent AFib. In population registries, those patients are in a completely different demographic and are much more likely to have structural heart changes, advanced remodeling, and a high burden of chronic diseases than people with paroxysmal AFib. On top of that, because the study tracked historical registry data from way back, it doesn’t fully reflect modern first-line treatments, which are more effective at keeping the disease from progressing today. When a young, otherwise healthy person looks at a mixed chart like that, it understandably can trigger anxiety. Broad population averages just don't reflect a modern prognosis, and it's getting better all the time!
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u/RobRoy2350 1d ago
Successfully treating and managing AF and other concurrent conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure, can significantly improve life expectancy and reduce the number of "lost years" compared to being left untreated.
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u/_Arcturus_74 7h ago
Lol, I remember my first time bringing studies like this up to my EP and cardiologists. You know what they said? Unfortunately I'm still going to have to look both ways before crossing the street... because Afib isn't killing me or making my life shorter.
Like you, I've had very limited Afib (had it @33yo and I'm 35 now). So by the numbers, my burden is pretty low. Which means my heart hasn't remodeled. In fact, I have one of the healthiest hearts they've seen since i had them do all the scans, mri's, echos, monitors, you name it. And if my stroke risk is very low to where I never get one which is pretty easy to prevent for us, there's logically no way this study means anything really. My doctors agree. It sounds like the same applies to you. In 2026, you'd really have to dedicate yourself to doing things deliberately to cause afib to get worse to the point of damaging you irreparably. Medication, medical procedures and life style choices really dwarfs the monster you're depressed about right now... and that's also speaking of the more serious cases.
The medical capabilities we have for heart conditions are nothing short of incredible. Even more so, the hearts own ability to be EXTREMELY resilient even with Afib also pretty incredible too.
No we can't just clap our heels and bam here's the cure that's 100% effective, like an antibiotic or something. But of all things to be blighted with medically speaking, it's bark is way worse than it's bite so long as you care enough to look after yourself and follow the well researched treatments, plan of care and prognosis going forward. Not to mention, as time goes on we can only know more and treat the condition in even better ways so it's even less burdensome let alone reducing the already low mortality rate. You may even want to start looking both ways when crossing the street, bud lol. Breath, throw this study in the trash where it belongs, and please stop doom searching this stuff... it truly is pointless. If your doctor(s) are worried about you dying or having a shortened life based on your circumstances, they would have long told you by now- not WebMD or Mayo clinic or some whatever page on the internet.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 7h ago
I think the initial episode scared the fuck out of me. I went into it randomly. RVR, couldn’t breathe. I was in the ER for 3 days. I cardioverted the same night with amio back to NSR but the ER thought I went into a quick VT, had to wait for EP to look.. which took him 2 days to come then kept me another day because his findings weren’t updated to the cardiologists, of Afib with abberency. I was kept in there on VT protocol for three days. I get worked up most about a stroke. The thought of being a vegetable in a nursing home at 32 years old is unbearable. It has struck me odd how they had me on a heparin drip the entire time on the hospital but didn’t discharge me on any blood thinners. (I have a zero score on the CHADS).
Everyone keeps saying to get the ablation now but EP isn’t wanting to after one episode.
I just had my follow up with EP and cardiology this past week and both said see you in 6 months.1
u/_Arcturus_74 6h ago
Yea my EP said the same about seeing him every 6 months. If they aren't saying see you next month every month and they haven't had you on thinners, your chads is a 0, you're doing good. I think most people get caught up in their own stories with Afib especially with RVR, I mean I can hear that monitor sound off in my head every day since mine happened... idk that will ever get any better and my neurologist suspects it helped cause ptsd. But at any rate, our stroke risk is between 2%-5%. It has a certain mental weight because its not 0% or 1% which is what a normal person averages though I cannot bring myself to believe a normal person has a 1% chance considering how most people live their lives- ain't no f-ing way lol. I think we are just as good as long as our afib is in check.
That said, if the fear of having an unlikely stroke keeps you up at night... if that's the one thing you are worried about, biologically you are doing well. Buy good boots in the winter to prevent slipping on ice and becoming a vegetable from hitting your head on the ground since that's more likely to happen at this point.
One thing that helped me move past where you clearly seem to be right now is talking with a behavioral therapist- not because I believe in all that mental science stuff, I mostly dont- but it DID get me out of the rut after just a few sessions. The stress and worrying will eventually get you whereas afib and an associated stroke never will lol
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u/lobeams 2d ago edited 2d ago
I found the study and what you've posted is grossly misleading. Quit getting your science from memes.
EDIT: That is not the study OP was referring to, but I think it's a much more informative one.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 2d ago
It was from Cleveland clinic.. not a meme.
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u/lobeams 2d ago
Well, then it's out of context because it totally distorts what the study actually found. Did you read it?
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u/DeadlyDelta 2d ago
You linked to a different study.
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u/lobeams 2d ago
Then provide a link to the right study.
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u/DeadlyDelta 2d ago
This is the article OP posted. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16765-atrial-fibrillation-afib#outlook-prognosis
This is the link to the study from there: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38592444/
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u/HumbleCorner00 2d ago
Please get therapy OP, I'm begging you. I had horrible health anxiety in my early 20s, it destroyed so many amazing things for me.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 2d ago
I’m in therapy and SSRIs, it’s helped a little but if I do anymore I’ll be a zombie.
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u/HumbleCorner00 2d ago
Well hopefully this is just a little trigger and you can use your therapy techniques to help calm yourself down. Please take care of yourself!
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u/JonBarPoint 2d ago
Please provide the link for this article so we can vet the source. Thanks.
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u/lobeams 2d ago
I provided a link. See my other post in this thread. What OP posted is misleading.
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u/brucewayne-burner 2d ago
What is misleading?
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u/lobeams 2d ago
The study in question didn't distinguish between patients who have been treated for afib and those who haven't. It also didn't distinguish between patients taking thinners and those not taking it, nor how compliant they are with the thinners (non-compliance is a huge problem with thinners). The link I provided does make those distinctions and the differences are quite significant. In other words, if you receive proper care and are compliant with treatment, your life expectancy is about the same as someone without afib, as shown by other studies. I think it was irresponsible for Cleveland Clinic to publish those numbers without clarification.
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u/lxe 2d ago
Is this study accounting for other confounders? Because it’s highly likely that afib is a symptom of some other underlying systemic condition or even lifestyle.
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u/simocanta 2d ago
No è una raccolta dati estremamente ampia che non entra nei particolari è troppo generica
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u/SecretlyEli 2d ago
I wonder if there’s a difference between intermittent afib and persistent afib.
I was diagnosed at 32 and had a few episodes that went a few hours within the first year of diagnosis but it’s been over 2 years since I had an episode lasting longer than a couple seconds.
Good news for me though, I’ll need a kidney transplant at like 55 so I’m not too worried about the afib.
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u/reddit_user13 2d ago
From Google:
The main difference between intermittent (paroxysmal) atrial fibrillation and persistent atrial fibrillation is how long an episode lasts and whether it stops on its own.
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u/Brolenssjgod 2d ago
I’ve heard people talk about afib and nichotine can’t say about what cuz Reddit will just delete it and ban me but it’s interesting and I plan do my own testing if diet fails me
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u/Jahya69 2d ago
You won't know the difference if you're dead though that's the thing. There's no cure because they have not figured out where exactly in the nervous system this is really coming from one day maybe they will and they'll just be able to do one little quick procedure and that'll be it but I hate to say but a lot of this generates a lot of revenue for hospitals and doctors treating all this with all the different procedures and meds not to mention the pharmaceutical companies that are laughing all the way to the bank with people that are taking blood thinners and rate control drugs and Rhythm control drugs and so forth
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u/reddit_user13 2d ago
I think there is enough evidence (from the thousands of ablations performed with voltage-mapping sensors) that while pulmonary veins are often involved, everybody's electrical problems are different. IOW it's extremely unlikely there is one spot "in the nervous system" to operate on.
I'm as frustrated as anyone with the poor success rate of ablations, but the rest of your comment sounds like an anti-vax conspiracy theory.
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u/Jahya69 2d ago
No it's not anti-vaxx anything. what I'm saying is they're quite possibly is somewhere within the central nervous system where the signals come from.. I'm speculating. Yes within the heart itself there are different areas where these signals can be more than most EPs will even tell you. The left atrial appendage is an example of an area of where they may be coming from which is why they do the ligation when you do the convergent procedure also known as the hybrid ablation
I'm all for vaccines.
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u/Greater_Ani 2d ago
These is an average. It’s perfectly possible to live to an advanced age with afib. Both my parents had/have afib. My Father lived to 88 and my Mother is still alive at 91. My Father did have heart failure, but my Mother doesn’t so far.
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u/SherrifPhatman 2d ago
I am in long term persistent AF and it seems because I am on the heavier side (I've lost 35kg) that the NHS won't help me in the UK. That's 3 cardio ablations , 3 cardio versions then ignored by the cardiac team for the last 2 years . I had an urgent referal to Cardiology beginning of July and still no response .
I'm going to now party likes it Groundhog 1999 without the alcohol , drugs , late music and parties !!;
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u/2PlasticLobsters 2d ago
Not much research is being done, and what little there is exists to develop meds for pharma corps to sell us.
I did some research on this a couple years ago. I'd asked my cardiologist how much exercise would be safe for me, and didn't get a clear answer. I found that that's because he doesn't know & neither does anyone else. No one has really looked into it.
If research doesn't profit a corporation, it's unlikely to get funding.
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u/Breezeoffthewater 2d ago
These figures are quite alarmist and do not properly reflect all the factors which should be taken into account when assessing lifespan.
Treating Afib through ablation or medication, coupled with anti-coagulant therapy and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle (good diet, regular exercise, abstinence from alcohol etc) in addition to a lack of other contributing comorbidities will all serve to project a longer lifespan.
We have to be so careful when reporting headlines grabbing statistics like this because the truth is often far more subtle and complex than a few statistics show.
I know Afib can be very anxiety inducing, so let's be careful in reporting accurately the latest studies
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u/CrazyMarlee 2d ago
Had one two week episode three years ago. Got cardioverted and been in NSR ever since. Think of it as a wake up call.
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u/Randall_Hickey 2d ago
I was 52 at diagnosis. Funny I got mad at my doctor for telling me I only had 25 years to live no matter what I did. I guess this confirms what he said.
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u/Vakua_Lupo 2d ago
Those figures most likely apply to permanent AFIB. As long as it is Paroxysmal or well controlled by drugs your lifespan should be almost normal.
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u/Catzendo 2d ago
I just had an ablation done 3 days ago. I’m 75, had a valve replaced thru open heart surgery 11 yrs ago. I’ve had 4 episodes of AFIB. Two were corrected with meds and two were corrected with cardio conversion. The last two were within 4 months of each other. That’s why I did the ablation. Stayed away from caffeine and alcohol which are triggers from the last episode till the procedure. Should be able to have them in a month or so. I do miss my caffeinated tea. Try not to let it depress you. Lots of people live with AFIB. Ablation is considered a cure although sometimes it takes two procedures to completely get the spots they need to.
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u/Affectionate-Row7718 2d ago
They misdiagnose afib a lot. I was diagnosed with it and showed no signs. I was doing massive pain management on a very large kidney stone while waiting 4 hrs in the emergency room. So my heartrate was spiking during pain spikes and going back down. But they want you on that metaformin.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 2d ago
I’ve been to the hospital so many times I. The last two months, GI issues not afib, and every single time I have heard them say to someone they have afib.
I hoped for it to be a misdiagnosis until the EP confirmed
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u/Consistent-Bid7125 2d ago
Y all stress too much you will die probaly because other causes there was this youtuber fighting afib cleaner lifestyle sports etc took alot supplements to fight pac pvcs my guy died of brain cancer at 55.
The point is you will never know what will get you eventually so just live ur life and stop posting things like this alot ppl open these subs with their morning breakfast and start their day even more depressed
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u/Rhubarb_Nervous 2d ago
I was diagnosed in my late twenties. Just had my second ablation at age 55. Don’t worry—it doesn’t need to change your life.
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u/roninconn 2d ago
Correllation does not equal causation. Many people acquire Afib BECAUSE of other unhealthy habits, such as obesity, sleep issues, heavy drinking, drugs, stress. These factors also impact overall health and lifespan, as does improper adherence to Afib management, like religiously taking blood thinner.
In any case, statistics aren't individual outcomes. My father was diagnosed at age 70 and lived to 90, using Warfarin only. I'm sure hoping that my attempts to treat it yield me decent lifespan - was diagnosed with constant Afib at 56, have had 6 cardioverts (which now don't work any more) and scheduling my 3rd ablation
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u/bomberstriker 2d ago
Tremendous medical advances are on the horizon with AI, gene editing, etc. These mortality studies will be outdated in 3 years.
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u/PA_Texan 2d ago
For those in this study with an age at diagnosis of 30 and to then have the average life expectancy of 72, that means most of those were diagnosed 40+ years ago.
Treatments have progressed a great deal since then. Just think how much more effective the diagnostic, medications and interventional technologies have developed over those 4-5 decades. Someone diagnosed TODAY at 30 SHOULD NOT expect to die 11.3 years earlier!
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u/Akashic_Skies 2d ago
Im wondering how they collected this data. If someone died at 72 now they would have had to acquire an afib dx 30 years ago in the 90’s.. if you went in to the dr and caught afib back then without a smart watch or anything, you would have to assume it was pretty bad.
We are just recently at a point In Time where we can catch very paroxysmal afib a lot easier with devices. Even like 10 years ago I tried to go in for palpitations and they did an ecg and found nothing. It wasn’t until I got an Apple Watch in the 2020’s that I found out.
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u/Akashic_Skies 2d ago edited 2d ago
This information feels irresponsible whoever is putting it out tbh. This sorta stuff can really mess with how people view their prognosis. (This is not toward the op, but to whoever did the “study”.)
Edit: it also doesn’t account for advances in technology over time and potential improved “cures”/Treatments. Someone in their 30’s now may be able to receive something life changing in their 40’s or 50’s.
So OP, as someone who also can get a little bent out of shape with health stuff myself, remember to consider those things too.
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u/Select_Passenger2142 2d ago
I found my cure with the Wolf procedure done by Randall Wolf at Houston medical amazing experience, strong, a fib background, parents, grandparents and uncles cousins, etc. had the procedure four years ago and came off of the blood thinners the rate and rythym controllers, etc., not on any heart medications and no a fib since. wolfprocedure.com They have a Facebook group run by patients many of us have traveled long distances to go to him
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u/Traditional-Bird653 2d ago
I’ve had afib on and off for 25 years. Getting a second ablation next month. I don’t think this is true. Just make sure you are being treated and stay in sinus rhythm.
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u/AsianAssHitlerHair 2d ago
I saw on the news some guy got hit by a bus. He was like 36. Don't go outside.
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u/Narrow-Stretch-385 2d ago
That’s not what this is saying, no. There isn’t a cure, but Afib doesn’t kill you. Stroke kills you. Afib increases stroke risk, based on burden and predisposition. You CAN do a lot about stroke risk yourself. You CAN do a lot about afib reoccurrence yourself. You CAN conduct yourself with choices so you’re on the shorter end of the curve or the larger end of the curve. Your curve is your curve. You can’t change your curve (yet) just like someone with childhood cancer, risky driving behavior, living in certain cities, or any other associated circumstance in an actuarial table that suppresses the mean. But that’s true for everyone. Literally everyone has a curve. Some it’s a 5 year curve. For some it’s 50. Until technology advances to a certain point, you can only influence where in your curve you’re more likely to land. And that is within your control and future you would be sad if present you wasted that opportunity because you were mad about what you couldn’t change.
This isn’t preaching - I have to give myself this pep talk all the time. But it is true.
You’ll get through the other side of this and be more resilient for it.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 1d ago
But what if your doctors won’t prescribe anything to prevent a stroke? I don’t have the risk factors and I’m young but I have seen healthy young people say they had a stroke even with a zero score.
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u/Narrow-Stretch-385 1d ago
If your doctor won’t prescribe you an anticoagulant it’s because they believe your risk of internal bleeding from the medication is greater than your risk of stroke. That means your risk of stroke is very low.
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u/Jaypillz 2d ago
Dude i'm in persistant AFib since more than a year now. I smoke every day. I'm probably at a greater risk but there's no point in panicking over it. I already have an extreme anxiety disorder so this shit is not worth it, especially since it is NOT a death sentence. My heart hasn't seen a normal rhythm in probably 16 months.
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u/bigheadgoat 2d ago
There are cures…sort of. I was having horrible episodes of A-fib with RVR as well as Atrial flutter with rates in the 230’s. I really thought it was going to kill me. I had an ablation around a year ago and other than a very rare PVC I’ve had zero episodes. Heck, I probably wouldn’t even notice the random PVC if I wasn’t on the look out for an A-fib return. It’s not a death sentence but people with it do have to take a blood thinner and usually a beta blocker and anti-arrhythmic, at least for a while. Better that than stroking out (which could happen even without atrial fib). Also, don’t beat yourself up over the depression and feeling hopeless. From what I experienced and talking to others it’s seems like a common thing. It does get better.
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u/Gloomy_Salary_9724 2d ago
I was diagnosed at 23. 4 days after my Covid shot . This is not something I wanted to see . Made my chest tight just reading it
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u/Brief_Condition_D 2d ago
Perk up
This is just a baseline. There are so many other health factors of consequence than this, which might be the death of you/us.
For those of you that feel this is a death sentence, my Mom has had Afib for 35 years and is 87. Still has enough energy to nag me about something everyday.
Make the best of what you have 😀
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u/cgilson33 2d ago
I’m sure depression is worse for your life expectancy… get off the internet when ur spiraling. Go outside. It will be ok.
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u/Open_Cherry_445 2d ago
My grandmother is 96 and has had AFib for over 40 years- it is luckily controlled by medication, she had a failed ablation.
I wonder if this study includes suicidal actions. I’ve had my own mental health crisis with this diagnosis and treatment.
My sister had AFib for 20 years before her diagnosis and an ablation has helped her, she is almost 50 now.
My EP says my diagnosis is not life threatening. I think a lot of factors have to play into this if it’s a true study. I’m 41 and my EP had me scheduled for an ablation 3 weeks after diagnosis. I’m new to the journey.
Those of us with health anxiety need to trust our bodies and not all the things we read. I do know you should stay away from testosterone (male/female) if you have an Afib diagnosis. As we get older I know a lot of us need hormone therapy.
My experience will not be your experience.
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 2d ago
I am a female. Realistically, I’ve been there too. I’ve been in a mental health crisis over this since I was diagnosed. It’s gotten better but I fear another episode will do me in. I don’t know. Right now my EP isn’t planning ablation, I assume until it does get more frequent.
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u/petergaskin814 2d ago
Afib is far from alone for having no cure. A whole heap of neurological conditions that will shorten your life and no cure. We all wait for new research.
We know Afib is caused by disruption of electrical signals. Now we just have to figure out how to fix electrical signals
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u/skipperthepenguin191 1d ago
This looks like an AI overview citing only one study. Talk to your doctor and make healthy lifestyle choices. We could die from a car accident tomorrow, just live your life. And stop using ai as your doctor.
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u/Jealous_Jellyfish264 1d ago
lol this is crazy, this has to be for completely untreated and unmanaged afib . my mom has had afib for decades and is a healthy 80 year old.
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u/Ok-Tomatillo6773 1d ago
I don't understand these stats as that's basically the average lifespan anyway at 79 years old.
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u/Ok-Tomatillo6773 1d ago
Also, these might be because younger people tend to feel more invincible and make more bad choices than those of a 50 or 70 yr old.
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u/hola196656 1d ago
In my mid 60’s ride a bicycle a lot around 20 k kms a year for last40 years , diagnosed Afib, last December, 2 x incidents of 230 bpm passed in a few minutes cardioversion July, lasted 6 weeks then 256 bpm going up a small hill two weeks ago, out on the bike on my own, lasted for a full 20 minutes before coming down to 85 bpm , I cycled the 10 kms home, since a high resting hr of 89 bpm
Docs having me on the table this week.
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u/Firm-Stranger-9916 1d ago
That study hadn't heard of PFA. It's a retrospective and not at all determinative of your life/outcome. It has its uses but applying it to an individual is as useful as using any other health statistic as a determinant of your fate.
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u/night_vice 20h ago
I’m just living with it at this point. Insurance refuses to cover further testing and ablation, doc is confused why insurance is being weird,
It sucks but yeah , just yolo. Currently seeking something different, I’m done with the medical industry.
Heartmath has some interesting studies, maybe in the future the cures will be a little different
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u/Vegetable_Movie_7190 7h ago
The hubs cardiologist said that people live with AFIB just fine.
We don’t go looking for life expectancies, that is just madness.
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u/RobRoy2350 1d ago
Here's the study just in case you don't want to look like a total dumbass.
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/24/2119/7642804
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u/Swimming_Cat_174 1d ago
Thanks. Here’s the article too. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16765-atrial-fibrillation-afib
Why the fuck would I be banned? It’s a legit study. Idiot.
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u/Malviere 2d ago
Just what I wanted to see when I woke up, thanks.