Dr. Muhammad Zohaib Siddiq
Cardiology
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am a 34-year-old female. Last night I experienced an episode of atrial fibrillation. My heartbeat was fluttering, and my heart rate was high. I read on the internet that alcohol can contribute to this, and I had been drinking throughout the previous day. My periods is also delayed. Could this have caused it? It lasted all through out the night and was still there when I woke up but stopped within 20 minutes of getting up, and it has not reoccurred today. I also suffer from anxiety and felt uncomfortable after the incident. Do you think there is a need to get checked out for this incident? Am I at risk of a stroke because of the episode? Kindly help. Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Yes, alcohol can cause adverse health effects in the body and affect the liver, heart, and brain. It can also cause atrial fibrillation. In addition, anxiety can increase heart rate and cause palpitations. I suggest the following. Stop alcohol immediately. Get an ECG (electrocardiogram) done. If it is normal, better to have Holter monitoring done for a week to detect the abnormal rhythm of the heart. Do you have hypertension or diabetes? If you have shortness of breath or recurrent palpitations, also have echocardiography done to see the heart's mechanical function. Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for your response. I do not suffer from hypertension or diabetes. I will take your advice and consult a doctor as early as possible. Should I be concerned about the risk of stroke from this one incident? Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Atrial Fibrillation can cause stroke, but the risk depends upon risk factors which are heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, previous stroke, and gender. I asked you about diabetes and hypertension status to assess the risk of stroke. People above 75 years of age with a previous history of stroke are at a high for developing subsequent stroke. Thank you.
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Cardiology
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