In this article, I’m going to talk about a problem rarely discussed in survival circles and my thoughts on what you could do about it off the grid. I’m talking about “Afib.” AFib stands for atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat (also known as an arrhythmia) almost unnoticeable in some but can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications in others. Today, at least 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib so you might have someone with it in your survival group.
Patients describe the symptoms of Afib as episodes of skipping beats, throbbing against the chest wall, palpitations, or a racing or quivering heart. They can experience weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, and light-headedness.
Normally, your heart contracts and relaxes in a rhythmic manner. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly instead of beating in sync to move blood into the lower chambers, also called ventricles.
In some cases, the resulting turbulence can lead to the formation of a blood clot. If a clot breaks off, enters the bloodstream and lodges in an artery leading to the brain, a stroke results. About 15–20 percent of people who experience strokes have this heart arrhythmia. This clot risk is why patients with this condition are put on *blood thinners.”
AFib may be:
-Occasional, come and go, lasting for a few minutes to hours. Sometimes symptoms occur for as long as a week and episodes can happen repeatedly.
-In some cases, it can be persistent and long-standing. The heart rhythm just doesn’t go back to normal on its own.
-It can even be a permanent problem. If a person has A-fib symptoms, treatment with medications or a procedure called cardioversion may be used to restore a normal heart rhythm.
Causes of atrial fibrillation can be related to the structure of the heart, but it can also be caused by
- High blood pressure
- Lung disease
- Sleep apnea
- Overactive thyroid
- Viral infections
- And The use of certain drugs, caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco
Afib is also seen more often in older folks, obese people, diabetics, and those with a family history. Medications may include those that control heart rhythm, control heart rate, and thin the blood.
Antiarrhythmic medications help return an Afib episode heart to its normal rhythm or maintain a normal rhythm. Rate control drugs like beta-blockers slow the heartbeat during episodes of Afib. Other medicines, like blood thinners, can decrease the risk of stroke due to blood clots in the brain.
Antiarrhythmic medications help return an Afib episode heart to its normal rhythm or maintain a normal rhythm. Rate control drugs like beta-blockers slow the heartbeat during episodes of Afib. Other medicines, like blood thinners, can decrease the risk of stroke due to blood clots in the brain. If your Afib group members is on these, encourage them to stockpile them as much as they can.
Eventually, however, it may be necessary to try and provide some alternative, supplement for the person with Afib. Effectiveness, well, it may vary from person to person.
Of the list of common medications for Afib, only the blood thinner can be replaced by things like regular aspirin or a tea made from the salicin found in the underbark of willow, poplar, and aspen trees.
Drug companies and most doctors will tell you this is a poor replacement for blood thinners, and they might be right in many cases.
There are, however, some lifestyle changes that might help.
- If your irregular heart rhythm occurs more often with certain activities, you may need to avoid those activities if possible.
- Don’t smoke.
- Cut back or quit alcohol consumption.
- Decrease all caffeine intake. Drink decaf coffee if you have it.
- Get better sleep. I’ll talk about something called sleep hygiene in a future video.
- Eat healthily including protein, fruits, and vegetables.
- Maintain a reasonable weight for your height and age.
I should note that There are stimulants in some cough and cold meds (Sudafed is one) that can worsen Afib. In normal times, make sure to ask your doctor what drugs you can’t take.
Another thing that’s important is the need to manage stress, as intense stress or anger issues can cause heart rhythm problems. Coping with your stress is important for your health in good times or bad. People with Afib are often anxious, depressed, or both. Scientists are still trying to figure out what came first, the Afib leading to anxiety or depression or vice versa.
Besides exercise and a good diet, some options that help deal with stress include:
- Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and yoga.
- Support from family and friends
- Regular physical activity
- And never underestimate the power of a positive attitude
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Here are some supplements that alternative healers suggest for Afib. They include:
- Fish oil
- Magnesium
- potassium
- taurine
- coenzyme Q10
- hawthorn berry
- and a Chinese herb called wenxin keli, officially approved by that country for Afib therapy. It’s the first state-sanctioned traditional Chinese medicine-based antiarrhythmic drug.
Treating chronic medical conditions is part and parcel of the duties and responsibilities of any caregiver in good times or bad. Take that to “heart,” survival medic.
Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,
Joe Alton MD
Dr. Alton
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