What lifestyle changes did you undertake after the heart procedure?
I had to manage my stress better. I told my boss I would no longer work 7 days a week, 16 hours a day. Eventually, I started a less stressful job [as an AF educator].
I switched to a low-fat diet. Originally, I drank milk with 2% milk fat, but afterward switched to skim. I ate only low-fat cheese. I also lost 80-85 pounds.
When you had your first AF episode, was it a result of your earlier near-heart attack?
AF is a problem with the heart's electrical system – the rhythm. It's not considered "heart disease," the way clogged arteries are.
[Still], my blocked arteries and AF may have been related. AF can be caused by several conditions, including heart disease or a heart attack, damage to the structure of the heart, an overactive thyroid gland, lung diseases and sleep apnea. It also can be triggered by surgeries.
What was your first experience with symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
Not long after a flight, I was sitting in my home office at my computer, and it felt like my heart was skipping beats. It was really scary!
It was a warm day, but my right leg looked white and felt as cold as ice. I had blurriness in my right eye.
So I rushed to the ER. I had blood clots in my right leg and behind my right eye.
I had never even heard of AF until then.
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