Introduction Patients who suffer from AF and who are above the age of 65 years or have additional comorbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure and vascular disease have a much higher risk of suffering a stroke and it is for this reason they are prescribed anticoagulants. For several years, the only available oral anticoagulant which was proven to reduce strokes in such patien [...]
For patients with AF, flying can be a daunting prospect. Firstly, provided your AF is well controlled and you are not extremely symptomatic, there is no reason why you can’t fly. The following tips may help you have a worry-free trip. You should declare your AF to your travel insurer and consider buying specialist AF travel cover. It is important to take all the medications that you need and keep [...]
It is always advisable to look on the DVLA website (www.direct.gov.uk/driverhealth) to get the most up to date guidance on driving if you have AF. At the time of writing this book, the guidance is as follows: If you hold an ordinary licence, and your heart rate is well controlled, then you can drive. However if you are having bad symptoms at the wheel then it is recommended that you do not drive, [...]
Patients with AF may experience sexual problems for 3 main reasons: Anxiety about whether they may be harming their heart or risking making their AF worse. Co-morbidities such as Diabetes, hypertension and vascular disease can cause erectile dysfunction in men Medications used in AF such as betablockers can also cause erectile dysfunction in men There is no evidence or good reason why patients wit [...]
