What is Non-Valvular AFib and are you at risk?

This post was sponsored by Boston Scientific as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Heart health is an important subject and one that many women don’t give the attention it deserves. Life can get very busy and taking the time to look into your health may not always be a top priority. Catching issues with your heart early can make a huge difference in long-term prognosis, and can help you be there for your family. Many women who have symptoms of non-valvular AFib put off going to the doctor but having a solid treatment plan can help you reduce the risk of future complications such as a heart attack or stroke.

Your health is something that is easy to take for granted.

I had a health scare after having my twins that has made me reconsider the attention I give to my own health.

I have had a heart condition for years. It hasn’t caused me too many issues but it began to worsen after having my twins.

I have non-valvular AFib that is caused by an underlying condition and causes my resting heart rate to go extremely high. This causes dizziness and shortness of breath. Because of my irregular heartbeat, my heart will occasionally stall for 5 seconds or so and make it feel like I’ve been kicked in the chest when it gets going again.

It’s scary when I have an episode but it hasn’t generally caused me too many issues, other than limiting the cardio exercises that I am able to do.

After having my twins, I started to notice some changes. At first, I thought I was still recovering from extended bedrest and a C-section delivery but it soon became clear that it was something more.

My heart rate began to regularly spike and it stayed elevated enough that it started limiting the things that I could do.

When it got to the point that I couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without my heart rate shooting up towards 200 bpm I knew it was time to head back into my cardiologist.

My cardiologist changed my medication around and warned me that a pacemaker will likely in my future at some point.

As much as I joke with my kids about how old I am (and I feel it some days) I’m still relatively young and I’d like to keep my health the best that I can for as long as possible.

It’s scary to see your health go downhill. I’ve made some lifestyle changes and have been more on top of scheduling visits with my cardiologist and have things fairly stable now, which is a relief.

What is Non-Valvular AFib?

Any heart issue sounds scary. That fear often stops women from going to the doctor to get checked out.

I certainly stalled for a long time before going in. AFib is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia – non-valvular AFib is atrial fibrillation that is not caused by a heart valve problem.

There are about 33 million people worldwide who are living with AFib and that puts them at a greater risk of stroke than someone with a normal heart rhythm.

This reality presents a scary thought for someone living with non-valvular AFib, but fortunately, there are treatment options.

Living with non‑valvular AFib

There are some great treatment options available for anyone dealing with non-valvular AFib. I’m personally on a medication that lowers my heart rate but it often lowers my heart rate too much and I occasionally still have spikes in my heart rate.

It’s important to speak with your doctor to find the best treatment option for you. These are a few of the most common treatment options:

Diet and exercise

Eating a well-balanced diet and exercising on a regular basis is always a good idea. It’s especially important if you are dealing with any kind of heart issue. AFib can make it difficult to exercise because your heart rate goes too high. I’ve found that walking is a great option for me.

Medication

Medication is regularly prescribed if you deal with non-valvular AFib. I’m personally on a medication that lowers my heart rate but it often lowers my heart rate too much and I occasionally still have spikes in my heart rate.

Blood thinners are often recommended to limit the risk of stroke but since I have a blood clotting disorder they are not an option for me.

The WATCHMAN device

The WATCHMAN™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure device is an FDA-approved device that acts as an alternative to warfarin (the most common blood-thinner) for those with non-valvular AFib needing such an alternative. It reduces the risk of stroke without the side effects of warfarin – such as the increased risk of bleeding.

82% of patients with AFib in a recent Harris survey by Boston Scientific of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation had never heard of the WATCHMAN implant. Until recently, I was part of that statistic.

This device is not new. There have been over 100,000 implants of the WATCHMAN device worldwide.

WATCHMAN is implanted with a one-time, minimally invasive procedure and lowers your risk of stroke with AFib.

Learn more about the WATCHMAN implant here or talk to your cardiologist about the benefits and risks, including internal bleeding, stroke, and others