It is a so-called “silent” evil whose symptoms can go unnoticed for a long time. But atrial fibrillation is a pathology that must be seriously taken care of and whose impact on daily life is not negligible. As part of AF Action Week, in partnership with Action-Coeur and Paroles&Réactions, Why Doctor met a patient with atrial fibrillation. Testimony.
Eric Helfer is 58 years old and his life changed in March 2017 when he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. “This disease is not visible but it diminishes me a lot…”. And this is indeed one of the major characteristics of this pathology which would affect 750,000 people in France: a “silent” illness, which can exist for a long time without the symptoms being identified and which, even once diagnosed, remains without visible external signs. but seriously handicaps the patients who suffer from it.
For Eric, the alert was given by discomfort that he could not define. “When I went for a walk, I had the feeling of not being well, the impression of not being able to move forward”. This is often how atrial fibrillation begins to manifest itself: fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitation. The first effects of a malfunction in the electrical stimulation of the walls of the atria which generates a heart rhythm disorder which, in turn, prevents the atria from evacuating blood normally with the risk of clot formation that can cause thrombosis or stroke.
Heart problems and family history
It was after monitoring Eric Helfer’s heart rate over 24 hours with a holster that his cardiologist made the diagnosis of AF. “We can see that during the periods when I was not feeling well, the heart rate increased significantly”, explains Eric, showing a very explicit diagram.
“I had already had heart attacks, I had been fitted with stents and I have a family history of heart problems”, explains the patient who was immediately treated by ablation, i.e. an intervention by vein that comes to treat the cells of the atria involved in the disease, with the addition of the prescription of anti-coagulants. An additional constraint in the management of the disease since these drugs have effects that should not be overlooked. “We bleed a lot more at the slightest cut and in the event of shock we immediately have big bruises with a risk of bleeding”, testifies Eric Helfer.
A chronic illness
Has he been cured since? “I still feel weak, I find it difficult to climb a floor, I get tired very quickly; the disease has changed a lot of things for me, with FA, you are no longer a superman, you are fragile.. .”, says Eric. Indeed, there is no cure for atrial fibrillation, a chronic disease that is managed as such, with regular monitoring of patients.
And a disease that requires leading a healthy life. “I was overweight, I lost 15 kilos, I go walking, rowing, water aerobics (an activity interrupted for Eric Helfer due to confinement and the closure of sports equipment, editor’s note). I I feel much better when I practice these activities… but despite this better lifestyle, despite the medication, my heart continues to clog up regularly, it’s a bit depressing”, laments Eric, regretting the pleasures that are now available to him. forbidden: “I’ve never smoked, never drunk, but I had a weakness for small stews, it’s still better than salad!”.
.
