At first, I didn t notice it. But after a while longer, I was out of breath and feeling run-down, he says. He was referred by his local physician to the University of Maryland Medical Center after external electric shocks and standard medications were not effective. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder and can cause up to a 30 percent reduction in the pumping output of the heart. Symptoms include shortness of breath, palpitations, lightheadedness, fainting, fatigue and reduced exercise capacity.
Medications prevent recurrent episodes in only about half of patients.
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