Dallas Stars player Rich Peverley will spend weeks recovering from a cardiac event called atrial fibrillation, or A-fib. He collapsed this week,a medical emergency during Monday night's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. A-fib is a common arrhythmia that puts more than 4 million people at risk for stroke and other serious issues.
Experts at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center are available to talk more about A-fib and sports-related cardiac events.
A-fib is the most prevalent type of heart arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm). With atrial fibrillation, the heart's upper chambers beat irregularly, affecting blood flow to the heart muscle and to the rest of the body.
Although A-fib can affect younger populations, most people affected are over age 60 and it's more common in white men. Heart failure, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, family history of A-fib, an infection or use of alcohol or other stimulants raises the risk for atrial fibrillation.
Medication alone can help, but some patients may need a cardiac device or ablation to get their heart in a normal rhythm.
Experts available:
David Bach, M.D. Athlete's heart and echocardiography.Eric Good, M.D. Mechanisms and treatment of arrhythmias.Frank Pelosi, Jr., M.D.Radiofrequency ablation of atrial arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation and syncope (fainting).Hakan Oral, M.D. Mechanisms and treatment of arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, radiofrequency catheter ablation of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias.
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