At its simplest, atrial fibrillation is a heart condition in which the heart doesn’t beat the way that it is supposed to. In patients who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, the top chambers of the heart do not beat in rhythm with the lower heart chambers – often constricting more than twice as quickly as the lower chambers, creating a fluttering effect. Recently, atrial fibrillation has been attributed in some patients to the use of Fosamax to treat osteoporosis.
What Are the Risks Associated with Atrial Fibrillation?
In order to understand why atrial fibrillation is of great concern, it’s necessary to understand some of the most common complications:
- Those who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation are five times more likely than others in their age groups to suffer a stroke.
- The volume of blood pumped through the body is less consistent and clots are likely to form.
Additionally, there are a number of common symptoms of atrial fib that are reported (though it’s important to note that not everyone exhibits these symptoms): shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, light-headedness.
What Causes Atrial Fibrillation?
Most patients in whom atrial fib is diagnosed fall into one of the following categories:
- Patients with metabolic issues including thyroid problems.
- Patients with a previous incidence of cardiovascular disease.
- Patients who have not had either type of underlying disease.
Often those who are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in connection with taking Fosamax fall into the third category.
It was first cited in a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May of 2007 that the use of Fosamax to treat osteoporosis could increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. It was reported that, while reviewing case study information from a number of clinical trials that those post-menopausal women who had taken Fosamax to prevent bone loss had a nearly 50% greater risk of the heart disease.
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