Can a smart watch help detect early warning signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib)?
Atrial fibrillation patient, Steven Blair, returned to a sinus rhythm and has remained in sinus rhythm for more than 9 months.
Bolivar, Missouri native and Mizzou law school graduate Steven Blair has been practicing law for nearly 20 years. In addition, he and his wife have two teenage sons and a small hobby farm.
In the spring of 2018, Steven’s smart watch began notifying him of a “High Heart Rate.” At the time, 45-year-old Mr. Blair brushed it off as faulty software. That summer, Steven was working on his farm when he began to feel lightheaded and nearly collapsed. Again, Mr. Blair brushed it off thinking he may have overheated due to the high temperatures.
In fall of 2019, while at his law office, Steven experienced another, more intense, episode which included shortness of breath and chest pain. His partner alerted Mr. Blair’s nurse paralegal, who insisted Steven get emergency medical care.
Steven was taken to CoxHealth in Springfield where he was diagnosed with AFib. He also learned that blood clots were forming in his heart. Upon discharge, Mr. Blair was placed on medication to control his heart rate along with a blood thinner to reduce clotting. A few weeks later, he underwent a cardioversion which put his heart back into sinus (normal) rhythm. Unfortunately, 45 minutes after the procedure he was back in AFib.
Steven was referred to cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Rakesh Gopinathannair (Dr. G) at Research Medical Center.
“Dr. G took time to explain the various potential causes of AFib, the effect AFib has on the heart, the likely progression of the condition in the absence of treatment, the available options for treatment, the relative likelihood of success for each option and the available options for minimizing the damage caused by AFib if the treatment options proved unsuccessful in returning me to sinus rhythm long-term. He took the time to address every question that I asked.”
Under the care of Dr. G, Mr. Blair underwent two ablations, with a cardioversion between. Following the second ablation, Steven has remained in a sinus rhythm for more than 9 months!
“I could not be more pleased with my outcome thus far, or the care and treatment provided to me by Dr. G and his staff. […] The fatigue, lack-of-focus, foggy-headedness and breathing issues are gone. I am back to doing all of the things I enjoy.”