Atrial Fibrillation, Hydroxychloroquine, and Lupus

Atrial Fibrillation and Lupus Atrial fibrillation is a term for rapid, irregular heartbeats involving the upper chambers of the heart beating irregularly or out-of-sync with the other chambers of the heart. It can feel like a quivering, odd sensation in the chest, or it can be painful. Atrial fibrillation’s causes are many — anything that interferes with the normal muscle contraction of the heart can cause it. This long list includes inflammation, damage to the heart, lungs, or thyroid, and the problems with blood pressure that can come with SLE. Common symptoms of atrial fibrillation include: health palpitations physical weakness shortness of breath pain Because it makes it more difficult for the body to send oxygen to the muscles that need it, it can lower stamina, preventing Lupus Warriors from getting needed exercise . This lowered exercise, as well as poor blood flow, puts people with lupus and atrial fibrillation at greater risk for heart attacks and blood clots. These blood clots form in the heart, and can spread to organs throughout the body, causing pain, organ damage, and strokes. Atrial fibrillation is not the only cause of increased stroke risks for Lupus Warriors: Click here to read more about stroke risk and lupus. Infants suffering from neonatal lupus often have atrial fibrillation problems, and studies show that HCQ can help the child’s odds of avoiding heart problems and long-term disabilities.

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