What is AFib? Lionel Richie’s heart condition as he cancels shows…
For the third time since June, Lionel Richie is again in the hospital.
Representatives for the “All Night Long” singer said he efficiently underwent a “common procedure for atrial fibrillation (AFib).”
This is a doubtlessly harmful irregular heartbeat that can elevate threat of blood clots and stroke.
Richie is at the moment touring with Earth, Wind & Fire. Getty Images
As a result, the star canceled upcoming performances with Earth, Wind & Fire in San Francisco, Chicago, and Columbus, Ohio.
Richie “is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon,” his reps said. His upcoming Las Vegas residency at the Encore Theater is anticipated to start October 14.
Many people with AFib handle the condition with medication, specifically blood thinners, Dr. Srinivas Prasad, an interventional heart specialist at Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital told The Post.
The process Richie reportedly had accomplished, an ablation, is a standard process for those who want more than meds. Here’s what to know.
What is atrial fibrillation (AFib)?
An irregular heartbeat or rhythm falls under the umbrella time period “arrhythmia.” AFib is a selected kind of arrhythmia and the most widespread.
At least 10.5 million Americans have AFib, which might be identified with an ordinary EKG.
Richie was reportedly handled with an ablation for AFib. Action Press / Shutterstock
AFib occurs when the heart’s higher chambers (atria) beat out of sync with the decrease chambers because of defective electrical alerts. This can stop them from absolutely contracting and emptying the blood within, inflicting blood to pool and doubtlessly kind clots.
Symptoms embody a fast or pounding heartbeat (palpitations), shortness of breath and lightheadedness. While not often life-threatening, AFib can weaken the heart over time and does require treatment.
“Atrial fibrillation can be quite serious and even deadly as it predisposes a person to having a stroke, which is one of the leading causes of death and disability in our country,” Prasad said.
Age is one among the greatest threat elements for AFib, particularly after age 65. Richie is 77.
Other threat elements embody household historical past and genetics, alcohol, smoking, medication like cocaine, some competitive endurance sports activities and emotional or hectic conditions.
What are the forms of treatment?
Doctors sometimes prescribed a blood-thinner medication to scale back the threat of clotting and a medication like beta-blockers to regulate the heart price.
If symptoms persist, medical doctors might strive electrical cardioversion, during which a small electrical shock is delivered to the chest that often restores common heart rhythm.
Another widespread process to cease irregular electrical alerts is ablation, the treatment Richie reportedly obtained.
Doctors create a form of map {of electrical} alerts in the heart so as to find the areas disrupting the heart’s rhythm. A catheter is inserted into the blood vessel and guided to the heart, destroying the “problem” tissue, inflicting a scar that will cease irregular alerts.
Ablations are widespread and minimally invasive procedures to deal with AFib. Getty Images for Acrisure Amphitheater
This process “has improved substantially in the past two decades. It is a common procedure and, for the right patients, may prevent recurrence,” Dr. Glenn Hirsch, Chief of Cardiology at National Jewish Health, told The Post. “The procedure is minimally invasive and performed in an electrophysiology laboratory under anesthesia.”
Though Richie seems to have undergone this process all of a sudden, it’s usually “not considered an emergency procedure,” he famous. “However, if a person is not feeling well and the symptoms are disruptive to a person’s life, ablation can be scheduled on short notice.”
In June, Richie lower his performance brief after feeling “dizzy” and “strange” and went to the hospital. In August, he checked himself into the ICU to get testing on his heart.
After an ablation, most people can go dwelling the same day and get again to work within the week, medical doctors said.
“Because there is a small entry incision in the leg, heavy lifting or exercise are avoided for the first week,” Hirsch said. “Because there is intentional scarring to the heart, there may be symptoms afterwards including chest pain or palpitations especially in the first month.”
Doctors say Richie’s age shouldn’t make recovery more troublesome.
“He should have a similar recovery to a younger patient as he has been very active until now performing shows on tour leading up to this,” Hirsch said.
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