Too much basketball?
I am now 67, a white male living in Virginia. I am athletic and in pretty good shape although until last fall I was a bit overweight (220 lbs at 6 ft height). I have had high blood pressure controlled my meds for several years and minor sleep apnea. I played hifgh sshool football and rowed in college and have been playing basketball several times a week for the past 30 years. I have a chalenging job in engineeering and had a very long commute the past 10 years (100 miles each way). Last fall I had dental surgery and later that day had a stoke at home. Was hospitalized for three days and diagnosed with acute stoke to right side of the brain. Initially I thought it was related to the dental surgery as I was in pretty good cardiac shape, non smoker and not drinking anymore. A few days after coming home my Halter monitor detected A fib and was put on Eliquis. A few weeks later the a fib returned so I was put on metaprolol. Reading about Larry Bird and other older basketball players it seemeed like my contunued playing hoops in hot humid Virginia summers could have been a contibuting cause of the a-fib. But being in good shape helped my stoke recovery. I still feel weakness on my left side and my jump shot is not the same ( I am left handed). But my recognitive skills are pretty well returned and I have been working full time from home since January. Then when COVID 19 hit, my entire office went to full time telework so I continue at home. My wife does not want me to drive yet although I think I am ready. maybe next year after COVID ?
I feel pretty good now and shoot hoops in the driveway and walk the neighborhood and lift weights. I lost 40 pounds with exersice and a good diet. Also sleep better without the commute. The past few months I have had a few minor a fib events lasting for a few days and I up my metaprolol to 50 mg from 25 mg until it subsides. I htink it is afib but it is not consitent, more of random peaks that come down quickly. My fitbit does not indicate afib just rapid hearbeat. My resting hearbeat has always been low (less than 60) and gets to the 40s on the metaprolol so I try to keep the dosage down. I am thinkng about possible catheter ablation next year. to get off th emetaprolol which gives me dry mouth, muscle soreness and rashes.
