@sjm46 “ It’s very common, and won’t kill you!”, is a phrase I heard from 2 Doctor’s, a Nurse Practitioner, and a Medical Technician, who all work in the Cardiology, Electrophysiology Dept. of the Regional Hospital, where I live! This was after my first 2 episodes of A-fib, where I was literally scared, at how my heart flip flopped in my chest, and I couldn’t sense a heart beat after that, feeling faint, with pain radiating to my left shoulder! My anxiety was over the top, and my smart watch, after I took an ECG reading, stated that I was in A-fib, and it’s message was to get 911 help for me right away, and, also, for me to call my Dr. A.S.A.P. So, the next week an appointment was set up with a nurse practitioner, who explsined the risk of blood clots, forming in the atria area, and, potentially csusing strokes. We discussed possible solutions, down the road, to help, such as blood thinners, and / or devices etc. A time was set up for me to wear a heart monitor, for several weeks! I did have several A-fib episodes, as recorded by the monitor, some lasting 30 minutes, or so. After discussing the results, with a Nurse, and being told, that I had 5 times chances of having a stroke, as compared to other people, not afflicted with A-fib. I told the Cardiac Nurse, that I was anxious, because my family history was that my Dad died of a stroke, my Mom died of a severe stroke, and just a couple years ago, my sister died of s stroke! Then, they made an appointment for me, to come back in six months, saying that, should I have any episodes of A-fib, between now and then, thst I should call their office and someone would talk me through the episode, that it was not necessary to call 9-1-1, or go to ER. I have not been given any kind of preventative treatment. So, my anxiety has not been relieved, and I’m studying what the Mayo Clinic, and Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiologists recommend, to help alleviate triggers, that could start an A-fib episode. I live in a popular touristy area, where many ‘baby boomers’ have retired, which has overloaded the medical community’s only hospital, so, sometimes, I get the impression that I may not be receiving the medical care, I feel I need, at times! I am nearly 80 years old, over the hill, and just another complaining white hair, I sense, from some of the staff. So, anything I can do to inform myself, about diet, exercise, and preventing triggering an episode, of A-fib is to my benefit!