Arrythmia Cure Gets Fitness Instructor Back to Work

“My Life Changed” After Ablation Procedure at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

​Physicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of the Mubadala network of healthcare providers, are leading calls for women to take charge of their heart health and highlighting the life changing treatments available. 

Asma, a 41-year-old Zumba instructor, was attending a fitness class in 2017 when she began experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath, both classic symptoms of heart problems. Although she didn’t realize at the time, it was the beginning of a three-year journey of uncertainty and worry. 

“I was attending a morning class, something I don’t normally do. Suddenly, I had chest pains and difficulty breathing. Noticing how pale I was, people suggested I might be experiencing low blood sugar since I hadn’t eaten any breakfast. After a while, the symptoms passed and as I felt fine and I didn’t think any more about it,” says Asma. 

A few months later, Asma began experiencing the same symptoms again. Her heart began racing and she felt she couldn’t breathe. As she had not been exercising like the previous incident, she grew more concerned and rushed to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Emergency Department. Upon arrival, caregivers immediately realized the seriousness of her situation and began working to reduce her racing heart rate and stabilize her. Once Asma had recovered from the episode, she was told to follow up with a cardiologist as soon as possible. 

After meeting with a cardiologist and undergoing further tests, Asma was diagnosed as having experienced supraventricular tachycardia, a condition that can cause the heart to beat over 200 times per minute. Asma was given medication to slow her heart rate to take if she experienced another episode. 

“I thought that maybe it would be something I’d just live with since it didn’t seem to be dangerous. A few months later, I had another episode at home but after taking the medication it went away quickly. However, unlike the first times, my heart felt different afterwards, like it didn’t keep a regular beat anymore,” continues Asma.

Given the change in her symptoms, Asma was referred to an electrophysiologist who diagnosed her with a form of arrythmia called AV Nodal Re-entry Tachycardia (AVNRT). Her rapid heartbeat was being caused by an electrical loop in a specific part of her heart, an abnormality that is three times more common in women than men. 

“As a fitness instructor who takes care to live a healthy life, Asma doesn’t fit the classic picture of a heart disease patient. However, it’s important that people realize that arrythmia can affect anybody of any age with some forms affecting women more often than men. Fortunately, these conditions are treatable with a safe and quick procedure that completely cures it,” says Dr. Mohamed Al Jaabari, an electrophysiologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Given her new diagnosis, Asma was a candidate for a minimally invasive ablation procedure to correct the part of her heart causing the errant signals and cure her condition. However, it would be more than a year before she agreed to undergo the procedure. 

“I have to admit I was scared at the prospect but to be honest, I didn’t feel anything during or after the surgery. I was back to teaching classes just a couple of weeks later and I don’t have the constant worry I did before. My life changed completely since the procedure. I have friends with the same condition who are still scared but it is the best decision I’ve made, and I encourage others to do the same,” concludes Asma.

A survey conducted by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in 2019 found that 82% of women failed to identify heart disease as the leading cause of death in women. The survey also revealed a significant lack of awareness of risk factors and symptoms of heart disease that are unique to women.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is encouraging people to take small steps for a healthier heart with a new awareness campaign, ‘What makes your heart beat?’ Residents can find more information about cardiovascular disease, risk factors, treatment options and tips to lead a healthy lifestyle on www.heartbeat.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae.​

For more information or to book an appointment at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, call 800 8 CCAD (2223), visit www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae or download the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi app.