THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 15, 2022 Page 19 Say nir Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller A Common Heart Problem That’s Often Ignored Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about atrial fibrillation? Every so often, I’ve noticed my heart starts beating rapidly for no particular reason. Is this something I should be worried about? Anxious Annie Dear Annie, Heart palpitations can be harmless if they are brief and infrequent. But if you’re experiencing an erratic heart rhythm, you need to get checked out by a doctor for atrial fi brillation, or AFib. AFib – which is marked by rapid, fl uttering beats – can lead to serious complications such as stroke and heart failure, when the weakened heart can’t pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Normally, your heartbeat follows a steady rhythm as your heart contracts and relaxes. But when you have AFib, the upper chambers of your heart (atria) beat rapidly and irregularly, sending blood to the lower chambers (ventricles) less efficiently. These episodes can last for minutes to hours or longer, and can cause palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, and/or shortness of breath. Over time, AFib tends to become chronic. Age is a common risk factor for AFib, which affects roughly 10 percent of people older than 75. Other factors include genetics, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and alcohol and tobacco use. The condition has also been linked to viral infections, including COVID-19. Diagnosing AFib If you’re experiencing AFiblike symptoms you need to see your doctor who will listen to your heart and likely recommend an electrocardiogram (EKG) or a treadmill heart test, or you may wear a portable monitor for several weeks to look for abnormal heart rhythms to confi rm a diagnosis of AFib. Such tests can help distinguish AFib from less serious conditions that may cause the heart to fl utter, like anxiety and stress. AFib affects some three million adults in the United States, a number that is expected to quadruple in the coming decade as the population ages and risk factors like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure become even more common. The lifetime risk of developing AFib is greater than 20 percent, yet many people don’t even know they have it. Treatment Options A growing body of research underscores the importance of lifestyle steps such as exercise, a healthy diet, and limiting alcohol for treating AFib. Depending on your age and symptoms, your doctor may prescribe drugs to help control your heart rate, like beta blockers such as metoprolol (Toprol XL); and/or rhythm, such as antiarrhythmics like fl ecainide (Tambocor). You may also need an electrical cardioversion, an outpatient procedure that delivers an electrical shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. You will be sedated for this brief procedure and not feel the shocks. Catheter ablation is another outpatient treatment for AFib that scars a small area of heart tissue that causes irregular heartbeats. This procedure is becoming more common based on evidence of its safety and ability to normalize the heart rhythm and ease symptoms. Ablations can be effective in people 75 and older, but medication may still be required afterward. If you’re at higher risk for stroke, you may be prescribed a blood thinner, too. In the past, Coumadin (warfarin) was the only such drug widely available, but it requires monitoring with regular blood tests. Newer anticoagulants, like apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto), don’t have that requirement and have been shown to be just as eff ective at preventing strokes. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior MBTA | FROM PAGE 8 All Commuter Rail lines will operate a regular weekday schedule on April 18 – except for the Newburyport/Rockport Line. As part of broader service changes to accommodate signal, track and bridge improvement work, Newburyport/ Rockport Line riders should note, shuttle buses will operate from Rockport to Salem Stations on April 18 with trains operating from Salem to North Stations. Shuttle buses will also operate from Newburyport to LEAGUE | FROM PAGE 18 sion 1 State Softball Tournament appearances. Included was a deep run in the 2014 season, which produced a Northeastern Conference and North Sectional Championship, along with 18 wins. That season, Revere rolled to the Eastern Mass. Championship game, falling 3-1 in a close one to eventual Division 1 State Champion Bridgewater-Raynham. Ciccarello, who also resigned as boys head hockey coach after 10 seasons, had served in the Revere Public Schools system for 25 years altogether, 23 as a teacher and two years as Revere High SHERIFF | FROM PAGE 3 same time, it’s crucial that law enforcement has the ability to quickly and eff ectively trace these weapons when they are used to perpetrate acts of violence in our cities and towns.” According to the White House, in 2021 there were “approximately 20,000 suspected ghost guns reported to ATF [the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] as having been recovered by law enforcement in criminal investigations – a ten-fold increase from 2016.” In addition to announcing new rules on ghost guns, the President stressed the importance of funding for a range of initiatives, including community policing and reentry programs. He also formally nominated former U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach to lead the ATF. “I want to thank President Biden for his continued commitment to ensuring law enforcement has the resources and tools necessary to serve those who live and work in our communities,” said Koutoujian. “At the Middlesex Sheriff ’s Offi ce, we know fi rst-hand the diff erence re-entry programs and services can make for those leaving our custody and their families. Treatment, education and housing are crucial to breaking the cycle of arrest and incarceration in counties large and small.” Salem Stations on April 18 with trains operating from Salem to North Stations. A separate schedule for each time frame will be available on mbta.com. All commuter boat and ferry service as well as The RIDE service will operate a regular weekday schedule. The RIDE may be detoured to accommodate the Marathon and related events. Bicycles are prohibited onboard all MBTA subway vehicles (including folding bicycles) for the entire day on April 18. Backpacks, coolers, cans, vice principal. Senior captains for Revere High softball this season are Lillian Calderon and Astrid Noriega. In girls’ lacrosse, former Revere High and Framingham State University standout Amy Rotger takes over as the new head coach this season. bottles and large items are not permitted at the Marathon. Parking information Customers planning to park in an MBTA garage or lot on April 18 should allow additional travel time and note that some garages and lots might fi ll very quickly due to heavy parking demand. Real-time parking capacity information for Alewife, Beverly, Braintree, Route 128, Salem, Quincy Adams, Wonderland and Woodland continues to be tweeted from @MBTA_Parking. Senior captains for Revere girls’ lacrosse are Skyla Desimone and Angela Huynh. Revere girls’ lacrosse opened at home against Malden on Wednesday. In the season opener Saturday, the Lady Pats fell to Cambridge Rindge and Latin on the road in one-sided game. ~LEGAL NOTICE~ A.G. QUEALY TOWING, INC. Notice is hereby given by: A.G. Quealy Towing, Inc. 26 Garvey St, Everett, MA 02149 pursuant to the provisions of G.L.c.255, Section 39A, that on or after 04-25-2022 the following Motor Vehicles will be sold to satisfy the garage keeper’s lien thereon for storage, towing charges, care and expenses of notice and sale of said vehicles P O Box 490588 Everett, MA 02149 Year 1988 2009 2010 2002 1994 2006 1989 2006 2005 2010 2011 2015 2009 2008 2005 2011 Make Jaguar Ford Nissan Mitsubishi Jeep Ford Ford Honda Hummer 2013 Volkswagen Hyundai Toyota Honda Toyota Chevrolet 1991 GMC 2007 1987 2009 2006 2009 2012 2001 2008 2015 2007 2015 2016 2005 1978 2006 2004 2006 2012 2003 2007 2003 2017 2008 2007 Infiniti Ford Audi Honda Honda Chevrolet Ford 1999 Volkswagen Honda Mercedes-Benz Nissan Lincoln Ford Infiniti Lincoln Honda Honda 2006 BMW Saab Nissan Honda Mercury 2002 BMW 2004 BMW Mini Honda Ford 2004 BMW Honda 2000 BMW 2012 Peterbilt Model Xjs Focus Ses Fuso Fe640 Wrangler Escape H2 Mustang CR-V Sonata CC VIN# SAJNV5846JC148456 1FAHP36N29W112933 Honda Motorcycles NHX110WH Hyundai Sonata Corolla Accord Tacoma Malibu Altima 2.5/2.5 S 1N4AL2AP6AN496015 JW6BHE1S72L006846 1J4FY29S5RP447893 1FMYU93136KA61691 1FABP45E4KF114461 SHSRD78546U404457 5GRGN23U95H101832 LWBJF1900A1003915 5NPEB4AC7BH059777 WVWBP7AN3DE521729 5NPE24AF0FH019363 2T1BU40E29C034203 1HGCP26808A015140 5TEMU52N75Z132756 1G1ZB5E16BF205900 Sierra C/K 1500 1GTDK14K6MZ531637 G35 Camper A5 Civic Accord Malibu Econoline GTI Civic C-Class Altima MKS Escape G35 JNKBV61E87M724379 1FDKE30L9HHB22290 WAUDK78T79A008281 2HGFA16586H511820 1HGCP26319A091777 1G1ZA5E04CF386071 1FDSE35L81HA12474 WVWDE31J8XW570914 1HGFA16818L089874 55SWF4JBXFU045648 1N4AL21E37C153682 1LNHL9DK4FG602406 1FMCU9GX5GUC47778 JNKCV51FX5M314610 Continental Mark III 8Y89A916987 NSS250 Civic 5-Series 9-5 Rogue Accord Mariner 3-Series 5-Series Cooper Civic Fusion 3-Series 386 JH2MF061X6K400104 1HGEM21954C067184 WBANF73516CG69700 YS3ED49G863507729 JN8AS5MV1CW709382 1HGCM56393A056910 4M2YU91157KJ01000 WBABN53412JU39854 WBANA73574B061078 WMWRE33493TD64252 19XFC2F55HE229082 3FAHP06ZX8R110950 3-Series Sport Wagon WBAEP33444PE91963 Civic 2HGFA16567H508688 WBAAN3346YNC92984 1XPHD49X4CDJ46024 April 8, 15 & 22, 2022
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