Dr. Mangel: 'There's no Reason to Think that a Normal Lifestyle Couldn't be Resumed' with Bardley's Heart Problems
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: There are new health concerns about one of the presidential hopefuls campaigning in Iowa. Democrat Bill Bradley says he has suffered four more minor episodes of a recurrent heart condition since December. The condition is called atrial fibrillation. It causes a rapid, irregular heartbeat. Bradley says it won't affect his run for the White House.</s>BILL BRADLEY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You all have been with me for all the times that, if was out, it was out, and it has absolutely no impact on the race or my capacity to have a schedule or my intensity of campaigning.</s>KAGAN: And for some more insight on Bradley's condition, I'm joined by cardiologist Dr. Barry Mangel. Doctor, thanks for joining us, this morning.</s>DR. BARRY MANGEL, CARDIOLOGIST: Thank you.</s>KAGAN: You can give us a brief 10-second lesson on what atrial fibrillation really is.</s>MANGEL: Sure. Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disturbance that's characterized by disorganized electrical activity in the upper chamber of the heart.</s>KAGAN: So, it's fluttering funny?</s>MANGEL: Fluttering, palpitations, those are the symptoms that someone might feel who has atrial fibrillation.</s>KAGAN: And Bill Bradley coming out and saying that he's had an episode -- four episodes since we first heard about it in December, is that a lot?</s>MANGEL: Well, atrial fibrillation's very common. It's seen, probably, in one to three percent of the population over the age of 30. Once you've had atrial fibrillation, it's not uncommon to have frequent recurrences.</s>KAGAN: What about this idea that Bill Bradley says he hasn't been to the doctor since this happened, is that a good idea?</s>MANGEL: Well, I would say that the more frequent the occurrence is, it's probably a good idea to have this looked at, because it's not something that, as it occurs, you'd want to let go for long periods of times. I would think that maybe a medication change would be in order if in fact that's something that they feel would help at this point.</s>KAGAN: And when you have patients that are being treated with this, is this something you need to take it easy or can you resume a normal, what in this case is a very stressful lifestyle?</s>MANGEL: I think that there's no reason to think that a normal lifestyle couldn't be resumed. It's a benign heart rhythm disturbances in most case, so stress, I think, could play a role in how frequent the recurrences are, but I don't see any reason why a normal lifestyle couldn't be maintained here.</s>KAGAN: Does it sometimes, usually, never lead to something more serious?</s>MANGEL: Well, there are two important considerations. The first is whether there's underlying heart disease, valvular heart problems or coronary artery disease. but in the absence of those features it's generally a very benign situation.</s>KAGAN: More information on the situation. Dr. Barry Mangel, thanks for joining us, this morning.</s>MANGEL: Thank you.