A FIb 2

In part two of his series, Allie Martin talks with a local woman who was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation, or AFib.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the united states, killing more than 600 thousand people every year.

February is heart month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease and treatments.

In part two of his series, allie martin talks with a local woman who was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or afib.

Like many people, libby oswalt had heard about but she didn't pay a lot of attention to the disease, until she was diagnosed with it in 2005.

" i knew, i can feel it, it's like your heart is sitting there, kind of vibrating kind of like."

About ten percent of adults over the age of 65 will be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, also known as afib.

"normally, our heartbeat, is top and bottom of heart together, when you have a fib, top part starts beating erratically, bottom beats irregular with that."

Afib is not life- threatening on its own, but it can lead to other health issues.

It is the leading cause of stroke for older adults.

After her diagnosis, oswalt underwent a minimally invasive procedure known as catheter ablation.

"procedure takes an hour and a half or two hours, done through groin we put long tubes called catheters, go inside heart, causing fibrillation, one of the common steps is ablation, deliver heat to and carterizing irritable spots to keep heart from doing atrial fibrillation often.

" since her irritable spots to keep heart from doing atrial fibrillation often.

" since her procedure in 2007, oswalt has led a normal life.

She is more aware of the signs of heart disease and encourages others to know symptoms of afib, and other heart ailments.

"it's really important, take care of yourself and have a checkup at least once a year."

In tupelo, am wcbi news.

Stinger stinger