David Malik Becomes First Person to Receive Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation, the Most Common Abnormal Heart Rhythm, and Reach Summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Braving sub-zero temperatures and extreme altitude, David Malik, a Cleveland attorney, became the first recovered Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib) patient to successfully reach the 19,340 ft. summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Malik, now 50, suffers from a 30-year history with the disease. After exhausting a full range of medical treatments, Malik finally underwent a unique cardiac procedure at the Cleveland Clinic that permanently improved his life.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) --- Braving sub-zero temperatures and extreme altitude, David Malik, a Cleveland attorney, became the first recovered Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib) patient to successfully reach the 19,340 ft. summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Malik, now 50, suffers from a 30-year history with the disease. After exhausting a full range of medical treatments, Malik finally underwent a unique cardiac procedure at the Cleveland Clinic that permanently improved his life.

It was extremely trying during the final ascent to the summit," said Malik. It turned out to be both a mental and physical challenge. At 18,000 feet I began to experience altitude sickness that lasted about seven hours; therefore, it was difficult to sleep the night before the final ascent. However, at the same time, it was a euphoric feeling to have a strong and regular heart beat."

More than 2 million Americans suffer from Atrial Fibrillation. It is the most common abnormal heart rhythm and is characterized by a very fast, uncontrolled heart rate that occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) quiver instead of beating. During an episode of A Fib, the upper chambers of the heart beat as fast as 350 to 600 times per minute. Normal heart rhythm is between 60 and 80 beats per minute. Because the pumping function of the upper chambers isnt working properly, the blood is not completely emptied from the hearts chambers, causing it to pool and sometimes clot. In about 5 percent of patients with A Fib, clotted blood dislodges from the atria and results in a stroke. The American Heart Association estimates that in the U.S., A Fib is responsible for over 70,000 strokes each year.

David suffered from severe symptoms of A Fib," said Dr. Brian McGovern, chairman of the Atrial Fibrillation Foundation and cardiologist at Massachusetts General in Boston. Fortunately he had a catheter ablation, a relatively new procedure that not only controlled his symptoms, but cured him. David can now do things like climb Mt. Kilimanjaro that he could have only dreamed of a couple years ago"

Maliks episodes of Atrial Fibrillation progressed as time went on and in 1999 brought him to the hospital for five cardioversions in just a two-week period. The cardioversions involve shocking the heart back into proper rhythm and may cause significant burns.

The constant need for cardioversions and strong medications led Cleveland Clinic physician Andrea Natale, M.D. to recommend a new procedure for Malik to permanently halt the arrhythmias. The challenge for Dr. Natale was to determine the exact location of the arrhythmia. Once located, he could perform an ablation and erase the areas that were causing the multiple electrical signals triggering the arrhythmias.

This was accomplished through the use of a revolutionary catheter. The catheter is a long flexible probe snaked through the veins around different areas of the heart to transmit electrical data about the patients heart to a system that creates a color-coded, three-dimensional map showing the electrical roadways" that control the heartbeat. The map assists the physician in making a precise diagnosis of the problem area so they can perform the ablation. (Catheter ablation involves ablating, or destroying, abnormal tissues in the heart, so the heart will return to normal rhythm.)

The ablation was very successful, and for the first time in his life, Malik was freed from the many physical limitations and serious side effects from the medicines that had limited even the most leisurely of activities.

The result of the ablation is that the patient is cured," said Dr. Natale. Ablation is one of the few options we use in cardiology that is able to not only make the patient better, but also cure them."

Unfortunately, many A Fib patients do not realize catheter ablation is an option," added Natale. A relatively new procedure, many physicians are not skilled with this type of surgery so they do not recommend it. It is very important for all A Fib patients to understand that the option of catheter ablation exists and its power to change their life-just like David."

It is for this reason Malik is committed to educating those with A Fib to be their own advocate. Having gone through this, I cant stress enough the importance of being an advocate for yourself. If you have A Fib, you need to be aware that catheter ablation is a curative option. It is also important to seek an experienced practitioner who has had success with this procedure."

Added Malik, Without ablation, I would never been able to complete this monumental journey. The climb was not only a personal challenge, but a symbol of hope for all those afflicted with Atrial Fibrillation."

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Editors Note: David Malik and Dr. Natale of the Cleveland Clinic are available for interviews about the climb, Atrial Fibrillation and catheter ablation. More information about A Fib is available at www.affacts.org.