s long as Bill Bradley's heart is basically sound, which his doctors say is the case, his more-frequent recurrences of an irregular heartbeat are not worrisome and should not bear on his ability to campaign or serve in office, heart specialists say.
Even though his episodes of atrial fibrillation have become more numerous - and campaign stress may or may not be to blame - Bradley remains at low risk for any complications of the condition, they say.
Atrial fibrillation, a glitch in the heart's electrical system that causes the upper chambers to beat out of their normal rhythm, is of most concern when it coexists with other cardiac problems.
Because Bradley's heart is reportedly normal and the cause of his episodes is not clear, his condition is called ''lone atrial fibrillation.'' In cases like these the risk is low that the fibrillation, or chaotic beating of the atria, will generate a clot that could in turn cause a stroke. The only symptoms a patient typically notices are an uncomfortable flutter in the chest and, in some people, fatigue or exhaustion.
Bradley's revelation this week that he has had four more episodes since the one reported in December ''doesn't really change the picture,'' said Dr. Deeb Salem, a cardiologist and chairman of medicine at New England Medical Center. ''The assumption is that if they worked him up and found no underlying disease, it's just a nuisance problem,'' he said.
Dr. Peter Zimetbaum, a cardiologist who researches atrial fibrillation at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, concurred. ''There are a lot of athletes and people in high-profile jobs'' who have frequent or chronic atrial fibrillation, he said. ''I have patients who run marathons in atrial fibrillation.''
Doctors treat arrhythmias like Bradley's with a variety of drugs that can squelch irregular heartbeats, but Salem said that most work well only 60 percent to 70 percent of the time. He said he doesn't prescribe the drug Bradley is taking, called Procanbid, because he thinks other drugs are more effective.
When atrial fibrillation continues despite drug treatment, doctors may want to give a blood-thinner, such as Coumadin, to prevent clots. Even if that should happen in Bradley's case - which would mean that he would have to have his clotting time monitored and perhaps modify his diet - Salem still didn't think that should disqualify him from serving as president.
Salem said campaign stress, which may cause the body to secrete more adrenaline, could be a factor in Bradley's recent bouts of ''afib.'' Zimetbaum said, however, that ''we don't find that stress per se'' is clearly linked to episodes of atrial fibrillation. ''It's not uncommon for people to have storms of it.'' he said.
