RAVENNA, Ohio — Mike Tinlin used to drink a lot of coffee.

“I would drink a (minimum) of 30 cups of coffee a day, and a pot of coffee before bed,” Tinlin said.

But a year and a half ago, he found himself being exhausted by 3 p.m., despite the amount of caffeine.

“My body was telling me something was wrong,” he said.

Tinlin’s doctor recommended he have a stress test that detected atrial fibrillation, or AFib.

What You Need To Know

  • Needing a pacemaker for atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common misconception

  • Hearth palpitations are the most common symptom of AFib

  • AFib is the most common heart rhythm disorder and affects more than 2.2 million people in the United States

“The most common symptom is palpitation. They feel like the hearts fluttering. It might be beating fast. It might be beating irregularly,” said Dr. Anjan Gupta, an interventional cardiologist at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute in Portage.

Gupta said in addition to high blood pressure, being over 65, sleep apnea and obesity, one of the greatest risk factors for AFib is stress.

Tinlin has held high-stress jobs throughout his career. He worked as a police officer where he was shot twice and stabbed three times. He also worked as a firefighter and most recently was elected as the Portage County commissioner.

AFib increases the risk of stroke and congestive heart failure.

Gupta said a common misconception is that patients will need a pacemaker if diagnosed with AFib. Treatment mostly involves taking oral medications or having an ablation.

“(We) can go with a catheter from the groin up to the heart and they can actually find out where the little short circuits are that are giving rise to the atrial fibrillation and can burn the short circuits out,” Gupta said.

Tinlin is now on low-dose oral medication for his AFib and is working on leading a healthier life. He recently lost over 50 pounds and said he takes time to read and spend time with his grandkids.

As for his coffee intake? He’s down to two regular and four cups of decaffeinated cups a day.

September is National Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Awareness Month. AFib is the most common heart rhythm disorder and affects more than 2.2 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.