Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a group of genetic disorders that affect your immune system. People with CVID have low levels of antibodies (proteins that fight infections) in their blood.

When you don’t have enough antibodies, you can get sick more often and more severely than other people. People with CVID have frequent respiratory, ear and sinus infections. Vaccines are also ineffective because your immune system can’t respond to them by making antibodies.

How serious is CVID?

In addition to frequent infections — which are sometimes hard to treat — CVID increases your risk of developing other life-threatening conditions. This includes severe lung disease and certain cancers.

How common is CVID?

About 1 in 25,000 people have CVID. It’s the most common primary immunodeficiency in adults. Most people are diagnosed as adults, but symptoms can start in childhood.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Heart Rhythm Conditions support group on Freedmans Health Clinic Connect, a patient community.