Pseudocholinesterase Deficiency

Overview

Your healthcare provider may suspect pseudocholinesterase deficiency if you have difficulty regaining muscle control and breathing after general anesthesia. To confirm your diagnosis, they can run a blood test to check your pseudocholinesterase enzyme levels.

If you have a family member with the condition, a healthcare provider can do genetic testing to find out if you have it, too. This test uses a blood sample to determine whether you have a BCHE gene mutation.

If your provider suspects you have this condition, they can use other types of muscle relaxants that don’t depend on the pseudocholinesterase enzyme.

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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?

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