Dear Dr. Gott: I am an active, healthy 72-year-old female concerned about a recent diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. I have had approximately six episodes over the past seven months. Each lasts about 15 to 30 minutes and has always occurred after a couple of "social drinks" and right after I go to bed.

I don't drink on a daily basis. During my most recent episode, I put on my blood pressure machine and was shocked by the numbers.

My normal numbers are 130/75, with a pulse of 70. I take blood-pressure medicine every day. My blood pressure during the attack was 153/119, and my pulse was 156.

Over the next 10 minutes, it went to 163/125, pulse 109, and then 164/87, pulse 70. Gradually, it lowered to 138/89, and my pulse remained at 70. Throughout the readings, the machine kept indicating an irregular heartbeat.

I take two 81-milligram aspirins every day, but my cardiologist isn't concerned about the episodes because he says they aren't frequent enough to prescribe medication.

He is not aware of these high blood-pressure readings yet, though. I've also had a few EKGs, but everything looks normal. I'd have to wear a Holter monitor for five or six weeks just to be able to catch an episode.

My questions: Is alcohol a trigger for me? Would only one drink trigger this, or is something else going on? Should I take more aspirin daily to prevent blood clots? What is the connection between high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation? I exercise three times a week and am in good health otherwise. What's going on?

Dear reader: Based on your description, I assume that your diagnosis is paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. This means that you have episodes of irregular heartbeat that can last up to a few hours and then resolve spontaneously. Chronic atrial fibrillation occurs when the irregular heartbeat does not resolve on its own and requires treatment.

The only inconsistency that I have with this diagnosis is your mention that your blood pressure increases during the attack. During an episode of atrial fibrillation, the heart rate increases to between 100 and 175 beats per minute. This causes the heart chambers to quiver and pump blood ineffectively.

Because the rate is so rapid, the chambers do not completely fill or empty, which can cause a drop in blood pressure, not an increase. The condition also carries the risk of developing blood clots, but this risk is more common in those patients with chronic a-fib rather than the paroxysmal variety. Now to answer your specific questions.

First, I can't tell you whether one drink will bring on an episode, but because alcohol appears to be a trigger, it is best avoided.

Second, because your a-fib is only occasional, I don't believe you require more aspirin; however, that is a question best answered by your cardiologist. Finally, hypertension, especially when under poor control, can lead to changes in the heart that may increase the risk of developing heart-rate abnormalities such as atrial fibrillation.

I urge you to discuss your discovery of increased blood pressure during the attack with your cardiologist.

You may also benefit from wearing an event monitor, which is activated by you when symptoms occur. You will then need to record both what you were doing at the time of the attack and what preceded it.

The results are then submitted over the telephone to a company who interprets the results and reports to your physician. Return to your physician to get answers.

Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet," available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook." Write directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016.