Is there any specific technique to stop AF attack?

[Maitha]

For example A doctor in ER recently advised me to try to hold my breath to stop the flutter !

[rupert12]

I have tried everything to stop it - nothing works for me. I asked the cardiologist and he said that there was nothing he knew that would stop it either - sorry!

[bruceb]

I sometimes wake up with AF, I found three or four slow deep breaths calms it down. Apologies if this doesn't work for you: we are all different.

[dirose in reply to bruceb]

Me too, I think i have bad dreams, or too exciting! they start up the AF!!

[AFAssociation1]

AF is a condition that is individual to the person so unfortunately there are not one-size-fits-all answers to many AF-related questions. Some people who contact us say there is nothing that calms an AF episode so they just have to wait it out. Others have said they try to remain as calm as possible, breathe deeply and stay still. If you feel very poorly during an attack we suggest you go to A&E where an episode can be curtailed.

[Hidden in reply to AFAssociation1]

Dear Administrator

Reading your reply to this question, in 8 years of suffering from AF nobody has ever told me that an episode of AF can be curtailed. How do they do this, and I wish I had known before. I have had several trips to A and E for episodes in the past, and they injected into my stomach. Was this to stop the fibrillation?

I had thought that you just have to wait it out. This can be for 1 hour or anything up to 24 hours in my case. Even after 2 ablations and a vast improvement I get the occasional attack and can feel very poorly. But rather not have any trips to A and E.

Carrie

[Hidden]

Hi Maitha,

I am a therapist in private practice for over 20yrs.One of my therapies is yoga based... Having quite an accurate knowledge of anatomy,neuroligy and physiology also having PAF I have found this technique helps me immensely when my heart is fluttering like crazy. Make yourself comfortable either on a bed or lying on the floor,position a pillow under you head, Raise your left arm in an extension position as if you are doing the backward crawl,Stretch as much as you can and imagine that it is stretching your heart muscle...I bend my arm and position my hand under my head palm upwards.. Stay in that position for as long as you can or until the fluttering subsides...At the same time I think of something pleasant.It does not matter what you think about as long as it is a pleasant thought for you. This stops my heart jumping about almost instantly....I also place my right hand over my heart area...Don't panic and just keep calm thinking pleasant thoughts....I do hope this helps you. Kind Regards.C

[lizzily in reply to Hidden]

caromia, thanks for this idea, I'm going to try adapt it to my own circumstances as I can't lie flat. If I sit up with a pile of pillows behind me it might almost have the same effect. Another string to my bow and everything's worth a try. Good luck with the warfarin decision. Wishing you well...Liz

[Hidden in reply to lizzily]

Hi Lizzily,yes that will have the same effect just stretch the arm as much as you can without hurting yourself...Thank you for your well wishes.c

[lizzily]

Hi Maitha,

As someone else who finds yoga breathing and some positions helpful, I would love to try caromia's suggestion, but lying down flat tends to make things worse for me. My most helpful position, taught me by a lovely yoga teacher, is based on a yoga forward bend. I sit up with my legs outstretched in front of me and a pillow under my knees, and then bend forward from the hips not the waist, with my arms relaxed but outstretched towards my ankles, and breath deeply and slowly. It's not so good on a full stomach and is more comfortable with your knees slightly apart, and I guess you have to be a bit flexible to find it comfortable, but it has proved to be a great help.

I agree with caromia that staying calm and focusing on something pleasant is a must, and I've even fallen asleep like this as most of my episodes occur at night. All the best Liz

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to lizzily]

Hi Lizzily, Since you can't lie flat you can also do heart opening poses sitting on the edge of a chair or bed and bringing your arms back behind you. Sometimes bending forward, bringing the heart closer to the chest wall can start up an episode of A.F.

[lizzily in reply to SRMGrandma]

Hi SRMGrandma, Just back from a camping trip with the little one and have purposely kept away from this site until now. Thanks for the heart opening poses idea I'll give it a try. I can understand why a forward bend might be a trigger but it works very well for me. Horses for courses as they say. Do hope your shoulder continues to heal.

[AndyBee]

My remedy is totally different to the others. I run up and down the stairs to get my ticker working hard. Sometimes I takes a lot of effort, but it works for me.

[Bagrat]

Hello Maitha,

So strange you have asked this question as I was thinking of asking a similar one myself!! After my last episode in January my GP suggested the Valsava manoeuvre (pinching nose and trying to blow) but I wouldn't advise that if you have any other heart conditions ( I have lone PAF). He also said try swallowing a small ice cube or iced water. My daughter's sports injuries textbook suggests an ice pack on the back! haven't had a chanced to try these yet but as my Consultant didn't suggest anything I think I'll probably just try relaxation next time. Wendy

[Maitha]

Thanks all for your kind response

I'm feeling a lot better since at last I found others speaking the same language at last and they exactly what I'm taking about

I will try all those techniques having in mind that everyone response differently

I'm suffering from on and off AF I think you call it as PAF about once a week and it lasts around 15 to 30 min and unfortunately I can notice they are more frequent recently due to stress maybe

The only thing which is helping me during the scary attack is taking zanax (alprazolam) tablet to relax as much as possible since panic make the attack a lot worse, my cardiologist usually prescribe it to me to be used only during the attack

God bless all of you and keep in touch

[dirose]

I was advised by a cardiologist to cough grunt and imitate trying to pass wind!!!

[Maitha in reply to dirose]

It worths to try , I'm having a lot of symptoms these days unfortunately

Thanks dear

Maitha

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to Maitha]

Maitha, I just read through all these good responses and suggestions. I am a total fan of yoga and deep breathing stopping an episode in its tracks. Sometimes it has worked very quickly for me and other times, not so much. Keeping calm to begin with is very helpful, though admittedly easier said than done.

[Maitha in reply to SRMGrandma]

Thanks a lot

Hope you are feeling better these days

I had an AF attack yesterday and tried deep breathing without success

Hope I will find other helpful solutions and I started to think seriously about ablation soon

Regards

Maitha

[mzoren]

I've found that light exercise sometimes works for me. Immersing my face and/or hands in ice water also may stop the episode. As someone earlier said, we're all different, I hope you find something that works for you. Good Luck!

Mitch

[wrlamb]

I wait for 24 to 36 hours in AF then do some mildly strenuous exercise which usually returns me to sinus rhythm

[dirose]

Ablation is the one if you cangetit. The effcts lasted several years AF free, and the proceedure was so none traumatic, no pain,went home the same day. It is getting the

The treatment, the ablation,

That is the difficult bit on NHS

[dirose]

Now I am in some pain, have AFP most uncomfortable, cannot do my work, no chance of ablation I would not think. Has anyone got any suggestions as to what i should do, what should I ask the cardiologist to do, to get me nearer to an ablation? D irose