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Short of Breath ?

Christo4 profile image
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Why do we get short of breath while just sitting down ?

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Christo4 profile image
Christo4
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11 Replies

I sometimes think it's the AF feeling in my chest just making me feel that I'm short of breath, not that I really am, if you see what I mean... however, shortness of breath is listed as a common symptom of AF, and I guess it's just related to the weird antics of our hearts, not what we're doing. Lucky us eh?

Lis

Christo4 profile image
Christo4 in reply to

I were sat in the study and feeling short of breath kind of strange, I thought to myself that's another thing on my AF list, seems like not enough oxygen in the blood, maybe if I do have a valve problem it's not going to help things.

Oh well been for a walk on the beach this morning lunch out now reading the papers and emailing ! It was hard work walking as I were tired before I started ! Not going to give up.

in reply toChristo4

I've been taking CoQ10 and it has helped my energy levels, though apparently it also affects warfarin...

I've always thought that it's something to do with not getting enough oxygen into your bloodstream due to your ticker not ticking properly. But I'm just half-guessing.

Koll

legintrebor profile image
legintrebor

Hi, Have had Atrial Fibrillation since 2010,and shortness of breath for that time, have just had 2nd Ablation and still have it,good news though is Fibrillation now gone but have now changed to Atrial Flutter which the Cardiologist seems to think can be treated with another ablation.It has been tough living with no energy and the shortness of breath but hope next operation will sort out. All you can do is keep your faith in the EP Cardioligist

weezergeezer profile image
weezergeezer

Christo4,

Unfortunately it’s all part and parcel of having Afib, your heart isn’t functioning as efficiently as it should due to the electrical signals being erratic , probably worse when you’re in Af, my Afib episodes would last for 24 hours and they’d just stop and I’d be feeling wrecked for another day !

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Because of the AF your blood is not being oxygenated properly because the irregular electrical pulses often originate from around the your pulmonary veins. The atria doesn't fill with blood in a regular way on the right side of the heart due to the rogue electrical impulses, so less oxygenated blood exits your heart through the left side of the heart. Your body knows there is something wrong so then tries to compensate by increasing your impulse to breath more often, you are breathless.

PS. Maybe your drugs need changing. I've just been through 3 or 4 till we found one that works, and I'm no longer short of breath, just feel normal 'ish :-) .

Brilliant explanation CDreamer, so with my double whammy of Bradycardia and PAF and ectopics sorry that makes it a triple whammy, would that explain why my memory is chronic, it never used to be, the other day I thought 'take my mug to the kitchen and then go to the bathroom', ended up with my mug in my hand going to the bathroom. Any ideas why after a few hours out of the house I would get home and not be able to get warm and have cold extremities? A few hours after that I can literally feel the blood rushing into my arms and legs. Really weird and not doing my heating bill any good at all.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Exactly. Feelings of cold followed by sort of hot flushes seems to also be common symptoms but cold extremities may be something you need to mention to your Doc.

stay well! x

I have told him. I think it has a lot to do with my Bradycardia but the Tildiem that they have me on is not helping at all, I am going to make a list and let him see the diary I have kept over the last two weeks since I last saw him. The worst episode was in December before my AF diagnosis, after a few hours of not being able to get warm I nearly passed out. Always after going out and not even walking around a lot, just lunch with a friend. Really cannot understand, of course it is my circulation or lack of it. Seeing doc on Tuesday again and will give him a list of what I have experienced in the last two weeks since seeing him last. I need my Bradycardia sorting never mind my AF. He has one last chance to refer me or I walk.

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