Triggers for AF

[Kiwi2]

Does anyone think that exercise is a trigger? Whenever I ask the health professionals they say it isn't. I have a feeling that any adrenaline boost like exercise, stress, anxiety, alcohol sets mine off. Feedback much appreciated.

[BobD Volunteer]

Triggers can be miss-leading I'm afraid as no two people are the same. . Many people actually find that exercise can help stop an AF event. Do remember that you have AF not because of any triggers but because of rogue electrical impulses in your heart. There are a few endurance athletes who have brought the AF on by the hard work they require their heart to perform enlarging the atria and resulting on disturbed pathways. For normal people doing gentle exercise this is unlikely to be the case but that is not to say that adrenaline may not have an effect. For me it was always after the adrenaline rush had faded away that I experienced anything. See, we are all different..

Bob

[Kiwi2]

Thank you Bob, you have hit the nail on the head. It is not the exercise itself that can put me into AF but afterwards, once the adrenalin rush has faded. I am only 52 and have always kept myself fit, either walking, cycling or doing exercise classes. Reading some of the other posts it seems to affect the fit and active which is so frustrating.

[kakapo]

I wish my AF would show some kind of pattern. I have had attacks from sleeping to mountain climbing and everything in between. I also go back into nsr the same way. I did read somewhere that exercise can stop an attack so I tried that as an attack started. Checked my pulse after 5 min and it was 200 so I went and lay down on the couch like I normally do at the start of an attack.

[dedeottie in reply to kakapo]

Same here. I have never been able to pinpoint any triggers and since trying to was driving me insane, I have stopped trying. X

[Mrspat]

Still trying to work my triggers out. Stress or anxiety is definitely one and unfortunately an impending medical appointment has set it off on at least two occasions. Won't bore you with the history of that.

Recently I increased my exercise regime to include a rowing machine. Swimming and exercise bike have been tolerated well for some time but I think that the rowing machine may have been an exercise too far. As mentioned above, I suspect that it is the post-exercise period that is associated with the AF.

[Hidden]

Now I could have this wrong, but I sat with a group at the table with an EP at the Patients Day who said that broadly speaking ("broadly" being emphasised as an over-simplification), there were two types of AF. One that comes on when you lie down, and the other relating to exercise.

I'm certain about the lie down type because that's what I have/had, not sure about the other. He was explaining how beta-blockers were unsuitable for most of the lie-down AF type).

Ian was there, maybe he can recall what was said clearer than me?

Koll

[jeanjeannie50]

Quite often before having an attack of PAF I will have a period of high energy. So I'm not sure if that's a sign that an attack is coming or whether it's me doing too much that starts it off later. I've never ever had an attack start during a period of activity/exercise.

[jbrucej]

For me, hard exercise is a definite trigger. I manage it by wearing a Bluetooth heart rate monitor - a strap around my chest. My pulse will jump up when I go into afib and I know to slow down and it will return to normal sinus. Of course, the dizziness and nausea are also a good sign; but, the HRM helps me slow down before the symptoms become severe.

[kakapo]

Ectopic beats becoming more frequent over a few days is a sure sign I'm about to have an attack. I only get ectopics at rest and more commonly after exercise. Occasionally I will get ectopics that seem to be trying to become af but normally they just seemed to proceed an attack not cause it.

[dedeottie in reply to kakapo]

I also get bad ectopic for 2 days before an A.F. episode. As my A.F. became very frequent it meant that there were few if any days when my heart was normal! Anyway since starting flecanide all is totally quiet for about 95%of the time. Thank goodness.x

[Mrspat]

I don't know whether any scientific/medical studies have been done on this aspect of AF? It would seem a good idea to me that everyone diagnosed with AF should be given some sort of diary, to record as much information as possible e.g. What lead up to an attack, how long it lasted, the symptoms, what helped, how often thy happen, any physical measurements such as heart rate, BP. This information could be collated or used by individuals to monitor and self-help.

[David21]

During an attack (always very bad) there is no way I could do any exercise. Triggers for me are: Bad virus and/or too much alcohol or caffeine. Exercise itself has never brought an attack on.

[MarkS]

There are two types of AF - vagal which typically occurs after exercise in the cool down period or when resting, and adrenergic which occurs during exercise or when the body is stressed. There's an interesting article here:

afibbers.com/atrial_fibrill...

which indicates that vahal afibbers are often given the wrong medicine.

Mark

[cbsrbpm]

Strange you should say this as I thought it was only me. I cannot do any exercise that involves running or fast walking as the old heart seems very upset if I do this. Aqua aerobics is fine, don't seem to have a problem with that. Funnily enough most of my full blown episodes are at night when asleep that wake me immediately. Maybe I dream I am running, ha.

all the best Brenda

[rich101]

Hi, I can mirror what marks mentions as regards to the different types of paf.

I have both vagal and adrenergic af. Andon a waiting list for cyroablation.

I have been quite fortunate that episodes only happens 2/3 times a year, but symptoms have got progressively worse and can't wait to have this procedure done.although a bit nervous.

My main triggers are Exercise, alcohol, stress, bending down/over on a full stomach, or over indulge in sweet things.The only other link is of a digestive nature, I suffer Acid reflux and get palpitations with it at night ,

All the best