Exercise

[jamesthered]

Been diagnosed with AF and flutter, does anyone have advice on exercise. I'm trying to get back on the track as a Masters athlete (now 51) but I have reduced power and energy. Running longer than 10 mins and its like someone has pulled plug! Tried to discuss with GPvand said walking is good but unless I'm at 11 on the dial its not good enough.

[BobD Volunteer]

I think you should understand that it is most likely your past athletic career which has caused the AF in the first place. There is ample evidence to this effect. It is entirely up to you of course but everything in moderation is the best way forward. My advice to anybody with AF is accept that you have changed and manage your condition accordingly. If you are lucky enough to go the ablation route and improve your quality of life that way then learn from past experience and don't over do things.

Bob

[Hidden]

Also, what medication are you on? Sometimes it's the medication that makes you feel tired. But as Bob says you will probably have to proceed with care... Have you seen a cardiologist? You could discuss it with them in detail.

Lis

[Jason1971]

I find James when I have an episode I am limited to what I can do with Exercise. I do a lot of Boxing & circuit training, which is a big No No, however I have found swimming and bike riding not to be an issue at all. Maybe this is because I'm not a strong swimmer and bike riding is something I don't do often, so I wouldn't know if I was struggling or not When I'm in NSR I train like I did prior to AF and I'm not affected by the medication I'm taking. As Bob states it may be a case of accepting the changes. I posed the same question to my Cardio and he said "You know your body".

[Loo53]

I used to be in the gym 4 hours a day everyday in my late 40s early 50s, using the treadmills bikes you name it I was doing it then suddenly I started to become ill after every gym visit, so I started to reduce my workouts -overtraining and all that etc...I seemed to be constantly being knocked down going back to square one but like someone with a high fitness level I wouldn't stay down and kept getting back up and into the gym only to be knocked down again and again and again. Although Id had two episodes of AF which I dismissed, but no more for 10 years, at the time I had no idea it was my heart I blamed it on allergies viruses overtraining, diet etc etc. I got to the point where even the slightest fitness regimen didn't last long. A steady decline was happening over a period of months and years of me still trying to hit the gym and being floored systemically feeling unwell all the time. Then I0 years later had another full blown AF attack (caused by one of those viruses) and have recently had ablation. I never realized I had become so ill and didn't understand it. Now a few days after my ablation I'm on the up and hope to get back to some moderate exercise..so the moral of this long drawn out yawning story is either you recogniuse you have AF and moderate accordingly or just carry on pushing until you end up on a Cath Lab table like me...its just my experience take from it what you need....

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Jamesthered

Well you're not going to like it I suspect but I agree with Bob and others, there have been a whole raft of relatively famous athletes who suffered with AF, but for nearly all of them it meant ending their career early and certainly by the age of 40. Larry Byrd the NBA star was one and also quite a number of endurance athletes and top cycling stars.

There certainly appears to be a link between intensive training and AF for some people, and for many people under 50 it appears to be probably the most common cause of AF.

Of course you can go back to training, and not just walking I am sure your cardio would agree, but it bears a mighty risk that the AF will get worse and then you simply won't be able to train at all.

My personal view if like Bob, accept you now have a heart condition, it will mean changes to your life, but not that many and you need to be in control of it, not it of you. But there are limits to that and perhaps intensive training is one of them

Be well

Ian

[Runskicycler]

Hi James, I too was recently diagnosed with AF. Age 55 spent the last 40 years hammering my heart, mainly in the mountains climbing, fell running, cycling and skiing. However, I have a genetic link too so I'm not so sure the exercise link is the full story. Yes, you have AF but I'm guessing the plumbing is still sound. Get yourself referred to a good EP asap and discuss the treatment options. Also check out this guy's blog. A race cyclist EP with AF! drjohnm.org/2014/02/13-thin...

[jondeanp]

I was in persistent AF for 5 months until a cardioversion in May this year. During the AF period I tried a couple of road runs but had no energy at all and also because i was aware of my heart rhythm I was reluctant to push myself

Since the successful cardioversion and a period of stability I am now returning to my road running but taking it very easy. Also my general fitness had suffered due to the lack of exercise (I have a desk job so very little exercise during a normal day).

I've also recently swam at a reasonable intensity (fast lane at local baths) with no issues (pace ok but endurance lacking) and also a heavy gym session including free weights and cardio with no issues

[AFCyclist]

Hi, I would offer a slightly more positive comment than some of the above. I was a runner for 30 years, now a cyclist. I am 65. About 6 years ago I started getting bouts of AF about once a month that could last a couple of days. I often go for a cycle to kick my heart back into normal rhythm. My EP, who is also a cyclist, advised me to continue cycling but to "listen to my body". I think my AF was exercise or alcohol induced and I have gradually gone teetotal which has made a big difference. I cycle over 100 miles a week at a reasonable club pace and have found 2 week cycle tours and long day cycles (150 miles last Sunday) do not bring on AF. I also have started taking seasalt at the early signs and this has stopped a bout developing 3 times now. Not had a bout for 3 months. Time will tell. Exercise is good as a fit body helps you cope better with AF. I have not had an ablation but take a pill called losartan (no idea whether this is beneficial!) and try and manage things by changing lifestyle. Suggest you talk to an EP about treatment options.

[Therealsue]

Hello James. I'm sorry to hear you AF is preventing you from training. I would like to say though, while I read the evidence that years of training can bring on AF, I'm a little disheartened by the implication that it is our own fault and if we hadn't run/ cycled, it would never have happened. There are plenty of life time runners and cyclists who never have AF. I've only been a runner for 6 years or so and constantly beat myself up over the fact that too many sprint sessions have caused this.

Right - that's the little rant over.

When my AF got quite bad, I really struggled to do any meaningful training (but nonetheless, still managed to run the New York marathon last November). I have to say, I got quite down about it. Happily, I had an ablation last May and this has removed (for now at least) AF from my life. I'm back training again, although I try not to let my heart rate go higher than 80-90% HRR - ie I'll do threshold runs, but not sprint after sprint and to be honest, I'm still revelling in the sheer joy of running 5k without walk breaks. If AF is getting in the way of what you love to do, then I would go down the ablation route. I personally, am very pleased I did - I'm not ready to hang up my running shoes just yet!

[Runskicycler in reply to Therealsue]

Sue, your posts offer a lot of encouragement for those of us wanting to get back to relatively high intensity exercise. I'm not ready to hang up anything, including running shoes but after my last big attack 3 weeks ago it's taking time to get some confidence back; not keen on another night in hospital with a long tube up my arm. Good to hear your ablation was a success and the more I read I think this is the route I want to head myself.