Arrest AF update

[rich101]

Thought this may be of interest

drjohnm.org

Follow links for arrest af

[dedeottie]

I only wish that I fit into this model but unfortunately I don't. When my A.F. started I was overweight and blood pressure was a high normal. I drank significantly more than I should have . The only plus was that I remained very active( just as well or everything would have been worse). I then lost 4 stone,blood pressure went to a low normal, cholesterol is good, I remain very active and I no longer drink alcohol. Did my A.F. improve? It did not. No, instead it continued to get steadily worse and worse. I will never regret the health changes I have made and in fact having A.F. has probably saved me from all sorts of other diseases. Tests show that apart from the electrical problem, my heart and indeed the rest of me is in good shape but it is disappointing that despite my best efforts the A.F. has continued on its own, not so merry, way.

I am hoping that my otherwise good health may have a good effect on my ablation as Dr. John's research seems to suggest. Here's hoping. Interesting article though and worth taking note of especially for those at the start of their A.F. journey. X

[Langara]

Why does this article refer to AF as a disease? I understood it to be a condition not a disease.

[rich101]

I do too dedeottie, the only thing that I believe caused my first af episode is binge drinking, I have always been active, eaten pretty well and good bmi. However I think that one 'holiday heart syndrome', was the start of things.

Dr John does focus on lifestyle changes, which is clearly not the answer for everyone, but sure most would benefit from making some changes.

I'm not sure why he calls it a disease, maybe just that he is an American doctor, and there medical lingo is different.

All the best

[BobD Volunteer in reply to rich101]

It is a condition not a disease technically. You can't catch it you see. Simples as the meerkat would say. I think your last sentence covers it. lol

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

My understandjng of the word disease was the literal sense dis-ease. Is there a medical clarification of the word that only covers illness that are contagious? Curious?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to CDreamer]

I agree on dis -ease as being anything which is out of kilter but joking apart AF is a condition as it develops in the body on it's own. You would not call short sightedness for example a disease as it is a condition of the body but you may say that your eyes are diseased.. It's all semantics really whatever you call it it is still a pain.

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

Actually I don't think it is semantics. The English language especially is very vague and ambiguous and we rarely take the time to explain what we mean when we use a word so can easily be misunderstood.

Thanks for explaining but I will still use the word disease in the literal sense of the word because by your definition Myasthenia or any other autoimmune disease would be a condition because there are no external pathogens involved.

[CDreamer in reply to CDreamer]

I wanted to add, but the programme wouldn't allow me to, that I prefer the word dysfunction as it describes what is happening, or not, to condition when referring to things like short sightedness. Hopefully not being semantic, just trying to complete a thought process for myself,

[CDreamer in reply to CDreamer]

I wanted to add, but the programme wouldn't allow me to, that I prefer the word dysfunction as it describes what is happening, or not, to condition when referring to things like short sightedness. Hopefully not being semantic, just trying to complete a thought process for myself,

[paulh1]

My BMI is in the normal range,I don't drink, Don't smoke, exercise 5 days a week yet I still developed Afib. My Afib kicks in when I exercise . I have had 3 stents put in. Don't know how much more I can change my lifestyle. I don't like having to take the blood thinners and now they are recommending Tikosyn. I've made an appointment with another EP for a second opinion.

[Bryonny]

What I find interesting is that at no time have any of the medical team that I have seen in relation to my AF ever mentioned or discussed lifestyle changes that I should consider or make. The information I have got about lifestyle issues has been through my own literature searches and from members of this forum. Sometimes it has been difficult to know what is relevant to my personal health issues.

With the Government's drive to get health care professionals to place more emphasis on individuals taking more responsibility for there own health I hope we might see better and more timely information being provided. I might be in the minority in my experience, hopefully others have had easier and better access to information relevant to them.

[MarkS]

I normally like Dr Mandola's posts but I'm getting a little fed up with him constantly harping on about how AF is a lifestyle disease and how fat Americans can reduce their AF by following a diet and reducing weight.

There are many causes of AF, of which being overweight is one. It's common sense to cut the carbs if you have AF and are overweight, that's hardly news.

What annoys me is his assumption that making lifestyle changes can apply to everyone. I'm slim, I've always exercised, I drink moderately, I have low sugar and salt and lots of veg in my diet, I don't smoke - in fact probably like a lot of people on this site. Yet I developed AF about 20 years ago, now fortunately on hold following an ablation. Exactly what lifestyle changes is he proposing for me?

Mark

[CDreamer in reply to MarkS]

I support lifestyle changes, try to follow it myself but not always as successfully as I would like and I agree with you and the other posts, really pleased that it works for some but ablation was the only thing that worked for me.

It is irritating to be constantly told 'this will change your life' when you already did that and it made no difference.

I get equally irritated when people fail to make any adjustments and expect the NHS to provide the miracle cure and make them all better, not that applies to anyone here of course.

Best wishes

[BobD Volunteer in reply to MarkS]

I agree completely Mark. For some people it may help so jolly good luck to them but for those who are already of low BMI and eat a healthy diet is is insulting to suggest that they are doing something wrong and by following some magic life formula they can be cured. AF is so mongrel that this will always be the case I fear but equally I worry about people who come here panicking because they can no longer run for four hours or cycle the Pennines without realising that it was probably that which caused the AF in the first place. Everything in moderation!

Bob

[rich101]

I agree, we all know our 'Conditions' better then anybody else. And everyone has there own story.I cant live as Healthy of lifestyle as I would like, because of my Af, which is Adrenergic and vagally induced.

I believe an ablation is my best chance of getting things sorted.

its worth noting that drjohnm is a very keen cyclist and triathlete so fitness is his 'thing'

[rich101]

I agree, we all know our 'Conditions' better then anybody else. And everyone has there own story.I cant live as Healthy of lifestyle as I would like, because of my Af, which is Adrenergic and vagally induced.

I believe an ablation is my best chance of getting things sorted.

its worth noting that drjohnm is a very keen cyclist and triathlete so fitness is his 'thing'

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

I was wondering if anyone would post this today! I thought it was a great article and I couldn't agree more. After so many years of being a health care provider I still am of the belief that disease doesn't just happen, that we, by our lifestyles trigger the onset of illness, or conditions if you prefer to call it that. Sometimes by making changes we can ameliorate the damage, and sometimes unfortunately we can't. For me, it is no coincidence that just about the time I thought my heart was broken by a rift in my family, it really was. Now I have cut out the stress, the meat, the sugar, and pumped up the hydration and the plants in my diet and that has absolutely made incredible differences. I've learned to make peace with other people's choices and to release my need to be a control freak. If I start to bring back the stress or the poor sleep, my AF will give me a tap and remind me. Otherwise it is incredibly improved. Maybe I'll only get a few years improvement before intervention is needed or maybe it will continue to improve. I don't know but I am totally taking responsibility for whichever way it goes.

[christine147 in reply to SRMGrandma]

I totally agree I have been told my af is linked to high bp. That now seems to be under control very poorly controlled prior to last episode and in resus twicw in there weeks. However bp is linked to stress so it is the stress that causes the problem. I have been reading and researching mindfulness which had really helped me living in the now instead of living in the past or present isnt helpful. Enjoying and being focused on what is actually happening I appreciate the good things and the relief from the symptoms it might help.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to christine147]

Christine, the BP issue was my problem too...the stress, the lack of regular exercise, thinking it is ok to munch cookies just because my weight wasn't an issue. My AF is so clearly tied to the stress that I feel like an idiot for being so blind to it. Work stress is part of it and to that end I will be retired in 6 days! Good luck as you continue your journey to decreased stress!