Running

[Kbuck1234]

Hi does anyone with AF still actively run on this forum?

[Runcrans]

Hi there, my ep told me to jog only ,so after finding out I had af earlier this year and not running at all for a couple of months jogging s what I do ,its better than nothing and great to get around the woods again cheers Pit's

[Hardjuice in reply to Runcrans]

There are Marathon runners with AF

[CDreamer in reply to Hardjuice]

There seem to be a few endurance athletes on this forum, I am not one of them, but do know that endurance athletes have a higher than normal risk of developing AF. This is because the atria expands to accommodate the higher output but can become 'stretched and floppy' and the normal electrical pathways disrupted. It tends to go back to normal once you stop the endurance stuff. Hence the requirement to keep your HR down to prevent AF developing.

The question of exercise was asked at 2013 AFA patient's day and we were told that it all depends how symptomatic you are but generally speaking, as long as you were not symptomatic exercising whilst in AF, it would be acceptable - but you really should check with your doctors!

The only person I ever heard of who died of AF was a young, super fit 26yr old man who ignored all the warning signs, (ex marine) and 'pushed through' all the symptoms of muscle fatigue, excessive breathlessness, pre-syncope etc.

I think wearing a heart monitor and checking your HR whilst exercising is a good idea, everyone will have their own threshold but mine was 120/min. Over that I was sure to go into AF.

[Kbuck1234]

Thanks. I can run 5km - heart rate gets to around 140 to 150 but returns to 90 within 2 or 3 minutes of stopping. Feel good after running. Is this doing me harm or is this acceptable?

[jondeanp in reply to Kbuck1234]

Im in the process with the GP at the mo, to try and investigate unusual HR activity while running. I've had bloods taken and an ECG at the docs tomorrow and then wait for his review. However, whatever his answer I want to be referred for an ECG under stress ie whilst running to get some better answers

I don't feel bad while running but my HR readings are a bit concerning for me

I'll keep the forum posted

[Hidden]

I used to do short runs and also read short sprints were good for your heart health generally. No Longer! I have Lone PAF and have followed for 12 months what others have suggested here which is plenty of gentle exercise just enough to engage the heart.

[Therealsue]

I personally found that running with AF wasn't much fun at all. I used to have lots of walk breaks because it was all just such hard work. Since my ablation, I've gone back to doing the sort of running I did before such as short sprints and longer tempo runs (3 x 10 minutes with 1.5 minute walk in between). What I don't do now, as advised my EP, is run for longer than 10 miles, so my days of running half marathons and marathons are over.

[Runcrans]

My af has not happened whilst running or after running , but that's how my first af episode got picked up ,after waking up one Sunday morning feeling a bit tired still I checked my pulse which I never do to find it beating all erratic didn't no what it was so still went for my run , I only went about 1 mile before there was no energy left at all and had to stop and walk then tried again and same another mile then had to walk again , it's usually a seven mile run with no stopping which I've done for the last 15 years , was still feeling tired and energy less and a bit thick headed so went upto walk in center where they did ECG and told me I was in af , when I went to see my ep he told me runners ,cyclists and rowers were more at risk of developing af , I asked if I could continue to run he pulled a face and said jog , so I've took is advice after all he's the specialist and that's good enough for me 👍