Diet, exercise and lifestyle...

[joebob]

Hi I'm just wondering how people may have changed their diets, the amount of exercise they do (more or even less) and if they have made any lifestyle changes and how those changes have effected their AF (good or bad)?

[CDreamer]

When I had AF I progressively did less exercise because of fatigue and therefore put on weight. Now no AF I am attempting to decrease weight and exercise more but it is long haul.

We recently had a talk by our EP and the question of exercise came up - if in AF and none symptomatic, some moderate exercise is ok. Extreme exercise whilst in an AF episode could lead to heart failure - please note - I do mean extreme and ignoring symptoms of muscle fatigue, pain, breathlessness etc.

When not in AF and for general cardiac health even 10 minute walk every day or a total of 2 hours per week of brisk walking will reduce your risk of stroke, MI and cardiac disease by a factor of 4 we were told, as will losing just 4kg. Extreme exercise is a trigger for some people, which means they must adapt to a gentler form of exercise.

Many people who have not posted for a while, so I assume they are feeling much better, have reported a vast improvement through changing their lifestyle - eating more fibrous plant food, less red meat, no fried or processed food etc etc. ie so called Clean Eating.

And it is not the answer for everyone as some still have AF. But it certainly doesn't hurt to go down that route.

[Hidden]

I walk, cycle and work just the same, makes things better for me. I tend to get problem when I'm resting.

Diet-wise, I eat much smaller meals and never a normal one, always child-sized portions just more often. I now don't get the wobbles after eating. I don't avoid cheese, chocolate, ice-cream etc, they make no difference to me. I eat quite a lot of dark chocolate. Went tee-total about 3 years ago, which has been an improvement. After getting used to it, I feel just generally healthier. I eat loads of nuts, yoghurt, bananas for breakfast. I only have the occasional normal coffee or tea, otherwise it's all decaf. Overall, my diet is your normal meat, veg, salad.

Lifestyle-wise, we avoid stresses and niggles, traffic, annoying things like that. Always early for everything, never in a panic to get somewhere. We'll walk out of a bad film instead of sitting there being outwardly calm, etc etc. Those little things I have found make a big difference, more than anything else for me. We don't have to avoid big stresses, like moving house, because they don't seem to make any difference, I think I must be weird!

Koll

[Mamamarilyn in reply to Hidden]

Not just recommend, I highly recommend your comments, both in relation to diet and particularly stress. Like you, I used to do everything at the last minute but find now that it's a big AF trigger so take plenty of time over everything. And it's not just physical stuff either. If I get in a tizz about something (like the antics of my teenage grandson!) that can easily bring on an attack, though fortunately I'm reverting fairly quickly at the moment.

Mindfulness meditation really helps too, just 20 minutes a day.

Happy Sunday everyone x

[Dave1961]

I have made two changes. i stopped smoking (d'uh) lol and also started taking magnesium. Even after quitting smoking I was still having regular AF attacks. Once I started magnesium in January not a single attack.

[joebob in reply to Dave1961]

I have been taking magnesium and I recently doubled my dose. I definitely feel more energetic since taking more.

I have just bought some magnesium citrate as I was talking oxide which apparently isn't absorbed as well.

[Dave1961 in reply to joebob]

Funny how as we learn more we refine what we are doing. I was taking chelated and found out citrate was even better. Magnesium oil is of course the best when it comes to bioavailaility. I try to remember to use it every day but oral supplements tend to be better for me as I am trained into taking pills 3 times as day anyways! Magnesium has not only vastly helped my AF its also helped markedly with my depression as well as some problems I was having with esophageal spasms which were making swallowing difficult. Its been a godsend for me and clearly I was lacking in it!

[Mamamarilyn in reply to joebob]

How much are you taking now Joebob?

[joebob in reply to Mamamarilyn]

I currently take 100mg Magnesium citrate + 250mg magnesium oxide (I want to use up what I have left!).

I also take:

25mg Zinc

Vitamin D

Omega 3, 6 & 9

30mg CoEnzyme Q-10

500mg Vitamin C

[meadfoot]

Try and find past posts by SRMGrandma on this site. She has positive experience on the value of life style change. Very interesting and helpful posts. If you put her name in under 'find members' all of them will come up.

Hope this helps.

Dee

[PeterWh in reply to meadfoot]

A good way is to look up her profile. They are all listed there split up into pests she has started and ones she has responded to.

[Hidden]

Like a lot of people on here I,ve got problems with my digestion (ulcers, acid reflux etc)as well as AF,exercise wise i,ve cut out the weights and just cycle or walk every day but 3 other things i,ve done which recently have made a big difference to how I feel are (1) gone tea total,(2) started taking magnesium and (3) I never eat anything after my evening meal which I have around 6pm this is mainly so my stomach gets a rest at night and I,ve no acid rumbling around,it has certainly made a difference.

[pmd1301]

I am constantly fatigued. But attend a one hour Cardiac rehab exercise class twice a week, it's a struggle but feel relaxed as instructor is cardiac trained. My cardiologist thinks it has helped to improve my overall stamina.

[Peddling]

You could also view past posts from Aussie John. He follows a FODMAP diet which he claims to be very successful in eliminating AF.

[Rellim296]

I currently feel on top of AF and in control but it has certainly had a big influence on diet, exercise and lifestyle. I've written a long moan which is best not shared. This forum has been a great support and education and I'm most grateful.

[Marion62]

I joined a " walking for health" group 15 months ago - I try to walk with them at least four mornings a week. This has really helped and I've also met some lovely people.

[Stratton-sully]

I became a vegetarian on leaving hospital Christmas Day 14' it fact the turkey dinner was my last meat and I'm following Dr. Dean Ornish's advice on a plant based diet reversing heart disease,..

A cardoversion last September was successful and I'm very active walking, swimming over here in Spain.

Switched from Warfarin to Apixiban last August and stopped the 10 mgs of bisoprolol in January or February

Although last night had to take one as the stressful events of the day caught up with me, cleaning house for my wife's visit and the centre City hotel proved elusive after getting caught up with football traffic.

So in conclusion I have nothing to complain about as seventy year old teetotaller going on vegan, almost forgot the most important health benefit my Yoga and meditation.

[steve60]

As stuck in permanent Afib, exercise is always a chore nowadays, Bisorolol masks/covers up the Afib, so I always think I can do more than I can, which then leads to exhaustion, also I know I drink to much, thinking about ablation now, only thing stoping me is my refusal to enter the world of warfarin

[joebob in reply to steve60]

Yes, I'm struggling to completely give up alcohol. I'm not a heavy drinker by any means, but I enjoy a few beers and some wine at weekends even though I know it increases my anxiety and can trigger AF.

Why are you avoiding warfarin? I would have thought that if you are in permanent AF then it's one of the most important things!

[steve60 in reply to joebob]

My chads2 score is 0 and I have no other heart related complications. There was a recent post on here that confirmed everything I had thought, we are at no greater risk of stroke than people with many other factors such as diabetes, obesity, etc, and none of those groups are prescribed warfarin yet they too have an increased risk of stroke.

I totally understand those who have many other heart related conditions to be on warfarin as I too would in their situation. I am convinced that if I stopped drinking then my Afib would go, as they say the balls in my court.?

[Hidden]

Agree with a lot of the earlier replies by Koll etc

To summarise my 'finds' have been:

Mg & CoQ10 supplements, more attention on gastric issues, increased exercising but no more than brisk walking, more attention on emotional/head issues with relaxation techniques & avoiding (like exercise) anything that is too much. Meals smaller more often and light meal at latest 7pm with no meat. I think I have also overloaded my digestion process by too much variety at mealtimes with good intentions of giving my body a boost of nutrition. Simpler may be better.

All this sounds a lot and a bit extreme but the new regime is soon 'normal' and it definitely seems to help. Good Luck.

[MickPy]

I am at the gym 3-4 times per week and try to be sensible with what I eat. For me exercise is the key. I have just come out of an Afib episode which I believe was caused by stress as the company I work for has been brought out by another company

My first since initial diagnosis so not too bad😀