I wondered if anyone has found the hot weather has exacerbated their symptoms? I felt quite unwell yesterday with palpitations I have not experienced for some time. I feel quite drained today - has anyone else had the same or similar happen to them?
Hot weather and AF: I wondered if... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Hot weather and AF
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Bryonny
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33 Replies
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BobDVolunteer
See other posts on hot weather. You are obviously getting dehydrated. You MUST drink AT LEAST 2 litres of water A DAY in these conditions .
Dear Bob, I have been really good ensuring I keep my fluids up, thanks to reading posts on this forum in the past and dehydration not the cause this time. I will look back at other posts about hot weather. A bit concerned about travelling to and from work if this heat happens more frequently, especially with the delays and slow running trains!
Hi Bryonny, I have felt the same as you. Last night my AF kicked in at 9 pm for no apparent reason. It was gone by morning but I feel breathless and lethargic to-day.
Best wishes.
Thanks Jenndog, it's odd as I didn't have problems in the heat in Italy a couple of weeks ago, but maybe working and travelling in the heat is another matter. I have been making sure I keep the fluids up. It's a bit cooler today and as the day has progressed I have felt a bit better. Hope you have found you are feeling better too.
Same - lots going on & someone's turned off my switch.
BobDVolunteer
Holliday and work provide different stresses and we all know how stress plays a part on AF
BobDVolunteer
Just to make you all think, today in North Devon it P---ed down all morning and most of the afternoon and my car outside temp sender said 17C. Where is all this heatwave for goodness sake. We had a very hot Monday (24C) when we were building a wall in the garden and Tuesday was warm but nothing drastic.
I think they are making it up . lol. Pollen is extremely high mind.
Bob
No heatwave for us in South Wales either. Tuesday was lovely but rain ever since. X
I spend quite a lot of time in hot climates and the need to keep fully hydrated is paramount. Sometimes we may think we are drinking enough but that isn't always the case, fluid loss through the skin, although visible with sweating, is huge. The answer is to add a sachet of rehydration (electrolytes) to a bottle of water or, large glass of water and drink! These sachets can be bought from the chemist, are inexpensive and invaluable. AF is definitely affected by lack of hydration.
Bryonny• in reply to
Dear annaet, thanks for your reply. Thanks for the tip about electrolytes, it was a thought I had but didn't act on it! I even have some so will add to water on these hots days.
Hi Bryonny. I have made a deliberate attempt to keep my fluid levels up but went in and out of AF on Tuesday night for hours on end Could hardly sleep at all. Felt pretty washed out on Wednesday but just took it easy. Am now off to Felixstowe's for a family celebration for a few days. Should be a bit cooler. I have not been affected by hot weather before. Not complaining.....just saying! Sandra
Bryonny• in reply to
Dear Sandra, thanks for your reply. I am not sure why the heat this week had such an impact as I had just returned from a week in Italy when it was very hot all week. I guess it was travelling on the train and working in the heat that tipped the balance. I have been vigilant about ensuring I am hydrated, but will stick an extra bottle in the bag!
I first experienced AFib after moving to Australia and playing sport in hot weather. My interpretation is that I became chronically dehydrated and this threw out electrolyte balance. I do still have more trouble in summers, even though I make an extra effort to stay hydrated. It's winter in Sydney now - I haven't felt a blip in two months. It could be coincidental but I do share your experience that uncomfortable levels of heat are not good for the condition.
Dear Thomp95, thanks for your reply. Even though I am pretty sure I was well hydrated, with all the comments received I will still put an extra bottle of water in my bag for journey to and from work, I can top up water easily at work throughout the day. Hope you are enjoying life in Sydney, I lived there for about 7 years and loved it.
The connection between drinking water and hydration isn't straight forward. I've always had lots of water in hot weather, but I still became dehydrated and it lasted years. Apparently drinking water is only loosely related to absorption. I recently read that: (a) you need sufficient protein or else you won't absorb water properly; (b) if you eat/drink too many acidic foods then your cells won't absorb water properly; (c) even water with a low PH can do more harm than good; (d) adding a bit of lemon to your water is good - it alkalizes the water and your body (even though it sounds counterintuitive). For me, it's a constant battle to stay hydrated 
Hi Bryonny, I'm with Bob on dehydration. It is certainly one of my biggest triggers.
BobDVolunteer
Out of interest Dr Hillary Jones was interviewed on Radio 2 yesterday and in addition to all the above commented that if you haven't been for a P in 2 hours you are dehydrated. I recall a few years ago at a race in Monza with ambient about 32 degrees I suddenly realised about 4pm I hadn't been since breakfast time. None of our little team had! Headaches, slow reactions and some other odd things were noticed so next day we made sure we had several crates of bottled water and always carried one from which we sipped. Still didn't P much but at least we were all compus mentus.
With my post prostatectomy bladder I struggle sometimes to drink enough but it is SO important.
Bob
Dear Bob, thank you, just goes to reinforce how important being properly hydrated is. I am surprised no health care professional ever mentioned to me about dehydration and impact on AF, so thank goodness for this forum. As an aside, my father was admitted to hospital with dehydration which was also main cause for his developing a urinary tract infection. He now listens to my nagging and I have bought him a jug and set things out so he knows how much he drinks during the day!
Hot weather is draining, especially when you are suddenly exposed to it. This is normal, even for people who like hot weather and are used to it. People who live in hot climates adjust their lifestyle and basically do less, and plan their pauses. I have just walked 2km in the full noon sun of 35C and felt invigorated! But a month ago that would have been a challenge. You are more likely to suffer if you are not fit, and the way to adjust is I am afraid, exercise in the heat. So, relax, keep hydrated.
As for when to drink. The experts I have read say that if you feel thirsty you are already late. You have to consciously choose to drink before the feelings start. Also, beware the dry heat -- you will not notice any sweating, you will feel more comfortable, and not notice you are dehydrated. Similarly, the easiest way with air conditioners to feel more comfortable is to set it in dehumidify mode.
Thank you for you. I carry water with me all the time and keep drinking while I am out and about. I think working and travelling in the heat isn't great, but no choice there and no air conditioning. I have developed a viral infection so maybe that is another factor that me feel unwell?
Sure, a viral infection will make things worse! Another experienced doctor told me that when it is hot, the trick is to treat the symptoms and give in quicker. Do not just plod on. Your recovery time will then be much quicker.
Incidentally, rehydration salts can be improvised. A bit of salt and sugar. Google it. Personally I like to take some lime flavoured lemonade and dilute it 80-90%. If nothing else, the flavour gives me the desire to drink. I have also diluted CocaCola that way, and love it, but don't tell the company or they will lose all their profits if my version takes on (or maybe I should say "takes off"..)!!
Dear ILowe, I would go for it with your version of drink - you never know! I think I am just not coping as well with the heat as I used to and some friends have remarked on how unwell they have felt and they don't have AF. I am quite concerned about the impact the hot weather may continue to have on me travelling and at work. My job can be quite physical and we don't have any air conditioning! I don't want to make a fuss but wonder if I need to discuss changing what I do when this hot, problem is its not that easy as affects others in the team and plans are made in advance to fit in with schedule of other work!
You say, Your job can be quite physical. In some ways that is good, since it is muscular effort in the heat that leads to acclimatisation. But, the effort can take it out of you. You are therefore into damage control mode. You probably need to cut back on what you do outside work until you adjust. I am doing a day's work in around 33C, but that is because the temperatures have been that way for over a month and I quite like it. I have experienced several weeks at a time of much worse. Any breeze is a help. In the great fantastic summer of 1976, I had to work outside all day. We learned to take frequent short pauses, and to rest well at night. By the end of the summer we wondered what the problem had been. Probably you are all feeling it, so an open discussion of how best you can all cope and all meet the targets would be a help.
Dear ILowe, thank you for sharing your experience. I need to talk with my colleagues how we plan our work schedule for the rest of the summer. Next year we move to a new building where hopefully there will be air conditioning. I am also counting down until I retire in two years - I don't want to wish my life away but looking forward to being able to better pace what I do, although I have so many interests outside of work I might end up being even busier!
One more thing. I have actually found that warm/hot weather helps my heart. My heart problems always go down in the summer, and that is not just because of holidays! My summers can be stressful. Cold is a killer for muscles and joints, and therefore the heart and circulation. Others may have a different viewpoint.
I'm in agreement with the cause being dehydration. Plain water won't rehydrate you as well as one with added electrolytes.
Hard water is better for you (but not your washing machine or shower screen) than soft so if in a soft water area you will deplete in calcium and magnesium faster by drinking plain water.
I was also very affected on Wednesday afternoon as it reached 35*C here in North London. No extra ectopics though, just completely lethargic. It was still 33*C here at 8pm.
Thank goodness it was only for one day.
Pat
Just found this;
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Dear Pat, thank you for your reply. Hope no more days as hot as last week!
Hi everyone! I live in a part of Australia where the temperatures can be extreme in both summer and winter. In our area we can reach temps of 42-43c in summer. As I have AF etc i take special care to stay hydrated. I avoid being outside from around 10am (temp can already be 35c) until 7pm. I live in a very dry climate with little or no humidity. We luckily have air-conditioned everything here so that makes it easy to do shopping and attend medical appointments etc.
I think the above comments on hydration are great especially taking note of the PH level of the water we drink. It is believed by some experts that unbalanced levels of PH in the body for extended periods of time can be a precursor to some diseases.
So my suggestion is avoid the outdoors when temperature exceeds comfort level and drink water that has correct PH level.
By the way here in my home town it was -2c this morning......our winter!
May everyone have an awesome day!
Barry
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