Great tip from cardiologist registra

[lingooz]

Morning, had to share this!! never seen anyone post this! A young cardiologist registra showed me a breathing technique for when you get an episode ( and for me in bed last night it really worked) it's hard to describe without showing but will do my best 😀. You take huge breath in holding air in your full cheeks then let it out very slowly, so slow it makes you make a sort of sqeeky put put sound as it releases (told you hard to explain 😳😊 my heart was thumping so hard and irregular it frightened me!! But I sat up in bed and after doing this three times. GONE!!! Really hope this helps when you do it good luck 🍀

[Hidden]

This sounds like the valsalva manoeuvre which does work for some but has never worked for me. Hopefully some forumites who are unaware of this might try it!

Sandra

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

That's the one Yatsura Thanks. Brain not in gear yet today. Never stopped my AF but does tachycardia.

[lingooz in reply to Hidden]

Just checkedcout valsalva on utube (not that one) wish I could show you 😀

[Hidden in reply to lingooz]

Probably one of the variations of the valsalva which are used.

[BobD Volunteer]

Sounds familiar to the technique often used to stop tachycardia except that with that one you don't let the air out you just push hard. It has a name but I can't recall it.

[jeanjeannie50]

Sounds like the one I know where you blow out for as long as you possibly can and then continue a bit more. Paramedics tried it on me many years ago when they came to my house. I had to breathe in then blow into part of a syringe for as long as I possibly could. This does sometimes work for me, but again the valsalva manoeuvre can sometimes work too.

It's good that you posted your experience though as it's always heartening to hear of a manoeuvre that's been successful and it's so useful for new people to this site.

If anyone else has anything they do that sometimes halts AF then perhaps they will share it on here. It does no harm to recap on procedures from time to time and is important for new members on this site to be aware of.

Thank you for posting.

Jean

[Finvola]

Thank you for that advice - I've added to my list of things to try. I agree with Jean, if it can possibly help without harm, it's worth doing.

[lingooz in reply to Finvola]

👍

[Kodaska]

I have a friend who is a cardiac care nurse. She tells her a-fib patients to push - like having a baby or straining at stool. She says it sometimes sends the a-fib into remission. The reason has to do with the vagus nerve - it can both start and stop a-fib. Unfortunately it isn't reliable.

[stix]

My second to last visit to A&E I was laying on trolley talking to doctor on my right hand side while a nurse was inserting needle for cannula, and she hit a nerve that sent a fierce sharp pain up and down my arm. End result was the shock stopped my AF and i went back to NSR instantly.

So saved me any drug use on that occasion, and maybe this shock treatment may be common.

Is this the reason they tell you to cough ? sudden cough causes the same thing and the blowing Technic the same?

[Hidden in reply to stix]

An ambulance medic told me coughing sends an electrical pulse to the heart.

[Mazza23]

I went nit AF while having an Echo and the dr doing it told me to take a deep breath and bear down like having a baby it worked

[PALady]

I discovered the ' deep breath in through the nose, slow blow out through pursed lips' technique almost by accident. Not sure if it would work for a serious AF episode, but certainly has helped me when my heart is a bit jumpy at bedtime. I usually settle enough to fall asleep.

[Hidden]

A drink of ice water could also help. Did when I used have SVT episodes. Haven't had one since leaving my job in the NHS nearly ten years ago.

Even though we are not happy with hubbies AF diagnosis, I used to have SVT'S regularly, was put on to Flecanide, made the problem worse. One night had an episode, got myself into work and of course knew I would have one of my Junior doctors attending me I was also worried about the med students we had on placement would wander in and find me hooked up to a drip and getting prepped for the Adenosine ride. I needed a bed pan, then my stupid sense of humour kicked in, after being like this for nearly two hours, pulse around 240 getting more tired and feeling ill, I imagined myself perched on the bedpan, students walk in to observe procedure and I striated to laugh, the junior doctor and Registrar watched as sinus rhythm returned and stayed that way for an hour. In that case it was laughter is the best medicine.

So try Vagal stimulation, ice water and laughter.