Cycling/walking...what about swimming? - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Cycling/walking...what about swimming?

Wightbaby profile image
15 Replies

Hi everybody

A lot of you on here seem to enjoy walking and/or cycling as I do, as far as your AF allows. What about swimming?

We are off to the Med next week and I would really like a dip in the warm sea!!!........nothing strenous and certainly wouldn't consider diving in!! However, i am sure in the past, I read somewhere that the water causes pressure, which can be a problem if you have AF??

I am in persistent by the way.

Thanks

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Wightbaby profile image
Wightbaby
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15 Replies

I hadn't heard that, I'm just wishing you could pack me in your suitcase... Have a wonderful time! I can't imagine that a bit of light splashing in the sea would be harmful, it's not like you're planning to dive to the bottom of the Marianas trench or anything :D so the pressure should be minimal. Less than if you sleep on your stomach, which I have been known to do! Take care and have fun...

in reply to

I take flecainide bisporolol and pradaxa I swim three times a week two 15 mins after 45 gym work and one 30 min swim I fully intend to swim in sea and pool on Hol. Be guided by your body don't go alone or in deep water enjoy . If concerned run past your surgery

Beancounter profile image
BeancounterVolunteer in reply to

Now I am intrigued eatsalottie, I always sleep on my stomach hardly ever on my back but more sort of in the recovery position, one leg bent usually and head half on and half off the pillow. I am told I snore less since I have done this.

And no back problems I am aware of, knees yes, but not back

Be well

Ian

in reply to Beancounter

I am a really light, restless sleeper with a bad knee, and sometimes I just twizzle around for ages trying to find a position where I will actually go to sleep... I drive the other half mad! I find my heart doesn't mind me lying on my stomach, weirdly, whereas if I lie on my left side it gets grumpy!

Mrspat profile image
Mrspat in reply to Beancounter

Me too!

JackyMac profile image
JackyMac in reply to

Hidden . You'll only get body pressure changes if you dive. Stay on the surface and enjoy. I managed 10 lengths of the pool last week in the slow lane and have had a couple of sea dips (only when a friend is there though!) Happy holiday.

Mrspat profile image
Mrspat

I have swum 500 metres 3 times a week for 18 years, before I had AF and after I developed it. It has made absolutely no difference one way or the other and my cardiologist is in favour of me continuing.

MarkS profile image
MarkS

I've dived with AF down to about 20m with no problems, so I would suggest go and enjoy yourself. Exercise is very important for AF-ers.

Japaholic profile image
Japaholic

You'll need to be like 10m deep to have it affect you, I'm a former suba diver so know a bit about it. Surface pressure shouldn't affect you. I'm a successful Ablatee but swan before, during and after and with AF.

In fact my Drs all encouraged swimming

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Swimming is the best sort of exercise as it covers the 3 S's - strength, suppleness & stamina. I swam and scuba dived with PAF - never a problem sea or pool. It is the only exercise I feel comfortable doing these days, but was always a water baby. Have fun and enjoy the water.

I am about to take Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment, oxygen delivered under pressure in decompression chamber for my Mg but from the literature, note it has also had some success with treating arrythmia, they seldom go beyond a pressure of 3m so I think you will be perfectly safe!

The shock of diving into or accidentally entering cold water could be a problem, whether or not you have PAF but the med is relatively warm and I have swam there daily throughout the year with no problems experienced.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

I am sorry but I don't understand the relevance of your post to the question or the link you posted to AF?

sapphy profile image
sapphy

I swim 3 times a week for 45 minutes at a time. If I go beyond the 45 minutes I start having problems, not sure if thats the AF or my fitness levels though.

ILowe profile image
ILowe

Depends on your swimming pool. Where I used to swim, I could very easily get myself into a situation where I kept bumping into people, having to turn round and do another length because the side was too crowded etc, and this meant that sometimes I was in overdrive. Gasping for breath, very tired out, forced to do more. These conditions are unacceptable for someone who has had AF. In another pool, calmer, I did not hesitate to do a workout, but, again, pausing before I hit my limit.

Wightbaby profile image
Wightbaby

Thanks everybody for your useful replies...I have one other question but will put that on later in week....don't want to be greedy and take up too much space on the Forum!

: )

Emsysy profile image
Emsysy

Jump in with both feet, I say !

Seriously, you shouldn't have any problem. Exercise is good. Even with AF we must keep the heart working well and swimming is one of the best forms of exercise.

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