ICY WATER and your FACE

[adriatico]

I never understood the advice to submerge face into icy water when under AF episode. This morning, my friend (nurse) mentioned this if I felt rapid heart rate and AF attack. His explanation was something called "Mammalian Diving Reflex".

I checked Wikipedia and voila:

"Bradycardia is the first response to submersion. Immediately upon facial contact with cold water, the human heart rate slows down ten to twenty-five percent."

I just wanted to share this with you in case some you didn't know this interesting cause and effect.

[Hidden]

Very interesting.

Wiki says "The mammalian diving reflex is a reflex in mammals which optimises respiration to allow staying underwater for extended periods of time."

[jeanjeannie50]

That's interesting will give this a go at some stage.

Jean

[Hidden]

I tried it, but maybe the water wasn't cold enough... Maybe I should go swimming!

[LindaDaisy]

I'll try that next time. A paramedic suggested drinking iced water. Now I keep a bottle of water in the fridge. Sometimes (not always) drinking as much as I can, as quickas I can will take me from fast AF to tachycardia, which I find easier to cope with. Sounds like it could be a related body response

[dmac4646]

have had it work with ice cold shower.

[seasider18]

Many years ago someone I worked with was told to do that or to drink some ice cold water if he didn't have a pill in his pocket. I'm not sure if he had ectopics or AF.

[Boombiddy]

W-woww! Thanks!!!

[scotcitz]

I'll try it. Heck, I'd try just about anything to get out of it ... although I have to say the folk wisdom for bringing on labor (eat a curry, have sex) seemed a bit more fun ...

[jackmccready]

This is for SVT and unlikely to work for AF.

[iLondoner]

An video guide to the procedure during an SVT episode (ha!)

youtube.com/watch?v=OZ2F1Al...(Not working as expected?)

(Best not get ill in an American Emergency Room)

[Eliza2 in reply to iLondoner]

It was a TELEVISION drama series ER

[Moonriver]

Interesting. I read a report that when seals dive deep their hearts slow right down so cold water must affect the heart rate of humans too. I have tried drinking very cold water when my heart rate is up and it does slow down! Also if I am dehydrated my heart speeds up and drinking water brings it down.

[Hidden]

I wonder if a cold beer would work as well 🍺 😀

We need someone to sacrifice themselves and try it 😉

[adriatico in reply to Hidden]

It works the best but you have to dive into it.

[Chris147]

When paramedics came first time at home they asked me to suck ice cubes. Also to bare down! Recently ,I had drunk a cup of green tea peppermint flavour which I didn't realise thought it was just peppermint had fast heart had a bottle of iced water in the car sat relaxed consumed cold wafter and it subside. I think it works sometimes. I consumed much more water now than I have ever done. GREEN TEA IS CAFFEINE BASED. Chris

[Hidden]

Yes, I had heard this and anecdotally I have always splashed my face with cold water several times before retiring at night and strangely it makes me feel much better - I wonder if it is connected.

From what I have read here over the last 2 years plus my own limited experiences, I would say the trouble is with this is understanding your Vagus Nerve. Cold and very likely other physical actions can work not just one but both ways e.g. I put myself into AF a while back by downing just half a bottle of ice cold ginger beer. That said I am happy to put this on my list to try the next time I go into AF.

Enjoy your weekend!