Hello, I am in persistent AF and although occasionally short of breath I don't have any other problems. I can walk for a mile or two without having to stop to catch my breath.I used to run and exercise regularly and I would like to jog again but I'm worried that I might make the AF worse? Any advice would be grately appreciated?
Regards,John
Hi John. I can't really help as I don't jog for various reasons, one being that I've tripped over my own feet more than once, but I do walk when I have AF. After I'd slipped on ice four years ago and fractured my pelvis I acquired a treadmill. It's a nice steady way to get some exercise and at the end you know what you've done and you can stop when you want and don't have to get home. I usually do a word game at the same time.
It's probably worth speaking to your own cardiologist who will know if there's any underlying reasons for you not to exercise more. I have always been told to continue to exercise by various consultants. While in persistent AF I could cycle and walk good distances though I didn't run. You could look at the couch to 5k programmes which are a very gentle introduction to running and I think would soon find out if you could manage to run or not.
Exercise will be good for you. That couch to 5k routine is good. Maybe use a heart monitor watch to get an idea of your heart rate throughout
It didn't make it worse for me.
Like you, I had persistent AF. I continued to run as much as I did before. The AF reduced my speed considerably though and hills became much harder.
I was fortunate in that, other than the reduced cardio performance, I was pretty much asymptomatic. The running didn't change this at all.
I had a successful ablation 4.5 months ago and after a self imposed 2.5 month break, I'm back running again. Slowly my fitness is returning although I'm still a long way off where I was. My plan is to slowly increase my training and hopefully get back close to my pre AF level.
I have had persistent AF for over 20 years and have run some serious miles including several marathons, don't run now due to joint pains but cycle instead. I find exercise is good in many ways, it also aleviates any anxiety symptoms.
Hello,
I am nearly 78 and have been running for years. My first indication of af was when, 5 years ago, within 2 weeks I lost 10 mins on10k runs, although I hadn't realised at the time that af was the cause. After a long period in sinus following cardioversion, I am back in af, but still keep running 10ks, with no other symptoms than a slower time, not even breathlessness. Everyone says it is beneficial to continue exercising as long as possible, and this I intend to do. As far as I know running hasn't affected my af in any way, nor is likely to. I have queried the cardiologist closely about things like cardiac arrest, etc., while exercising and the answer has always been to carry on as these are unlikely. I am on a low dose of beta blockers to restrict my heart rate when exercising. I know everyone is different, but my advice would be to include very short spells of jogging on your walks, see how you feel, and if things seem OK then slowly build up again, treating it in the same way everyone should do when getting back into more strenuous exercise. I am sure you won't regret it.
It's great to hear from those of you that are/were in persistent AF and are doing well with exercise. I'm in persistent AF between cardioversions but have not been exercising I would like to - more of a mental barrier rather than physical one although I'm generally asymptomatic.
great inspiration!
Stuart
I play 7-Side 3 x a week lift weights in the gym and average 13-14000 steps a day i am down on performance by 20-30 per cent but its better then not doing sport at all because we have AF it does not mean we have to stop all the things you loved before you got this set back i am here for a good time when my numbers called i am ok with that because i have never stopped doing things i love
I have always exercised but AF floored me. However after many investigations it showed not all my problems were Af related. I am three years post cox maze procedure, open heart surgery to remove benign tumours from my heart. I take flecainide and bisoprolol and have a pacemaker which keeps me at 60 Bpm. It also takes me up to 125 should I need. I've been doing at least five days a week an hour a day at gym. Cardio, weights can row for an hour and swim for an hour and also circuit train for an hour. All with my cardiologist blessing of course. Some days off days but they happened before. I'm also 62 yr old nanny to three. Ask docs and if ok go do what you can
John, I have persistent AF. I used to exercise a lot at very intense levels. I had two ablation and can exercise now at moderate levels watching my hr to ensure I keep it low. This is also off the drugs. I now have taken up cycling. I also find if I take a beta blocker before I exercise this helps. Doc agreed with this approach. If I go too hard I find the ectopics return and sometimes go into AF. I then use pill in a pocket and this converts me back to nsr. All the advice I have received is that exercise is good.
After my first ablation whilst on the meds, ( flec and bisoprolol)I could exercise quite hard. Did a 60k ride.
I have also had to remind myself that I have lost 12 months of fitness and so getting used to starting again in effect. That had been hard. I couldn't cope if I couldn't do anything.
Finally a friend of my wife is doing full blown triathlons after his ablation. So there is hope.
All the best Jonty
AF tends to be progressive over the years. You will probably find that non-weight bearing exercise such as cycling, static bike and a Concept 2 rowing machine are easier to handle during AF than jogging / running. Brisk walking is a good alternative. Medical text books say that your power output drops by 30% during AF. I found that my body got used to AF and over the years and the power drop was 8 to 10% on a turbo trainer or rowing machine.
On the good side, my aerobic fitness helped me recover after COP and a stroke.
I haven't been in the gym since a stroke in July until today. Having cleared a return to the gym with my consultant neurologist who also monitors my AF, I was back on a Concept 2 rowing machine and then a static bike. My heart rate was soon 170 to 190, but it felt great to back in the gym.
Exercise or not 
Exercise
Exercise
Suggestions for Exercise? 
