Cold weather and AF

[Pacemaker1000]

Anybody else find the cold a trigger for AF?

[Finvola]

My AF is suppressed by Flecainide but I find a cold wind makes my heart jump about a bit. I think it may be caused by shallow breathing in my case. Hope that is of some help.

[Hidden]

I do find that really cold weather, particularly if windy , can cause palpitations.

[Pacemaker1000 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

I got moved to an outside position in work after 37 years inside and coping. Only to have 2 attacks in a week with the second requiring an ambulance.

I know everyone has different triggers but it looks like this is one for me. Are there any medical facts to back this up?

[Finvola in reply to Pacemaker1000]

I found this reference to the cold and heart disease - it may not apply to you, but it's somewhere to start searching.

heart.org/HEARTORG/General/...

[Alan_G]

It happens to me sometimes. If I go out into the cold from a warm house I feel like AF may be somewhere on the horizon. I might even get the odd ectopic beat or two. I solve it by relaxing and deep breathing. I've put it down to the body reacting to the drop in temperature, possibly through the vagus nerve as that's where I think my AF stems from based on cold sugary drinks, late meals at night, etc.

[Noodles14]

I have not had a diagnosis of AF (I'm awaiting a 24 hour monitor) but my very worst episodes of whatever is happening to my heart have been breathing in cold air while my body is warm. (In my case, wrapped up warm in a sleeping bag in a freezing cold tent!)