It looks like Munich's out this year!

[RobertELee]

For what it's worth.....

telegraph.co.uk/science/201...

[jennydog]

I wonder how many of us have been questioned about our alcohol intake? Neither Cardiologists or EPs have ever raised it with me. In actual fact I do not drink alcohol at all because I don't like it.

I am currently experimenting with the effects of "sugar rush" on my AF. Lidl sell a wonderfully rich chocolate cake which may be triggering episodes - or is it coincidental? We shall see.

[Hidden in reply to jennydog]

I'm always asked about my alcohol Intake!! I can truthfully say that it probably equates to about half a bottle of wine a year even though socially I'm surrounded by ' drinkers '( I'll leave it at that!!)

Sandra

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to jennydog]

Jenny, if I eat cake it's more often than not a trigger for me to have AF. I can feel my heart speeding up a short time after eating it, so that's another treat from my life gone! Did manage a bit of fruit cake a few days ago with no effects.

Jean

[meadfoot]

Yes I saw the German doctor on Spanish tv talking about it this morning. There was a British GP also who said arrhythmia can cause stroke etc as we know, then I was amazed when she said arrhythmia may require meds and, wait for it, you might need an ablation and that's where they shock your heart back into rhythm, really !!

All the cardiac experts we have in Britain and they recruit a GP with poor arrhythmia knowledge, makes you wonder. BBC breakfast take note please.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to meadfoot]

Oh my gosh, doesn't sound like that GP knows a lot!

[jeanjeannie50]

Drink is certainly a trigger for me. I can usually get away with having just one.

As if having AF isn't bad enough, we also have to give up on some lifetime eating and drinking pleasures. Bah!!!

Jean

[CaroleF]

No binging for me then! More seriously: I too have always been asked about alcohol consumption, but have never been told/advised not to drink at all. I drink no more than 1 bottle of red wine about every 10 days and never more than a small glass at a time. Neither alcohol, nor cake, seem to be a trigger for me.

PS Can't believe that a GP seems to think that cardioversion and ablation are one and the same. The mind boggles!

[Bernie13 in reply to CaroleF]

Hi Carole,

I watched that as well. I was shocked that she said that too, perhaps they need a member from AF to enlighten the public !!!

[Buffafly in reply to CaroleF]

Probably my ex GP!

[Pikaia]

I'm really confused by all this, and by the variability in AF triggers and symptoms we all face. I'm missing alcohol and coffee, but I'm still partaking in both occasionally, and even then only the odd pint, bookended by pints of water and furtive glances at my fitbit to monitor my heart rate.

I guess AF means our hearts are far more sensitive to any perturbation, be it the stimulating effects of alcohol, caffeine, sugar or simply too much of a good thing! It's like walking on eggshells sometimes, but I hope I can carefully 'retrain' my heart to withstand all these things and exercise a little better, so AF has less of an impact on my life.

[Hidden]

I was always asked about my alcohol intake when I drank. I was also told by a doctor friend that doctors will usually double whatever the patient tells them, so I used to halve it first 😃.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

So true they have been known to double it