Heaviness in chest

[helpwithhealth1]

Hi,

I'm new to this site, having just been diagnosed with Afib a few days ago. I've been experiencing a heaviness in my chest when walking only a short distance...also difficulty breathing while moving. I assuming this is typical with Afib, and hope it will subside over time. I'm being treated with Atenolol (100 mg), and Xarolta (20 mg ) at the moment. Any advice for dealing with the shortness of breath? Thank you.

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome to our forum.

Are you in the UK ? If so I would recommend you phone 111 for advice particularly regarding your chest discomfort or phone doctor for advice . It's possible that Atenolol could be causing this but we are not medically qualified on this site ( mostly anyhow ) to say one way or the other. I can only say what I would do.

Regards

Sandra

[jeanjeannie50]

Hmm, I would say that heaviness in chest should always be checked out ASAP by your doctor. I've never had heaviness in my chest and I've had AF for 12 years. If I did I can tell you I'd be off to A&E. It may be that your Atenolol is taking your heart rate or BP down too far. I'm not medically trained of course so only speaking from my experience. I would seek some medical advice.

Jean

[helpwithhealth1]

Thank you for your replies! I'm still making adjustments to my newly diagnosed condition. It's great to be connected to other People who understand life with Afib!

[Hidden]

Hi helpwith .....,

No surprises there then, you are at the start of a long journey, but fear not your sorta symptoms you describe are fairly common, especially at the beginning.

When I was first diagnosed aged 65 in Jan 2010, I experienced shortness of breath and fatigue and in fact in those days it would take me some 30 minutes along fairly flat ground to walk a distance I can now do in 10 minutes. In those 30 minutes I was frequently stopping to get my breath.

I no longer experience AF but when I did I always knew because (apart from many other tell tale signs the most significant one was my chest felt heavy breathing, very heavy ! When I was AF free my chest was as light as a feather.

Nowadays I can take my camera outalong the Cornish South West Coastal path with its rugged terrain and gradiant variations and its no problem.

I would add that I am on a beta blocker, Bisoprolol (amongst other lollies) - 5 mg daily and as far as I know Atenolol is also of the beta blocker family of drugs. My understanding is that they are a powerful drug aimed at controlling the heart rate, BUT your GP, Consultant or even your Chemist would be able to more accurately comment and advise.

John

[helpwithhealth1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Carneuny for taking the time to respond to my inquiry. I'm happy that your condition has improved and you're heavy chest feeling and breathlessness has gone away over time. I'm hoping that I'll experience the same good results with proper management of this disorder. Best wishes to you.

[Redhead1949]

Hi! I have been taking Atenolol for about 7 years now, 100 MG. It never gave me a problem. I did have a shortness of breath episode in May. I assumed it was because of the AFib I have. But the doctors in the ER said they thought it was from asthma!??? I hadn't had asthma for 40 years. They said it could come back. In the meantime, their heart doctor said I was now in permanent AFib and needed to be on a blood thinner. Before this, I was only taking one aspirin a day. They said studies had found it was better to be on a blood thinner and not aspirin. I would have more of a chance of having a stroke. So now I go home being on Warfarin/Coumadin blood thinner. I now have shortness of breath all the time. In the pharmacy brochure they give you, it said Warfarin can absorb into the bloodstream and can also absorb into your lungs! I called my regular doctor and told him I thought the sh or br was being caused by the Warfarin, but he didn't believe me. So now I have to take my nebulizer treatment in the morning and at night. If you 'Google' Xarelto and shortness of breath, you will come across many articles that talk about just that. So don't blame it on the Atenolol right away, it could be Xarelto. When I first started on warfarin, I felt real sick like coming down with the flu, but the brochure said that should go away in time. After about 2 months, those symptons did go away. You might have to give XA more time, to see if side effects go away. Good luck in your journey.

[helpwithhealth1 in reply to Redhead1949]

Thank you for your insights. Be well.