Do most just accept AF as something that is a genetic preset or the imminent result of age or poor health practices, ie. diet and exercise?
or
Does anyone wonder how did we get here, what was it in the time sequence that resulted in you having an out of rhythm heart?
Hi again Tom 
you say ..''Does anyone wonder how did we get here'',
I am sure you can't be the first to wonder that.
I have stopped wondering, it is rather irrelevant now as I am here.
AF needs a pre-disposition which can be genetic or acquired. Age tends to increase pre-disposition.
There are some known causes of AF such as over exercise in endurance athletes and fighter pilots due to the strain placed on the heart and there are some other things like binge drinking in the young and long term use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen which have been linked to the onset of AF. Once you have it you will get it and triggers become unimportant although many strive to discover them. In some people but not all, the vagus nerve can play a part .
Remember that treatment of AF is less than 25 years old so new science.
Go to AF Association website and read all you can.
I have been on various AF boards and other mens health boards for many years. I am not going to make any assertions or make any claims, it has less to do with monetizing and more to do with my love for research.
I love ushering in new knowledge and compiling existing into new combinations of applications. It is akin to puzzle solving, you can't just place one piece.
I will not make any claims or even present my findings or anything until I have concurrence from the two MD's that oversight me. I will also run it by the moderators first. I hope to have some conclusions by mid 2018.
At minimum, I expect what I am developing will increase NSR sustainment post ablation significantly and may be enough to convert some and others with CV assistance.
Early on when the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) first started to ablate, I met with Dr. Natale, who I think is now somewhere in Texas. He spent a fair amount of time with me.
What always struck me as obvious was all these people attempting cardioversions without changing any of their variables, nutrition, exercise, weight, inflammatory markers, etc. Yet they expected a sustained outcome. That always struck me as odd.
Who really wants scare tissue all over their heart? I still hold that we do not do enough pre op preparation and post op diligence that will better probability of NSR. More later.
Interesting & look forward to hearing more in due course, if you can share it.
What has struck me as odd on this Forum is that people seem to favour procedures first and if they don't work, look at all the things (diet, supplements, lifestyle changes) they can influence second. I put this down to wanting a quick solution to fit in with their busy life, irrespective of the risks.
For me an ablation is only there if everything else doesn't work. I was thankfully stabilised with flecainide and have spent the last 3+ years working hard gaining and implementing knowledge on all 'contributory factors' with my lifestyle, body (e.g. dental work), supplements & diet. I am currently working on the last issue, better sleep, before I start reducing the Flecainide very slowly, particularly the first part from 200mgs/day to 100mgs/day.
On the spiritual side, I have also benefitted from AF which 'forced' me into more prayer resulting in great comfort, less anxiety and a new kick out of doing things for others.
One of the big links I looked at was inflammatory markers. I developed Ulcerative Colitis in my early 20's, controlled by diet.
I can feel inflammation in my body and have used all sorts of techniques to reduce it. 2014 I was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis which is a neuro-muscular condition - and auto-immune. I also had Autonomic Dysfunction. Connecting all this together AF was pretty inevitable. I am currently on a heavy dose of immune suppressants and
I have been following a nutritional protocol for the last few months, after full GI analysis and practiced vagal toning exercises and it seems to have helped both AF and Mg. June I was having vagal AF every other day, I haven't had an episode now for about 6 weeks.
For me improving gut health through personal nutrition seems to have been the deciding factor.
Please PM me if you would like to share information.
PS - ablation worked for me and although I still have AF - it is much, much less symptomatic.
Not everyone will respond to lifestyle changes - I did all that before ablation - and I think the long term effects of the meds are going to be far more detrimental to a one off procedure. Personal opinion of course.
What I agree with is that there is not enough emphasis is on lifestyle changes and help and support for that as a first option - and I don't know why not? Surely it is the most cost effective method?
What is often overlook is that cortisol will reroute to address inflammation in the GI and the reserves for fight or flight are depleted taxing the entire HTPA axis.
This taxation hammers the adrenals.
Cool out the GI, I estimate a large percentage of our overall health is gut related. Tons of CB2 and opiate receptors.
I am convinced that my AF was the result of overdosing on artificial sweeteners. I had them in all of my drinks as a sweetener, chewing gum, so called healthy yogurts etc. The penny finally dropped when I realised most of my attacks happened after consuming them.
It's also been noted that quite a few of us on here have been involved in high levels of exercise.
Jean
Not me 🛋 🍪
That's interesting Jean! It was suggested to me that taking Thyroxin (under active Thyroid) could have played a part........certainly not over exercise for me!
i take more exercise now in the form of walking mostly and easy aerobics, than I ever did in the past!
I think it's when you do extreme exercise over a long period than can trigger the heart into AF, I used to cycle, ride, do long distance walking, cross country running and swim (train) at least twice a week. Oh the energy I used to have!!!!
I've just been diagnosed hypothyroid and am taking thyroxin too, am cross and think just my luck to get rid of one thing (AF) and then get something else! My thyroid was damaged by taking Amiodarone a few years ago and my surgery had been keeping an eye on my levels. Have you been on the Thyroid UK site on Health Unlocked?
I'm hoping that if my thyroid is sorted I may turn into wonder woman and get lots of energy again.
Jean
For me it was probably instigated chronologically by playing in a band, all-night disco, work stress, then 30 years or so of endurance cardiovascular work. In my early 60s I loved flat out Spin classes to loud dance music. Some of that caused partial deafness and tinnitus but I still enjoy a good live rock band and, my gym sessions are not complete without headphones and an assortment of dance tracks.
Although I lead as near to a healthy lifestyle as I can maintain, I could change everything I do and eat but it would make no difference - in my case. This view is totally supported by my Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist. The AF is genetic.
genetic presets activated by declines in a number of variants to include without limitation hormones, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, amino, co-factors
you would be surprised what targeted micro-nutrient infusions can do.
my 81 year old mother slipped off, dementia. I brought her back with NAD nasal spray 3 times a day and micro-nutrient infusions that target deficiencies identified via spectral and organic acid testing. supplementing blindly is ignorance in motion.
I spent a long time after diagnosis looking for causes and Bob told me it was the road to madness. Eventually, I found myself on that road and decided to focus on 'what is' and how to cope with it.
Along the way I found a few triggers, which vary by the week, and a few things that really help - exercise, meditation, relaxation, slow breathing, yoga, diet and lifestyle changes.
The thing is that everything is linked to everything else so I doubt very much that there will ever be one cause for all.
A few known causal links - Sleep Apnea, underlying conditions especially thyroid, poor lifestyle choices, binge drinking, endurance atheletes, jet fighter pilots, being overweight, being a couch potatoe are a few - oh - and taking NSAIDs.
You would be surprised, but that is not for now. If you follow y postings you will start to see the fragments. As part of an overarching protocol I am convinced either auto convert to NSR or increasing sustain cardioversion time and also heavily influence post ablation sustainment and recovery
Can someone help me with the jargon please eg NSAIDs, NSR, etc so's I can understand the comments. I'm new to this. Many thanks
I believe I have a genetic predisposition to afib. But that doesn't answer why I, or other members of my family started with the symptoms when they did. We all had fairly different lifestyles regarding weight, exercise and diet but what does correlate with initiation was the menopause and for myself when my children were babies but as the is any research into the link with hormones that's where my research ended. I spent the next 6 months trying to find triggers, if I lie down after eating out or I drink a crushed ice drink through a straw. I've cut both those out and don't lie down till 4 hrs after eating at night. The result my episodes were still as frequent but were shorter from around 12hrs to 6hrs. I have no other triggers that I've found but have now accepted I have afib and am concentrating on exercise and a lothealthy diet to keep other comorbidities developing to the minimum. I'm trying to not think about it daily, that's the hardest thing and I haven't succeeded yet but at least that pushes me to maintain my lifestyles changes. I do believe trying to identify causes for the various types of afib is as important as developing better treatment as this will lead to better treatment and potentially a cure or prevention for future generations.
GH, Testosterone for me. ENOS boosting, Vagal tampering and GI health combined with mitochondria restoration. We loose 2% of our overall hormonal output a year as men.
1:200 people have hemochromatosis, iron overload. Women will all of a sudden start to experience this disorder post meno due to the lack of bleeding. Bam oxidative stress soars, inflammation goes on high burn and they have no clue.
This is just one example of many. The case studies are out there on this and I just helped a friend who had a ferritin over 900. No one would treat her.
What do you think happens when cardiac myocytes are inflamed? What do you think happens when unbound iron is deposited in the heart lining? Do you think that maybe the conduction of an electro-chemical firing of the nodes and bundle distribution might be influenced by depositive iron? Go run a T2* on your heart at an MRI center that can run it. Side echo and turbo modes plus whatever else they want to run. Contrast not needed.
Now ask yourself about EMF and RF signalling in concert with iron deposition. It is not such a conspiracy afterall is it?
It is also not a conspiracy that we have iron shavings that are not available that kill off beta cell function in our FDA enrichment and fortification programs. I did the research on the guy in the vid. Dr. Levy is a cardiologist.
I'd appreciate it if you could you say a little more about "vagal toning exercises" CDreamer ?
I posted this a few days ago which is a brief overview
theheartysoul.com/6-ways-to...
Also look at kindle book - Heal your Vagus Nerve.
What has worked for me is cold showers, breathing exercises, humming or chanting, I also use a power breather recommended by physio.
Am I a Philistine? I have got it and I am incredibly fortunate that my episodes are very few and far between and controlled with meds. I have learnt so much about what is important to me and what is not, that I think AF did me a huge favour by introducing me to Mindfulness, relaxation, meditation and a large pinch of selfishness. I did not understand the word NO until AF gave me the opportunity to take stock. So no, I'm not interested on a personal level as to why I have AF just pleased about what I have learnt from the experience.
Hi Bagrat I agree and look upon my AF as a warning, a second chance and the opportunity to change some things myself before it is too late.
Respectfully, if betterment is not an interest, then why are you here participating in this forum? AF and the stroke was a huge wake up for me as well. We all process differently and I respect your take it as it comes outlook. I am just of a different ilk and have never just gone with the flow. Be well.
Having AF has been of immense benefit to me tombeaux . I don't see how my response or that of doodle68 implies we are not in pursuit of betterment. I have reduced alcohol to one or two glasses of something a week. No sweeteners, reduced caffeine intake, and the other contingencies I mentioned. As BobD has said in different ways, on occasions looking for answers /triggers can be counterproductive.Ruminating over things I can't change, I have never found helpful. I find statistical information fascinating from the point of view of the powers that be planning health care needs. I do NOT find it helpful on an individual basis as I can be as optimistic as I like when choosing where I MIGHT be on a bell curve!! As a retired health care professional I read lots of research papers and have said many times on here that recognising what is good or bad research is an art form to which I have never aspired. Thank the Lord we are all different and manage our medical issues the best way we know how, with the help of like minded doctors.
My experience with doctors has lack luster with a few exceptions. The current state of health networks with contracts that require quotas of 20-40 patients a day challenges the notion of quality of care. When you find a good one, hang on for all you got. If the oath was a required standard we would be in grave trouble.
Quote = Tombeaux ''Respectfully, if betterment is not an interest, then why are you here participating in this forum? AF and the stroke was a huge wake up for me as well. We all process differently and I respect your take it as it comes outlook. I am just of a different ilk and have never just gone with the flow. Be well.''
Tom I am not sure who your question is aimed at myself or Bagrat .
Who said 'betterment is not an interest'...?
The reason I am participating in this forum is for mutual support , to share in the experience of others who have the same condition as myself and to learn from them .
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