Is being overweight a contributing factor to experiencing ectopic beats?

[Skunizzi]

I am very serious about the relationship between being overweight from experiencing a ectopic beats.

I would be very curious to know how many people here with ectopic beats consider themselves to be overweight?

I myself am 225 pounds. I consider this weight to be at least 35lbs too much for my height and build.

I feel that losing weight could be beneficial overall but may also help with my current ectopic beats.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!

[CDreamer]

I think there is a well researched link between overweight and AF, along with other diseases.

Trouble is I am finding it very, very hard to lose weight now I am older and on medications which have contributed to weight gain, even though I probably eat half the amount of food I did 3-4 years ago and am big into nutrition and eat as well as I can. I am nearly 3 stones heavier than I was 10 years ago and I would love to lose at least 2 stones of that (28lbs).

The current nutritional advice is one third of your plate to be protein/fats (unsaturated), 65% greens & 5% carbs. Trouble is most people tend to have all those percentages the wrong way around!

I don't think it is all about weight per se though, I think you can be overweight and undernourished and current research into micronutrients is showing some very interesting stuff.

[Hidden]

Oh yes. I lost four stone and my AF noticeably improved. Unfortunately I've put a bit of weight back on (hubby isn't keen on the thinner me and buys cupcakes and stuff). So I am getting more ectopic beats. Sigh. Anyone want me to parcel up cupcakes and other treats for them?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

please!

[Mejulie69]

I'm underweight and have lots of ectopics when not in AF. Sometime more ectopics than normal beats! I have a slight theory that eating loads of processed sugar causes me more ectopics, but to be honest, like AF itself, I think that ectopics come and go at random.

[Mike11]

I think we all get etopics. My weight goes from under- to over-, much to the displeasure of my nurse, purely depending on the time of year and I haven't noticed any difference in their frequency.

[BobD Volunteer]

Excess weight puts an unnecessary strain on the heart so will exacerbate any condition. 35 lbs is a huge weight when you consider that is about half the weight carried by special forces in training and about half the max weight allowed for a single lift parcel. I know how I puff when carrying a couple of heavy bags of shopping!

Ectopics alone are not considered dangerous but can be a signal of future problems so best deal with things as best you can now. If you search Ectopics top right you will find some useful information including a deep slow breathing technique which many of us find useful.

[Davebe]

I'm at the same weight as when I left the army in 1978. Since then I have been a fireman. I have had ectopics for about 7 years, so I'd say it's not exactly related. I'm neither overweight nor obese. Dave