Self cardioversion with elevated HR

[Mejulie69]

Again, not a new subject, but thought I'd post anyway.

As far as I know, I've only been in AF 3 times (all in the last 8 weeks).

On all 3 occasions, I have cardioverted thanks to a short burst of elevated HR.

First time I was on a short bike ride.

Second time was on the phone to a scammer claiming to be from HMRC, before I knew he was a scammer (my HR went very high!)

Third time was on a short bike ride (this morning).

I'm not sure if it always works for me, and I doubt it works for everyone, but for me it seems I convert if I get my HR up to about 150bpm.

It's not a pleasant feeling getting my HR up when in AF, but it's nice to be in NSR once again after 5 days of cursing my ECG machine.

[rosyG]

I would discuss this with your doctor as it seems a high rate to aim for!!

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes I used to try this years ago when I first had AF .(2004) My EP was horrified when I told him.

PLEASE speak with your doctor first.

[CDreamer]

When I am in AF my resting HR is usually 150+ so I wouldn't even try - this is not one for me! I can't exceed HR of 120 or I go into AF.

As Bob says I would check it out with your doctor first, the only person I know who died directly from AF was someone who ignored advice, continued to exercise and push themselves.

[Mejulie69]

Thanks all. Will check with EP when I see him - can't be long now. I have read multiple accounts of others who can self cardiovert with exercise. My resting HR when in AF varies from 40-70. Strange how different we all are. Makes me wonder if there are different types of AF going on.

[Bagrat]

Have you tried less challenging methods? Would certainly be dubious about pushing yourself to return to normal rhythm without advice from a physician. Putting wrists into very cold water. Drinking iced water sometimes work. These also induce AF in some people as does exercise. Have edited heavily as have just read some of your previous posts.

[KMRobbo]

I have had PAF for 2 years. I too was able to get back into sinus rhythm by exercise. If i had high HR, I went for a run. 8 to 10 minutes of running and my h r stabilized. I have a Garmin GPS with chest hr monitor belt, so I could tell my h r at any point. I must point out I am fairly asymptomatic when in AF. I only notice the irregular heartbeat for a few minutes when it first kicks in. Once my h r elevates to 130 to 170 plus I do not feel anything. I only know I have a high h r as the he monitor tells me!

Unfortunately my PAF appears to have developed and 2 months ago the af stopped responding to exercise . After a few nights in hospital over a week and a half, I had a flecainide infusion to restore sinus rhythm and am now on two flecainide tablets a day to maintain it. It was better for me when I could control it by excercise. However I am fit and healthy apart from the PAF. I always monitored by the Garmin hr monitor. For anyone who is fit the advantage of this is you are in control.

Also please note that I am aware via running blogs that some fit people go into AF through excercise. In fact I have seen it stated that older athletes develop AF though exessive exercise. So this will not work for everyone.

[jondeanp]

I tried to run when in AF, but when my HR touched 220 and I thought I was going to collapse I guessed it was probably best to avoid any running until I got back into rhythm.

I am back running again. Oddly when I exert now I rarely get above 150

[DERLIN]

I am new to this, so do not understand the shorthand "jargon" What is HR and NSR?

[doodle68 in reply to DERLIN]

Hi Derlin ..

HR=heart rate

NSR= normal sinus rhythm

[doodle68]

Hi Mejulie you say....

[quote = ''I'm not sure if it always works for me, and I doubt it works for everyone, but for me it seems I convert if I get my HR up to about 150bpm'']

When in PAF my HR frequently exceeds that reaching 166/180bpm while resting and I can hardly walk or breath . If when calculating maximum HR we use the recognised calculation of 220 - age, my maximum is 152 so AF has already taken me above my limits.

I would be worried if I tried to push my HR any further that I would have some kind of unwanted 'event'.

What I am trying to say is I think it is wise to take care when trying extreme measures to get back to NSR.

[Mercurius in reply to doodle68]

This will be the difference. Bradycard, well trained patient may have benefit from selfcardioversion by exercise. In my case also the 150 bpm the treshold where cycling converts my afib. But may resting heart rate in sinus rhythm is 50-60 bpm and the "resting" heart rate at afib is 70-80 bpm.

[AFCyclist]

Yes I would agree. We are all different.

130bpm when on my bike works for me at present. I have mentioned this to several cardiologists/EPs with no adverse comments. Also mentioned cycling with AF and was told exercise was good for me. Best to be sensible though.

[JeanetteH]

I find that walking around will settle my AF which always seems to happen at night lying down.If I try to go back to bed AF will kick in.Sanjay Gupta Cardiologist has an explanation for this in his video on U tube and recommends it.I was once in A &E waiting to be cardioverted but my heart went into normal rhythm when I went to the loo.So my question is have you tried walking around? I have a hiatus hernia which I believe triggers my AF.

[planetiowa]

I've had AFIB for about 12 years. It used to occur maybe once every year or two but in the last year, I've had probably 20+ occurrences. I can self-convert every time by jogging or exercising. I usually do a series of run/walk cycles and usually by the 4th cycle at the most (maybe 3 miles total), I am back in sinus ryhthm. If I stay in AFIB for awhile before starting to run, I can sometimes convert faster (I've run up one flight of stairs before and have converted by the time I've gottten to the top). I've tried all of the other methods for seld converting and none of them have ever worked.

[Mejulie69 in reply to planetiowa]

My experience is almost identical - normally takes me 2 or 3 hills on the bike to convert. One hill normally isn't enough. It also seems that it doesn't work inside the first 24 hours of AF. I'd love to know what's going on inside our hearts.