Hi all,
I've been lucky with AF so far. The episodes have been well spaced apart.
One thing I notice is that almost all my episodes happen either in late Autumn (November), or in the winter months. Is this a common phenomenon? And is there anything I can do to minimise the effects of winter given it is about to descend upon us again?
I appreciate that many illnesses are more common in winter, the flu being the obvious example. But what's the link with AF?
Man thanks
Mine follows the same pattern. Maybe moving to Spain for the winter would be good.
Cold air does increase the risk of an episode. I like to walk outdoors but only do so if the temps are well above freezing during the winter months. Also, A Fib is a reflection of your overall health, so if you get the flu or other illnesses in the winter, it is more likely that your AFib will kick up. Irritating isn't it ? 
I'm curious what you mean by "Afib is a reflection of your overall health"
That is something my EP taught me when I had pneumonia and my heart went nuts. What it means is that when there is stress on your heart, through infection, or disease process within the heart or elsewhere in the body, or stress reactions, or from a chronic lack of non-restorative sleep, it is common for AFib to rear its head. A body out of rhythm leads to a heart out of rhythm in those of us who have the substrate, i.e. the predisposition for AFib.
Interesting info! I have Afib mostly everyday! So not seasonal. No known triggers. Had my 3rd ablation 12 weeks ago. Now, still have Afib episodes but I don't always feel them. I have always very active and have probably had Afib 40+ years. I just never realized it was not normal to feel your heart race. I don't take any meds except for the anticoagulant Xeralto. I still lead a very active fast paced life & Afib doesn't stop me from doing anything. It just makes it more of a challenge some times. Lol
Afib is such a complex ailment and is so different for each of us. All the best😄
Our vitamin D levels tend to drop in the winter, and this could affect it.
Me too. December and Jan. Christmas is stressful and over eating etc common. Who knows ? Sanjay Gupta ?
I wrote a post about this a few months ago. I keep a marked calendar to show my consultant the frequency of events and for the last two years my summers have been AF free! My consultant has no idea why this happens! I spent four months in Tenerife last winter but still had lots of AF! Roll on next summer!
December to March has been my most vulnerable period over the last couple of years. In total, usually 3 episodes during that period, none during the remainder of the year. Go figure.
We're all so different - heat is a factor for me and I notice my episodes in spring and summer!
Flu can cause inflammation of muscle tissue, including of the heart. If this happens then what were previously well isolated electrical routes in the heart become joined and you get spurious firing of the heart, and hence AF.
I remember that cold air could trigger AF and also getting into a cold bed.
sparking/carbonated water and AF
AF 
Apple watch AF summaries
Extended perion in AF
