Persistent Atrial Fibrillation question?

[glenpointe]

If something triggers afib, I'm wondering if you eliminate the trigger, does afib stop? Did anyone on this forum or anyone that you know able to cure afib naturally? I heard afib is curable without the need for medications.

[Hidden]

FlingFlang had it right in his post on your previous thread. Some athletes get myocardial fibrosis from overtraining, leading to AF. Detraining can help. You may need to hang up your running shoes.

I found that very hard after 50 years of endorphin highs.

[BobD Volunteer]

You have AF so you will get AF. Triggers are not important.

HOWEVER, Changes to lifestyle, weight loss (get below BMI 25) no alcohol. less meat and processed foods, avoiding stress etc all have been claimed to reduce the AF burden. Nothing actually cures it! ANY treatment for AF is only ever about improving quality of life. (QOL)

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Since there is still no clearly understood cause for AFib, despite knowing many things that increase your risk (hypertension, obesity, endurance training, sleep apnea, just to name a few), there is no way to claim a CURE. All treatment is aimed at reducing the severity, the frequency and the impact of AFib. As Bob stated, it is hugely helpful to make lifestyle changes, and for you, if you have known triggers, that means avoiding them. Some people have no obvious triggers. Once you have the substrate for AFib, it does not go away, but meds, lifestyle, and ablation can all work to make it more manageable and to hopefully put it in remission so it is no longer an issue for you.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to SRMGrandma]

HiYou missed out the thyroid. Hyper or hypo. Or Cancer which was my case.

Its interesting about the Vagal artery and eating or drinking too much upsets the heart where this artery passes.

We know that mine was thyroid.

Had it out but heart rapid and persistent did not return.

Symptoms ease when Heart Rate is CONTROLLED and with me the best ever when a priv cardiac specialist changed med.

From Bisoprolol to

Diltiazem 120mg am

Bisoprolol 2.5mg pm

BP 123/72. H/R Day 77-88 and Night 47

Yes I have the synthetic thyroid plls am before food by 1/2-1 hr.

Ideal TSH 2.0-3.0.

Sweating and energy loss when your heart is going 186 on Metroprolol or Bisoprolol 156. UNCONTROLLED puts stress on ones heart but there I was left.

cheri JOY. 73. (NZ)

[secondtry]

You can look at AF as some mysterious condition with no widely accepted solutions or just the same as say a bad back. If we have a bad back, often medics can't help a lot and we soon learn the 'triggers' are too much exercise (e.g. gardening), stress, too much sitting, lying on the wrong side or lifting heavy objects and being overweight etc. Some people being more prone to bad backs than others.

Granted this does not take everything into account e.g. supplements & diet that are I believe important tools to reduce AF and probably applies to Lone PAF only but hope the analogy helps to remove some of the mystique.

My triggers which I avoid like the plague are stress, alcohol, cold fizzy drinks, overexercise, late large meals, caffeine, gluten and bad breathing at night (nasal strips are a godsend here).

Good luck and have an AF free day!

[Rhspw]

I have found success so far (9 months free) from changing my diet and adding the following supplements: fish oil, vitamin d3, coq10 and calms magnesium drink. My dr told me a fib is an inflammation response so to try to reduce inflammation, I looked into how to eat to reduce inflammation: I’m gluten free and really try not to eat sugar. I will eat really dark chocolate squares (70-80%dark chocolate) some, fruit and whipping cream for my “treats”. I don’t eat a lot of dairy either, but will have it. The magnesium supplement called calms (powder that mix with water) is also what she recommended. I don’t drink caffeine and I stay really well hydrated by drinking lots of water daily. I also try not to gulp really cold beverages without using a straw as before it might set me off so did taking too many vitamins so I found chewable for Alot of them. So far, all her recommendations have been working. Before all of this, I was having an episode about 1-2 Times a month.

For me it was worth trying and I have found great success and lost a few pounds in the process and am at a healthy BMI now, but Afib affects people differently. I think dong anything to reduce inflammation is importantj. Good luck!

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

HiI was diagnosed stoke with AF and persistent rapid H/R day.

Then discovered a shadow on my thyroid via a carotid artery scan.

Biopsy Papillary Thyroid cancer.

I had a total thyroidectomy 4 months later. That was 4.02.2020.

iI thought that AF would righten itself. Now 2022 it hasn't but energy flowed back after a whole lot of damage and inflammation was removed.

I had no cardiversion or ablation.

In Feb 2021 the scan showed that I had an enlarged heart so NO ablation ever.

I have to bear my AF and it may righten itself one day. but the Auckland DHB Cardiac Specialist says I will have it for rest f my life. Boo Who.

The AF was caused by problems with thyroid.

Do your history and find when it started. That may help you.

I have heard that it can occur after a diff part of body operated on.

Take Care. JOY 73. (NZ)