Excerise?

[Valdoot]

Hi all. After being really fit until AF struck 18months ago, I’ve been scared to do any exercise. Now it’s time I started. I’ve bought a mini trampoline to set me going at least a bit. Has any one got any tips advise? I’m on 1.5 Beta blockers per day, Pradaxa and statins. I just don’t want muscle wastage now after consciously keeping myself as fit as possible. I do yoga too. I’d it a case of just do it and see? Or is there any tips you could let me have? Thanks

[stevie11]

I was a bit the same with exercise for some years but i joined a gym after having 8 free visits with a physiologist..

My advice is you need to have daily exercise so make it a priority to keep it up i force myself to go...

When i do go i start slow and get into it hard the hard parts not good if you are starting but i go hard or go home and often feel light headed too but thats me...

I am a diabetic and live by a very healthy diet which is essential and bought a Fitbit which i really find helpful...

[Valdoot in reply to stevie11]

Thanks, I was 4 times a week person including Boxersize. Plus my own class. Yet I carried a cake thru town (a biggish one, lol) and rushed to my car and kopped it next day. Flat on the settee for a day and half. It’s eneaging! I doubt I’ll get back to anything like you’re doing but it’s great to know it’s possible. Thankyou

[UScore]

I think whether you have AF or not, it's pretty useful to stay fit. You might need to avoid very intense/strenuous exercise if it brings on P-AF. Depending on how symptomatic you are you might be able to cautiously test the boundaries of exercise. I gave myself a very gradual re-introduction to going to the gym after being diagnosed.

[Valdoot in reply to UScore]

Yep, I just want to be strong in old age not needing help in and out of chairs. Long way to go but it’s so easy to just slip into being a couch spud , as Im finding out. Thankyou

[stevie11 in reply to Valdoot]

Good luck with it all and remember it is a gradual process but the benefits are big i am 51 and havent been this strong in 12 years...

[Valdoot]

It obviously doesn’t stop you Steve. That’s brill. I’m not sure how to cope yet I don’t want an hour exercise to lay me out for a day an half. It’s a massive life changer for me. Thanks

[UScore in reply to Valdoot]

I decided it's worth being floored once or twice during an experimenting phase, rather than give up forever.

[Valdoot in reply to UScore]

Yes! Good thinking! Got to ditch the fear and have a bash at it! Thankyou👌👌

[Buffafly]

BHF has several sets of exercises plus advice for people wanting to start light exercise. I asked a similar question but had such highly technical advice it was way beyond me! As you have exercised before you will be aware of the need for a warm-up.

[Valdoot in reply to Buffafly]

Yes, I was just thinking a bouncy walk on the bouncer for a while leading up to steady bouncing . Nothing too strenuous for a while. Thankyou

[jeanjeannie50]

AF really floored me, but what I didn't realise was that I had an underactive thyroid too. This made me feel worn out most of the time. If I went for a walk in the morning, then I would need to sleep in the afternoon. Doing the garden was also an effort. Now with medication I feel I have my life back more.

Have you had yours tested?

Jean

[Valdoot]

No Jeanie it’s never crossed my mind. It may have been tested and I’ve not been told? I’ll look at symptoms. Thankyou

[Hidden]

There is no evidence that strenuous exercise has any health benefit, and may be harmful particularly if you have cardiac problems or hypertension.

Moderate regular cardio exercise, walk, swim plus light weights twice a week, definitely a good idea.

More than that is for fun, the satisfaction of a new PB and the endorphin rush. Nothing beats running Striding Edge with the wind in your hair.

A little of what you fancy maybe....

[Maggimunro in reply to Hidden]

Badger, do you really run along Striding Edge? It scares me witless just walking it. But then, I have a fear of heights.

[Hidden in reply to Maggimunro]

Hi Maggi

Not any more, balance shot sadly! ☠️

Still run round Tesco mind.

Back in the day......🏃

[Maggimunro in reply to Hidden]

Ah yes, I remember those days 🏃‍♀️

[Mejulie69]

High intensity exercise triggers my PAF, but I reckon if I stayed at the lesser intensity, something else would trigger it very soon afterwards anyway.

But the best advice is what you have already stated - find your own level and be happy.

[Hidden]

You have to exercise even when you suffer from AF. Even if you are in the middle of an episode, You just have to take it easy, as tolerated. Exercise is extremely important for cardiac health.

[weezergeezer]

I found walking , swimming and yoga worked well for me ,

took me ages to realise that my first Af episode happen a few hours after coming home from the gym, on a couple of occassions I believe lifting weights above my head set it off, even though my GP said it was ok to do that...I dont now he of course has never had Af

A cardiac consultant told me lots of athletes suffer from Af he belives triggered by strenuious exercise ( Im no athlete )

wouldnt recommed any exercise in Af...rest is what you need IMO, why put yourself at even greater risk ?

[Buffafly in reply to weezergeezer]

Working with my arms up triggers my AF, not immediately but later or next day, must be an explanation....

[fib4]

exercise is good for your health. just take it slow. you'e body will tell you if you're over doing it. if you feel strained or tired or have an afib episode just stop and make adjustments to your exercise program. or follow a program your doc sets up for you he will know what is best for you' walking is low key and good for the heart too as is yoga. i do all of those.

[Dottikate]

I am just turning 70 and about a year ago, after a cardioversion and 5 years of very intermittent AF, I went into permanent AF. I decided not to have another cardioversion or go down the ablation route because, apart from the tiredness thing, I have no other symptoms. However, I get very frustrated at my inability to do much without feeling tired and needing to rest, so I've decided to get my doctor's support and join a gym so that I can build up my stamina and muscle strength - both of which have completely disappeared this year. I could go for walks, but frankly I find walking for walking's sake boring - I used to love jogging but that's out of the question - and I have an ear problem which makes swimming difficult. My aim is to be able to do a 5k walk without exhaustion!

[Hidden]

I've yet to be convinced that anything unnecessarily strenuous is worth the effort even if you're in totally good health. It doesn't strike me as natural. By all means keep moving, and a sedentary life is dangerous, but I have never seen people in 'natural' societies (Amazon, Africa, Arctic) running on the spot.

Af always feels like my heart complaining, so I try to keep it happy. Af kicked off by exercise would seem like I'm p----ing it off unnecessarily.

Get a dog. Best thing I ever did. 2 walks a day at a decent pace is enough for anybody over a certain age... A bit of play fighting lifts your mood, and a cuddle and stroke is proven to lower blood pressure (with the dog that is..)

Then again I am a lazy toe-rag...

[edwardsn]

Hi there,

So your on a beta blocker and an anticoagulant so thats good. You don't mention your age and your type of AF both of which are relevant to the discussion..I have had AF for about 3 years and I returned to exercise about 18 months ago. The Blockers will limit your upper HR threshold so you should avoid intense high level cardiovascular exercise . Constant load moderate exercise, like rowing or cycling /static bike is probably the way to go so that you don't push the HR too hard as you get used to the Blockers . The actual discussion around exercise is more complex than this and it takes a while for you to work out what is good for you. Muscle wastage can be minimised by maintaining protein intake and modulating calorie intake around Carbs and fats so to offset weight gain as a result of reducing activity. I know this doesnt answer the question totally but it is a start . There is always risk in challenging the HR with AF as it ay induce a tachycardia which may stick regardless of the Blockers , you don't say what your dose is , 1.5 could be dose or tablets .

[Janith]

I exercise six days per week. Treadmill, lightweights. Arm and leg exercises. No issues whatsoever. Plus, it elevates my mood!

[Hidden]

I'm fitter than ever now that I have AF, it was a wake up call. I'm losing weight and walking more. Trying to join a gym but that is proving difficult, as soon as I mention my health conditions they don't want to know