“Self-cardioverters” - read on!

[Mejulie69]

Interested in anyone’s experience or understanding of self cardioversion with exercise.

This is my anecdotal evidence:

10 minutes cycling uphill at high intensity (= can’t go any faster!) works. (Tried on 17 occasions, 15 of those were successful)

Indoor cycling machine at high intensity does NOT work. (Tried on 2 separate occasions, both failed )

Running at high intensity does NOT work. (1 attempt, very unpleasant experience, probably won’t try it again)

These are my own findings, but they don’t make a lot of sense to me!

[AFCyclist]

As you know my experience is similar. Since cryoablation 18 months ago I have had short bouts of AF return about once a month. Everytime I have managed to get back to NSR by getting on my bike and cycling uphill. Might be the type of AF we have. I will ask EP on my next visit. My A F nurse referrd to an anti-tachy cardio response. A stiff walk does not do it but I have not tried turbo yet but suspect it may not do it.

I now feel much more relaxed that I have found a solution for the time being.

[stevie11 in reply to AFCyclist]

I go to the gym nearly everyday never been a real rider by use the exercise bike to warm for 10 minutes within a few minutes my hearts up around 160...

I get parosyxmal A/F but i cannot really understand it i do weights and the rowing going pretty hard at it and no problem..

[lotusvx220]

I did this for about 30 years but was told it was very dangerous by heart specialist as could lead to a stroke he said I was very lucky to still be here. But it did work for me but as I got older it got harder to do . I now control my a/f by not getting to stressed and resting when I feel tied Also reduce dose of bisoprolol to 2.5 mg daily I feel so much better since lowering my dose been on this for over 1 and a half years now

Er

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[Hidden]

jafib.com/published/publish...

Not the easiest of reads, but this might help.

Edit: on rereading I think I misunderstood the authors use of the term self restitution, probably nothing to do with bicycles!

Still, an interesting article none the less if you like that sort of thing.

[Mike11]

When I first developed AF I found a very brisk walk or running up and down stairs often converted me back to NSR. But if got worse over time and eventually I had a successful (so far - touch wood) ablation.

[tdi1272]

I can add

stairs (about 10-20 Levels up) at 80% and over

I believe its not about increasing the pulse frequency, but make the heart muscle work harder (contraction power over frequence)

Push ups, Pull ups crunches or similar will help as well

[Hidden in reply to tdi1272]

During an episode of AF, the pumping action of the heart suffers a decline in efficiency. Therefore, you physical capacity for exercise is reduced. Be careful not to push too hard. Exercise as tolerated, is always beneficial and should’t be neglected.

[tdi1272]

I think it is important that doctors start to understand there are different types of AFib (and what causes it) before prescribing Beta Blockers and forbid Exercise.

For vagal Afibbers with no other condition regarding the heart there should be no increased risk in trying exercise for cardioversion.

exercise involving large muscles with increased pumping volume almost all time works for me.

[Omniscient1]

Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs, as they say around here. I have permanent AF, almost certainly induced by rigorous over-exercise and rubbish diet when I was younger. Therefore I don't imagine any of this will help me, but I've never heard this spoken of before. Very interesting.

[Hidden in reply to Omniscient1]

You are right, AF like anything else in life comes in small, medium, large and sometimes in extra large packages. Even if they were the same size, they will still be different because people have different chemistries.

[jedimasterlincoln]

I have tried self cardioversion numerous times to try and avoid adding to my 9 DC cardioversions and 1 chemical cardioversion. Sadly nothing has worked, as generally any form of exertion (ie going upstairs and down again) just about sees me ready to collapse. Even a slow plod down the bottom of the garden feels like a run.

I have also tried carotid stimulation and vagus stimulation and deep breathing and anything else that doesn't involve exercise but to no avail.

[Hidden]

Yes, some people report to be able to stop an AF episode by physical exercise. Others by doing a Valsalva maneuver, by meditating, by drinking rapidily a glass of icy water, etc. When exercising, keep in mind that AF robes your endurance, and you have to be careful not to push too hard, because you could faint. In the same way people have different triggers, some will have different ways to stop it, and others who will be totally unable to modify their AF. You won’t find two AF’s that are totally alike, just like trying to find two people exactly alike, because even “identical” twins have some tinny differences.