Todays Hot Topic: NEW YEAR: NEW YOU – Don’t Let Atrial Fibrillation kick your resolutions!
As a patient or carer what are some of your new years resolutions? How do you feel AF hinders your physical health resolutions?
Do you have any top tips to help others improve their health without it affecting their AF?
Do you have any health related questions? Be it exercise or diet? We are here and will be regularly checking for any questions.
I don't feel AF hinders my physical health resolutions - quite the reverse: Having AF is an encouragement to take care of my heart. I used to walk a mile and a half at a good pace every day to get rid of any cobwebs, but at a recent health check session, I was told to move to 30 minutes' daily exercise. So that's the goal right now.
Love that you say is an encouragement to take care of your heart!
I have found that a sugar rush is the worst thing for my heart - and possibly it raises my normally low blood pressure.
Resolution - watch the sugar levels and don't be tempted (easier said than done sometimes).
Thank you, luckily, I do not have a heart rhythm disorder myself, but I also find that sugar rushes can cause a faster heart rate!
I find energy drinks are the worst! AVOID AVOID
As well as lifestyle issues, I believe stress and anxiety can have a massive impact on AF. Trying to establish what is important and what is not, is not always easy, so I try to apply a simple test to issues which are giving me concern.
I ask myself, "is this something that will be worrying me in a weeks time". If the answer is (as it often is) NO, then it's probably not worth worrying about now!
Excellent philosophy!
Maybe even pick up some activities that help you de-stress such as yogo or reading.
I think learning to cope with AF episodes at night by relaxing, yoga breathing, sitting upright well supported & not letting that panic control you has helped me most. Rachel why do we have to log in each time it is a nuisance to say the least.
Hello, thank you for your advice. With regards logging in, you can choose to have your password remembered by your browser. This would be the most reliable method of remaining online. Please only consider this if you are not using a shared computer.
Rachel - AF Association patient services
AF makes me feel grateful and alive! It reminds me there are many people worse off and many health conditions more debilitating. On the days I can manage to run (ok jog!!) it makes me feel lucky that I can still get my body to do this (even when other days climbing the stairs becomes difficult in an AF episode). I shall resolve to always look forward and appreciate what I have for 2018 and AF shall be resigned to being an unhelpful ‘quirk’.
Hi Rachel someone has been asking how to contact admin . Badger maybe ??
Hello frills. All forum admin can be identified by having the AF Association badge next to their name in their name and can be contacted by either private message through Health Unlocked, or by emailing us at info@afa.org.uk
Thanks for highlighting this, we will look out for and messages.
Rachel
Good article on gut health in today's Guardian
Hot and swollen feet
Today's appointment 
BPM and AF : So I go in and out of AF does BPM matter ???
