Today's HOT TOPIC 29/01/18

This week's hot topic is exercise. Do you find that exercise improves or worsens your symptoms? Are you less able to partake in exercise since diagnosis? Please share your experiences! Remember that we are here to answer your questions too.

[sweetiepye]

I find exercise starts my heart right off into ST. so I stop and sit. I'm wondering if I push through if I will eventually get used to it ? I've had two ablations the last one four months ago . I'm not feeling any better, very tired and discouraged. Pam

[Hidden in reply to sweetiepye]

Hello Pam , thank you for your reply, I am sorry to read that you find exercise exacerbates your symptoms. Have you spoken to your doctor about this? I am sure that they would be able to advise you on exercise that you can do safely. Perhaps less strenuous activities such as Tai Chi or yoga might suit you. Of course, you must discuss this with your doctor as we are not medically trained. (we can provide a Tai Chi DVD if this suits you - please email [e-mail] for a copy)

Regards, Rachel - AF Association Patient Services.

[sweetiepye in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

[CDreamer]

Very variable - sometimes it helps - other times makes things a lot worse. Even walking up a very slight incline can trigger Arrythmia, but not exercising at all makes things worse as well.

I have found my tolerance level is to keep my HR within 120 and to not exceed 5,000 steps a day and to pace myself - that may be because of co-morbidity.

[Mercurius]

I'm asymptomatic afibber, with high vagal tone (50-60 bpm in resting state) and low HR during afib (70-80 bbm in resting state). Intensive exercise (road biking) usually terminates my afib.

[Gezp]

I've only had one episode of AF 10 months ago, so maybe I'm not the typical Afibber to measure against but since diagnosis I have changed my exercise regime to regular HIIT based on positive research done in this area and so far it's been very good no adverse reaction

[AnneTS]

Yes! Regrettably I find that I am no longer able to participate in the activities I used to enjoy - cycling and walking and hill climbing. Even swimming. This means that weight watching is even more important now. Annel

[BuckleyBoy]

Hi, I am 66 and I've had Paroxysmal AF for 15+ years but was only formally dignosed 18 months ago. It's never been a problem to me really though. It's brought on by fairly intense exercise (enough to make me sweat). Before diagnosis I would cycle big rides and low level competitons, noting my HR monitor could indidcate up to 220 BPM. On one event I remember averaging 184 BPM over 2 hours. Since diagnosis I was advised to ride at a much lower level, so have dropped a rung or two in the groups in my cycling club, but still get periods when AF kicks in, particularly on hills or if the group speeds up. I'm beginning to think the AF may be kicking in earlier nowadays. I am not sure if that is connected to general fitness or other health factors, ageing, or some 'irritation' of the electrical pathways. I do not intend to stop cycling etc. though.

[shorttail]

I have had Paroxysmal AF for 18 months now, and didn't initially have problems from hard exercise, breathlessness would get me first. But recently I found mild exercise seems to trigger my AF, still no sure but now a bit wary.

[torwell]

I am in the early days of an arrhythmia diagnosis (SVT with abberancy or NSVT... still not sure.) I control the symptoms (lightheadedness were the only symptoms I had) with Bisoprolol 1.25 mg once daily and that seems to be working fine. I do a daily walk of about 30 minutes minimum and find I feel more settled, better, calmer when I walk vs. when I don't.