Advice for a 32 year old who recently had his first experience of AF

[Rossdkemp]

Hi All,

This is my first post on this forum after reading through many other posts over the last few months which I have found very useful. I’m what I would have considered a fit and health 32 year old man who has regularly exercised my whole life. Up until January I was playing competitive football up to three times a week until after my last game when I developed persistent AF shortly afterwards (I had never experienced AF prior to this to my knowledge). I’ve had an echo and there is no structural problem with my heart and a couple of weeks ago I had a cardioversion. Since then my heart rate has been stable in the low 50’s and I’m on flecanide to maintain rhythm. I’m due to see my cardiologist again in just over a week but in the meantime I was wondering if there is anyone of similar age to myself that can share their experience of getting back to exercise and if possible team sports like football. I know I should be thankful to just be able to go out for a walk or a light jog but I’d like to know if I can aim to get back to anywhere near where I was before AF. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

[Hidden]

Hello Ross and welcome to the forum. As you probably know, we are not medically trained therefore we can only offer opinions based on our own experiences. Sadly we see many posts from younger people involved sporting activities who succumb to AF. The general view is that the quicker AF is diagnosed, the better chance there is of a recovery but not a cure. It is generally said there is no cure for AF. It sounds as though your cardiologist is pursuing a treatment plan which may be moving towards having an ablation and given what you have said, you may well benefit from the procedure.

If that is the route you decide to take, I suggest you need to understand the impact an ablation will have on your heart and that you seek professional advice about exercise and training with a view to returning to competitive sport. The only piece of advice I have to offer is try not to let the short term personal benefit of returning to competitive sport put at risk the opportunity of enjoying a potentially much longer life, free from AF....good luck for when you see your cardiologist and hope this helps......

[Rdiehl01]

Hey brother I’m 34 and have it intermittent a fib. I even served in us army with it....

[Polski]

I suggest you look at

drjohnm.org

Dr john Mandrola has also written a book 'The Haywire Heart' about exercise and AF. He himself is an EP and a bike racer. This may answer some of your questions.

[Rossdkemp in reply to Polski]

Thanks, I’ll take a look 🙂