Breathing

[Ottis]

Does anyone get out of breath if they climb a lot of stairs or up hills

[Vanna-C]

Always! I can walk uphill (slowly), or talk, but not both together! My GP said it was asthma, but I am not at all convinced.

[Barb1]

Always even in SR and PH has been ruled out. My suspicions are the beta blockers.

[sue5511]

I've had AF for a while now.

At first I wasn't able to walk very far atall before I'd become breathless and need to stop but now I can walk for a few miles on the flat, I need several rests in between but I get there.

Hills and stairs are so much harder. I have found if I slow right down I can manage.

I've also started back walking with a group we only walk short walks at a leisurely pace which is great.

[annemk]

I can walk long distances on relatively flat terrain but hills are a challenge. I started walking slowly up hills, stopping every 50 steps, then gradually increased the distance and slope and speed. It took a month to improve and keeps improving. I do not do this walking or any other exercise within a few hours of taking betablocker in the morning. It makes me feel as if I have lead in my limbs!!

[secondtry]

Yes, I found in the early days I had to take any gradient very slowly and used a pole if going on a walk. Now its completely gone, but my apologies as I can't remember exactly at what stage this was, I believe it was when I started with Flecainide, was AF free but before various lifestyle/supplement changes. My view is you need to take some more action as that can be sorted.

[Nan1]

Yes Otis I get breathless when walking up hills then fine once on flat roads. Take beta blocker and Warfarin. Also have cough asthma. Have echocardiogram in couple of weeks.

[Becksagogo]

I too suffer with extreme breathlessness which leaves me unable to walk on the flat and talk at the same time. Climbing stairs and walking uphill are taken slowly! My breathlessness is caused by a mixture of leaky heart valves and legacy radiotherapy on my chest 35 years ago which has scarred my lungs. I am undergoing further tests on my lung output to see whether they are up to an operation to repair the heart valves.

[jeanjeannie50]

Yes, I always get breathless when going up hills or long flight of steps. I thought it was my heart having difficulty coping with the extra exertion. I'm usually fine on the flat, but it's all hills where I live and my home is at the top of one.

Jean

[Sally_Scott]

Yes Otis. I’ve only been diagnosed with AF since January. I had no idea I had it and went to dr with bad breathing probs. Was struggling to get air into me. I couldn’t walk more than half a dozen steps on the flat! I assumed I had bad chest infection or asthma attack. It was due to AF. Since being on meds which this last lot seem to agree and work for me my breathing has improved. Still struggle a bit going upstairs etc but at least I do have my life back to some extent. Have a word with yr dr it might be that u need to have yr meds changed. Good luck x

[Finvola]

Yes, normally on hills, stairs and strangely enough, if I bend forward. I blame Bisoprolol and Flecainide for changing my heart’s activity.

Another source of breathlessness for me is ectopics - damned things, they are. At the moment I’m in a prolonged bout of thousands of them every day and I walk like a deep-sea diver, don’t talk excitedly, don’t bend down, use the stairlift ☹️ and avoid hills.

[opal11uk]

Simple answer, yes and you should report this back to your Cardio

[RichMert]

Ottis, you do not say whether you have been diagnosed with AF, had ablation or on Beta blockers. I found that I would remain slightly out of breath with NSR at 90 for at least 2 hours after walking up hills following my 2nd ablation. The doctor put it down to age and being unfit. My heart rate goes back to normal a lot quicker now but at 54 I still get out of breath walking up hill. The main thing is to make sure you are in NSR and not AF during this period.

[doodle68]

I have had difficulty walking up hills for many years and long before I started having P-AF episodes or medication . I thought it was normal as people got older.

When going uphill I find long slow steps and slow deep breathing helps (in through the nose out through the mouth) . Even then I need frequent stops.

[skipabeat]

Has AVnode ablation helped anyone here with breathlessness?

[dragonflyjan in reply to skipabeat]

I’m interested in this question too. I’m hoping so.

[skipabeat in reply to dragonflyjan]

I don't take meds anymore. Sotolol did not work, so ameodrone has been suggested- I am not interested nor brave enough to take ameodrone. Are you taking meds Dragon? I also have an enlarged heart. I think an AV node ablation would take a lot of stress off the heart.

[dragonflyjan in reply to skipabeat]

Sorry skip a beat I missed your reply. I’m on beta blockers digoxin blood thinners and magnesium. I’m hoping the ablation it does take stress off my heart. I’m wondering why the medicine route is tried first? The drugs to prevent or stop af have never worked for me and cardioversions lasted only a short time.

[Mike11]

That does sound like asthma. Are you on bisoprolol ? If so try a change to nebivolil and it might go away.

[Dodie117]

I think most people of a certain age get out of breath if they climb a LOT of stairs or climb steep hills.

[skipabeat in reply to Dodie117]

I wish it was just an age thing, then I would go to- it is just an age thing chat forum. Lol just playing.

[Dodie117 in reply to skipabeat]

🤙😂

[dragonflyjan in reply to Dodie117]

But 10? 😏