Sleep: Does AF disturb your sleep? My... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

32,396 members38,732 posts

Sleep

jedimasterlincoln profile image

Does AF disturb your sleep?

My quandry is a bit backwards in that disturbed sleep upsets my AF. I seem to feel "less tired" if I only have 5 hours unbroken sleep compared to having 8 hours where I've been up/woken up a couple of times.

I've found it worse to sleep on my left (though I prefer my right) because even when in NSR my heartbeat is stronger and I feel myself "listening" to it more out of habit.

I've only had AF hit me once "in the night" where it woke me up and back in 2013 I had it "on waking" but was already awake. Both of these came after a heavy day at work the day before.

I know 5 hours sleep isn't enough long term, but its hard with a teething baby! Doesn't help I seem to need to pee more when I'm in AF or just getting over a cardioversion/ablation!

At the moment, I'm trying to stop all TV/Screen/stimulation activity after 9pm, read for a bit and be ready to sleep by 10, and generally get up at 5:30am (though today it was 4am due to dodgy guts)

That's only 7 hours sleep, and when Other Half is at work I'm up 2/3 times if daughter is restless to allow her to sleep before her shift, a courtesy extended to me if I'm at work as we try to take it in turns.

So, how does AF factor into your sleeping?

Written by
jedimasterlincoln profile image
jedimasterlincoln
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
8 Replies
CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

I think the quality of the sleep is more important than the quantity - for me at least. I was told at the sleep clinic that 4 hours undisturbed and going through the cycles of NREM & REM is worth 7 hours of disturbed sleep. 7-8 hours is the ideal but so many factors - personally I rarely manage more than 7 hours undisturbed.

I am sleeping more at the moment but because of cough, which wakes me, the quality is poor & I don’t seem to get into Delta wave sleep. When I can use my CPAP I usually get 5-7 hours quality sleep, mostly undisturbed and I feel much more energetic. I think relaxing rest is also important - the worst is lying there not being able to sleep and getting agitated about it!

jedimasterlincoln profile image
jedimasterlincoln in reply toCDreamer

Yes I have been known to get up and sit for a bit, in fact when daughter was boob feeding I spent about 3 months in the spare room because OH would be up all night or have her next to her if she was restless and nap when they could and I would sleep 8 hours solid then sort out the "day shift" allowing her to sleep upstairs between feeds. That was better than all being tired.

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

I have been having episodes of AF at least once a week lately and have been quite surprised at how it does or doesn't affect me. I bought a MiBand 2 which is supposed to record your length and quality of sleep though I think it is very inaccurate. Still I find if I have recorded more deep sleep despite 2 hrs AF I feel better next day in spite of shorter total sleep time than if I had a long light sleep. I have wondered if the disturbed sleep I have been having because of hip/back pain is contributing to the AF? Or is it the very deep sleep due to exhaustion setting it off? One theory among many, roll on my cardiologist appointment!

jedimasterlincoln profile image
jedimasterlincoln in reply toBuffafly

I bought a wristband from Aldi (Crane is the band) and it's an activity monitor which includes HR. It measures my HR every 5 minutes and beeps at me if its below 60 or above 120 (the point at which I usually feel symptomatic)

It does also measure sleep and I was apparently getting anywhere between 50-63% deep sleep per night. Trouble is I was so tired I was either forgetting to activate it or forgetting to disable it when I woke up!

secondtry profile image
secondtry

Yes sleep is an issue that crops up a lot with AF. I am trying to work out why I can wake up several times in the night and don't get enough deep sleep. I am about to have a sleep study when you get a machine from the sleep clinic and strap it to your chest & abdomen when you go to bed. I also record my sleep quality by giving marks out of 10 for just how fresh I feel when I get up' as this is surely the key indicator. I think I have narrowed it down myself to not getting enough oxygen through the nasal passages, could be Upper Airways Resistance Syndrome.

jedimasterlincoln profile image
jedimasterlincoln in reply tosecondtry

Be interested to know the results of the sleep study !

KMRobbo profile image
KMRobbo

"why we sleep" by matthew walker tells you all about why you sleep , what problems lack of sleep can cause and what occurs during sleep. It cost £ 7 or £8 on Amazon. It has helped me a bit.

Dr_G1998 profile image
Dr_G1998

Up at 0445 this morning 😁

God dam AF knocking on my chest like a nutter...then I remember i have stuff to do and get up.

Had red wine last night which ALWAYS makes it worse...sadly i forgot that as it's been a while since I had some.

AF hasn't woke me up too much recently but in the last it's been a regular thing. I just accept it now and try and use the time productively. Thankfully I'm a morning person but I'll be knackered by late PM.

I wonder if the stress of baby waking up kicks off your AF.......who bloody knows with it!??!?!

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Sleep Study

Three weeks ago I had a sleep study in hospital. I was rather anxious about it as I am highly...
Kaz747 profile image

sleep position

Daft question but with AF is it ok to sleep on your left side ? I seem to vaguely remember reading...
AstroFish profile image

Af and sleep problem

Hi I've just had my first incident of atrial flutter with fast ventricular response, (I think this...
Dave56 profile image

Sleep position?

Since resumption of my PAF in early April after 4 1/2 years being ok, I read somewhere that...
HastyHeart profile image

Permanent AF Also

Hi Pollywaffle 10. I'm living in Perth WA also. My father had Permanent AF died at 90 from...
Robyncarmen profile image

Moderation team

See all
Kelley-Admin profile image
Kelley-AdminAdministrator
jess-admin profile image
jess-adminAdministrator
Emily-Admin profile image
Emily-AdminAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.