Weight loss and atrial flutter/Afib

[Lotty321]

So I’m still waiting for my referral appointment!! However I have been googling and trying to find as much information as possible. Has anybody on here been overweight when diagnosed and found that weight loss has helped reduce their symptoms? Thanks

[CDreamer]

There’s a lot of evidence to show it’s really effective - trouble is once people are AF free the rarely stick around but I am sure you will get responses.

Best wishes

PS - the topic is no1 on the patient day agenda.

[doodle68 in reply to CDreamer]

HI CD you say...

quote ''the topic is no1 on the patient day agenda''

... are you going. I do hope someone here is and can report back or the details can be posted somewhere .

Edited to add.... I now see it may be possible to ''Create an account to purchase access to presentations (£25.00)''

[CDreamer in reply to doodle68]

Yes we are going - they used to post the slide presentations for free - but much to charge £25 for access when the day is £35. I am sure we can post a synopsis.

[BobD Volunteer]

There is absolutely no doubt that weight loss reduces the AF burden. At HRC last year we were told that a BMI of less than 25 was desirable. In fact I have heard some discussion (privately ) by a few medical staff around the wisdom of carrying out ablations for people who were grossly over weight as it was thought not likely to last.

[doodle68]

Hello Lotty having read about the 'Legacy' study in Australia that suggested for some people losing weight and most importantly maintaining the weight loss could reduce the AF burden and may even halt the progression of P-AF I gradually lost 1.5 stone not by dieting but by introducing permanent lifestyle changes. I eventually hope to achieve a BMI of less than 25 and am getting there slowly.

I have cut out alcohol (negative calories), eat a healthy Mediterranean based diet, eat small portions, moved my main meal to lunch time so I am active after eating. I also make sure I have an hours brisk walking every day (2 x half hour) and try to avoid stressful situations.

When 'officially' diagnosed with P-AF 18 months ago the severe episodes were increasing in frequency and I was having them every 10 days or so and they were lasting up to 15 hours. I am now having only occasional shorter severe episodes (only two in 6 months). I get the odd short episode lasting a few minutes which I don't bother about.

I don't know if this change is due to one of the measures I have taken or a combination of things including beta blockers. It could also be coincidence we will see.

Whatever the reason I feel healthier and am giving my body and heart all the help I can to cope with AF .

[Pam296]

Hi Lotty. I lost weight and was then diagnosed with PAF! It had been around for a while, I suspect. My cardiologist said it would probably have progressed quicker if I hadn't. 18 months on, I'm still not having too many issues.

Have signed up for Patients Day.

[WendyWu20]

I lost about a stone last year and my episodes of AF reduced. However, I have since lost another stone since moving to Spain a couple of months ago, and the episodes have increased again. So maybe the weight factor does not act independently of other factors. I have felt stressed about some things in my life since moving and also the heat has been in the high 30s most days... so maybe these factors have cancelled out the benefits of the weight loss. But I do feel better about losing weight in general :o)

[CDreamer in reply to WendyWu20]

Hi Wendy - good to hear from you. The stress will do it - how are you getting on in Spain?

[doodle68 in reply to WendyWu20]

Hi Wendy it must have been very stressful moving and maybe that has affected the good work you did with the weight loss. Hopefully, your AF will settle down again as you get your new life storted. Try not to get stressed by things, walk away and breath deeply and slowly, you heart is more important than everyday annoyances.

I have learnt to do this .

Wishing you many happy years in your new home

[WendyWu20 in reply to doodle68]

Yes, this is a lesson in being more chilled about stuff! The worst day was being handed the keys to my Spanish car and having to drive it home. I'd just gone into fast AF an hour earlier, and we live in a valley that can only be reached by hairpin mountain bends, and I'd never driven in Spain before!!

But i don't have much of an apetite in this heat, so losing weight has been a doddle :o)

It's just me out here with an elderly mother in tow, and we're having to renovate a house and garden, I think the physical activity in the heat has exacerbated the AF.

Everyone said, 'you're too ill with your heart, to move to Spain,' and that made me want to do it even more. I'm just so determined not to have my life ruled by AF! But I've been worried because I can't get health insurance out here, every company has refused me because of the AF. And I can't get my Residency card without medical cover.

This is definitely a good life lesson for me... more daily meditation is needed!

[Ianc2 in reply to WendyWu20]

Hi Wendy

Well done on the weight loss. You will probably find the unrelenting heat will ease off shortly and you will sleep better. Don't work in the sun -it will kill you. Go inside, keep cool, have a siesta and try not to eat hot food, drink lots of fluids. A lot of ex-pats clear off to the UK at this time and come back in mid September.

My pulse goes up by about 6 points at this time, but then comes down as the temperatures drop. You will enjoy October as the temperatures drop and the Spanish have their fiestas.

In November you can work comfortably and it will be noticeably cooler. When you are driving in Spain put your watch on your right arm and keep it next to the kerb.

With regard to the health insurance you might be able to get a policy that excludes Afib but covers everything else - which may be enough for the residencia.

If you have an address in uk in which you can stay in for 6 months of the year and be registered at the local GP's practice you can have a British E111 card which will give you some emergency cover while you explore cover possibilities locally

[Ianc2 in reply to WendyWu20]

Hi Wendy

Just a thought - has your afib been medically confirmed and were you referred to a cardiologist- or was it just a once only event?

Ian

[WendyWu20 in reply to Ianc2]

Thank you for the advice, I'm going to be living here permenently. I've had AF for years, but only diagnosed 18 months ago.

[Ianc2 in reply to WendyWu20]

Try liberty seguros for health policy. [e-mail] mobile [phone]

I don't know anything about this company so you will have to do your own checks.

[WendyWu20 in reply to Ianc2]

Thanks. Do you have experience or know someone who has a health policy with this company? I looked on their website and couldn't see anything about healthcare?

[Ianc2 in reply to WendyWu20]

I am in Spain at the moment. I will make a few enquiries for you. I am in camposol , Murcia, and the contact above was advertised in the local shopping centre . Will come back to you later with more information. Ian

[Ianc2 in reply to WendyWu20]

Try

MASSSA insurance, they advertise as being specialist health insurance for residencia.

[WendyWu20 in reply to Ianc2]

Thank you. I will check this one out. I live near lake Banyoles, near Girona.

[Ianc2 in reply to WendyWu20]

Once you get your resedencia you can sign up with the Spanish NHS. 57 euros a month. Liberty seguros will ask that a medical form is completed and then may cover you, or may exclude some conditions. I was informed about this by the young lady on the earlier reply

Good hunting

Ian

[Ianc2 in reply to WendyWu20]

Try libertyexpatriates.es

[Droopy60]

I was morbidly obese and lost 5 stone last year, my breathlessness improved greatly and so did the AF episodes. I did not diet as such, just portion control and less pork pies!!! If I can do it anyone can. Good luck.

[Chrisdave in reply to Droopy60]

Im triying too so fingers crossed

[Hidden]

There is a paper “ Atrial Fibrillation, Cognitive Decline and and Dementia” [Alonso and others] which includes the following: “A randomized trial of weight loss and risk factor management in 150 AF patients led to clinically significant reductions in AF burden and symptoms, and improved cardiac function.52 Similar findings were obtained in 355 AF patients participating in a weight loss intervention, where those who experience sustained weight loss had reductions in AF burden and were more likely to remain in sinus rhythm.53 The impact of these lifestyle interventions on cognitive outcomes in persons with AF has not been assessed to date. Given the role of cardiovascular risk factors in cognition and dementia risk,54 this area can be a fruitful avenue for future research.”

So I guess this means that weight loss isn’t guaranteed to bring about an improvement but it might well do, and is worth doing!

[Hidden]

I've lost almost 4st so far but it isn't having any effect at the moment but then I do have a lot to lose!

[JanettePearson]

I really believe that healthy eating and weight loss help a lot. Since my elderly mother moved in with me I have been comfort eating and have gained 3 stone. Living with her has affected my health badly and my AF has got worse. However a couple of months ago I started healthy eating with lots of veg and fruit and it noticeably helped my AF and I lost weight. Sadly I started comfort eating again as its awful living with my mum so I am back to square one again. But that few weeks showed a big change. If only I could keep it going!!!

[Ianc2 in reply to JanettePearson]

Have a chat with social services - they may be able to arrange some respite care, if only for a few hours, so you can get out, and take some exercise or just have a breath of fresh air. Make sure that you claim attendance allowance and use it to buy in care if need be.

[JanettePearson in reply to Ianc2]

Thank you. X