Single AF episode

[Gezp]

Hi

I wanted to get some feedback from the forum on gaps between first and second AF episode or indeed ‘one-off’ AF episodes.

I was diagnosed with AF after visit to A&E 18 months ago but went back to sinus rhythm without medication in a couple of hours. Had all the tests and Chadsvasc is Zero so on no medication. I already had good diet and normal weight. I expected to get more episodes ('AF begets...') so changed a few things, gave up caffeine, moderated alcohol, took magnesium and DHA supplements and started interval training exercise - all these things mainly based on advice from heart surgeon, the good doctor Gupta plus views in this forum. So since that first episode, nothing more. Thoughts welcome.

[BobD Volunteer]

Everything you have done is for the good. I think it depends on what triggered your first event really. One offs are quite rare so do not be surprised if it returns at some point in the future. AF begets AF so the more you have it the more you will have it but for now be grateful it hasn't progressed.

[Gezp in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, only thing I can think of was that I had quite a bad chest infection in the days before

[Hidden]

Thats good! Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Don't forget though that AF is very cheeky and can reappear when you least expect it. Don't go too excessive with exercising . We have several apparently very fit people on this site who seemed to have ' exercised' themselves into AF

[Gezp in reply to Hidden]

Thanks and no I don't, 2-3 times a week interval training for 40 minutes

[bennie06]

Well sounds as though you've done all the right things so why not just say "I am cured" and get on with your life. If it does come back then climb that mountain. In life we never reach the summit! Good luck.

[Gezp in reply to bennie06]

Good advice. In the first 6 months I used to think about it a lot. Since then very rarely.

[Finvola]

Hi Gezp - it certainly sounds like you are doing everything you can and following Dr Gupta's advice is a good way to go. A chest infection could trigger an episode of AF but the pre-disposition has to have been there first. Having said that, it could be years until the next one - there is no way of knowing.

Keep on with your lifestyle adjustments and live your life. Best wishes.

[Gezp in reply to Finvola]

Thanks, I guess will never know, but if/when I get another bad chest infection I'll be on red alert!

[Hidden]

Go on, you haven’t really given up tea and coffee completely have you? That would be a big sacrifice for me to make on the back of one short episode of AF. Probably get shot down for saying that. 🙂

As a matter of interest, why did you choose interval training as your form of exercise? Is it just that you prefer that to regular cardio, or is it better for heart health?

[Gezp in reply to Hidden]

Only drink decaf version of tea, coffee and occasionally coke. Very good decaf options out there nowadays - hard to tell difference. Training - based what I do on study that was shared by Dr Gupta here

youtube.com/watch?v=X-hH3Nm...(Not working as expected?)

[Hidden]

You can’t help but like Dr Gupta. But 95% of predicted maximum heart rate, that would be quite a challenge, for me aged 70, that would be 143 bpm, assuming I could approach that on Bisoprolol. That might be something to run by one’s GP unless you knew the state of your coronary arteries. 🙂 I tend to stick to a steady 4 mph on the treadmill.

Not really sure what to make of that rather small Norwegian study.

[Gezp in reply to Hidden]

True it's not going to be taken seriously by the profession without wider study, but the results are compelling and HIIT has more benefits shown in things like reducing blood pressure. I rarely get that close to 95% as agree a bit tough, I go to around the 90% mark. My calcium score is zero so not concerned by strain on arteries.

[Gezp]

OK interesting, can you tell me why GP thought that in your case?

[jonjub]

Whether or not it was linked my first incidence of afib followed a few days after a wasp sting. I reacted badly to that with an inflamed arm. I also, at that time drank a more than healthy amount of red wine and far too much fresh coffee. I was hospitalised for eight days with very fast afib and one consultant thought that i was suffering a virus possibly as a consequence of a ‘dirty’ wasp sting. Not sure about that but it was 2000. I did not experience another episode until 2009. I was not on any medication in the interim and rather forgot all about it. All subsequent incidents have been at night, of short duration. I no longer drink alcohol and only drink decaf tea and coffee and not had an afib episode for two years. I now take a beta blocker and anti-coagulant.

[Fighter_mj]

I had my first episode of lone AF 5 years ago at age of 32 after too much coffee and dehydration. I have no recurrence until last month that I drank several cups of coffee and a can of Coke Zero.

I always think it’s caffeine itself contributing to the episode but now I know it’s multifactorial and aspartame probably is the main trigger as I gave up Coke Zero for a number of years but recently started drinking it again.