question about valsalva movement

[Tomred]

has anyone heard about the valsalva movement for a-fib and has anyone had any success using it

[Finvola]

Hello Tomred I've used it frequently - and successfully - to stop SVT which is rapid and regular. I've never been able to stop AF using it sadly.

The link below is quite good at explaining it.

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[Tomred in reply to Finvola]

thanks for reply and link finvola what are svt s do they differ from a-fib

[Finvola in reply to Tomred]

SVT is supraventricular tachycardia or fast heartrate caused by rogue signals coming from above the ventricles - ie the atria.

Strictly speaking, AF is a type of SVT as the signals are generated in the atria also, but AF always causes irregular heartbeats, whereas SVT is used to mean fast heartbeat which is regular.

[Tomred in reply to Finvola]

thank you again im continually learning as there is so much to take in ive got paroxsysmal a-f and take 1.25mg bisoprolol and now doctor wants me to try dronederone im so afraid to try this because of side effects have you any experience with dronederone ive read somewhere about taking persistant a-f from using this horror of horrors im 58 year old male with chads vasc score of 0

[Finvola in reply to Tomred]

I have no experience of dronederone as I have taken Flecainide 2 x 100 mg. It has controlled my AF for over four years - just the odd run of SVT occasionally. There may be some posts on dronederone - try typing it in to the search box at the top right of the screen. It's a massive learning experience, I agree but the more you know, the better able you are to cope with this mongrel condition.

Any questions, just ask - there are loads of people with great experience here.

[planetiowa]

I've tried all of the valsalva procedures when in AFIB and have not been able to get any to work for me. The only thing that does work for me by the way and has worked nearly 100% of the time is to get my heart rate up by exercising - running, treadmill, elliptical, etc. It usually takes me just a few minutes to convert regardless of how long I've been in AFIB.

[Tomred in reply to planetiowa]

thank you for reply any guidelines on how to do this i mean like how fast would you need to go i.e how many beats per minute etc

[planetiowa in reply to Tomred]

Well as a disclaimer of course, everyone is different and things that work for one person may have absolutely no effect on someone else. Some people can't run at all when they are in AFIB as they are completely exhausted by it. I usually run every other day for exercise - not anything real intense or long - but about 30 minutes for about 3 miles (5K). I think my heart rate is at about 135-145 normally when running and when I'm not in AFIB. When I go into AFIB, I run at about the same speed (I don't push myself and overdo anything). Sometimes I have to go through several "cycles" before I get back to NSR - run a few minutes to get my heart rate up and if still in AFIB, I'll walk for a bit to get my heart rate back down, then repeat that maybe 3 or 4 times over a 15-20 minute period. One thing I have also noticed is that if I've been in AFIB for longer than maybe an hour, I can get back to NSR a lot faster (like within a few minutes). If I start running right away, that's usually when I have to go through several run/walk cycles.

[SpritzerAce]

Hi there! No experience of doing valsalva movement but had been on Dronedarone for about a year for AF. No side effects for me and Dronedarone has been able to control my AF. No AF at all while taking it and I was stopped of this AAD after no episode for a year. Unfortunately AF reared it’s ugly head again after being free of it for a year without AAD but just 2.5mg of Bisoporol daily. Was then changed to other medication and was not prescribed Dronedarone again by my EP. But was told by my EP that Dronedarone is not good for long term treatment of AF. All the best.

[Tomred]

hi and thank you for reply what is AAD and what medication are you taking now and with what results i.e effectiveness and side effects thanks again

[LindaDaisy]

I use both the bearing down and the syringe, in fact I carry a syringe in my handbag. The other method I use is drinking ice cold water, continuously and quickly. They seem to work sometimes and not others. Sometime they change AF into SVT of about 150 which is a lot easier for me to cope with. However I’ve only had 3 episodes in the last year, due, I think, to lifestyle and dietary changes. One I got back to NSR with a syringe, one to SVT with iced water which then went back to NSR overnight and one needed chemical intervention.

[Tomred]

hi thanks for reply could you tell me what you mean by the bearing down and the syringe also how much iced water would you drink