EXERCISE OUT OF AN AFIB EPISODE.

[Hugo40]

I like GYM work and exercise in general. I have already asked some members how they feel about exercise while in AFIB. But I would like to discuss this and seek advice/opinions more widely from members that are practicing exercising out of AFIB.

Hugo40

[BobD Volunteer]

You will doubtless get a few contradicting opinions here but my pennyworth goes like this. When my AF first started many years ago I used to think that if I worked and went balistic to where my heart might normally be running at those speeds then when I slowed down again so might my heart. Occasionally it did. When i discussed this with my doctor she was horrified and told me it was really stupid and that I should rest when in AF. I think the best advice I was ever given which I pass on here regularly is to listen to your body and act accordingly.

[Hugo40 in reply to BobD]

Thanks BobD

My first reaction would be as yours was.

I seem to have gone into permanent AF for the past 4 days. Unfortunately my cardiologist is on holidays. I do have text contact and sent him 2 KARDIA results. I know that I should give him some peace on holiday. My anxiety is sky high and I do feel like getting stuck into the Gym.

hugo

[Alessa69 in reply to Hugo40]

Poor guy, I imagine that he’s going to need a holiday too! Is there an alternative contact that you could use maybe?

[Alessa69]

Hi, my lovely EP who diagnosed my PAF has written a very informative piece about AFib& exercise& stimulants. Look up Dr Jonathan Clague on the Royal Brompton Facebook page, article was written Sept 2018, think it may have been published in either Guardian or Telegraph. I don’t have the link ATM, will try and find it and post later. He’s highly regarded

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Alessa69]

My EP.

[Alessa69 in reply to BobD]

You know his views well then😍He’s been ours since 1998! He did a great job of reassuring me last year re Ablation etc

[john-boy-92]

We react differently to AF and exercise. On a rowing machine at 24 to 25 strokes a minute my heart rate settles in the low 150s. At around 30 to 40 minutes cardio creep makes an appearance so my heart rate will increase. At that point my heart rate can jump 10 to 15 bpm and I need to watch it at 170 to 177 bpm and ease off a bit, otherwise it can jump to 190 bpm and sometimes >200bpm. On the positive side, if I'm not overtraining I'm getting fewer 180bpm spikes; it's as though my body is adapting to the AF in the same way as my body would adapt to steady state cardio. At the moment I'm limiting my sessions to 60 minutes so that I can reach one million metres during May. Then I hope to do longer sessions that just may have a positive effect on AF.

[AFCyclist]

Whilst excessive exercise can certainly bring on AF, a short burst of cycling can also get me out of AF. Worked at least 20 times over the last few years. A nice to have solution and much cheaper than a Cardioversion.

[john-boy-92]

I've been doing cardio for 35 years and back in the day my GPs and cardiologists thought that my ability to achieve 200+ bpm was due to cardiac fitness. I know now that I had AF. They were more concerned by heart rate dropping to the low 20s whilst asleep, and my irregular heart rate having pauses of a couple of seconds. My sleeping heart rate is now 40 but that's still too slow for medication.