Been wondering what three bits of advice you'd give a new AF sufferer? Something to halt the slippery slide into worry and anxiety? Something to equip them with knowledge? Or something totally different you'd have found useful to be told/know at the start of your journey?
Interested to read what people feel would help "Vrigin AFibbers"
Hello Jedi.
1. Have a look at your life style. Use the negative to make positive changes. Check your diet / beer intake / stop smoking (if you smoke) / exercise. You`ll stand a good chance of living longer even though you have afib. I bet making those changes could add another 5 years to your life. Make afib a positive.
2. Research the latest afib developments. Only check out medical journals - ignore the naysayers or websites trying to sell you something.
3. Relax. Always remember medical advances are going at a rate of knots. Always have some questions to ask your cardiologist when you meet up. Write them down and ask him (or her) what they think. Mention any new clinical trails you have researched. Ask to be a part of it - you never know - you could be referred 
Best,
Paul
For me it'd be
1. It seems like a huge scary big deal, but many people have been through it all and can help you - you're not alone
2. Listen to your body in terms of what you're doing now that isn't healthy, what you can do to make it better and what you shouldn't do when you're unwell
3. There's no such thing as a stupid question
1/ Don't feel alone and scared as I think that's the first reaction to the onset of afib, talk about it and find like minded people like this forum.
2/ Lifestyle changes, for me I stopped drinking, though not excessive everytime I had more than 3 glasses of wine it triggered af. Exercise more, I stopped going to the gym and started being more sedentary, that didn't help me at all, changed that. And eat reasonably healthy.
3/ I think the main thing for me was not to become obsessed and relax. Once you have it you constantly listen to your heart beating, for me it became a factor in worrying and exacerbating fast tachy which I now try to relax and breath if it happens.
Now I've had my ablation I feel so much better, early days still so not being to blase about it, but hopefully this continues and I lead a better life than the year of hell it became..
I remember those days of shock and awe. I would say:
1. Do healthy lifestyle changes if needed, ie diet, drink water, daily exercise
2. Healthy mind set: learn to manage anxiety
3. See an EP- get a second opinion if you are not satisfied with what you are told.
1. You won't die from AF unless you do something stupid like running a marathon of training hard during an episode but if you feel very unwell get medical advice to rule out something more serious.
2. Review your general health and lifestyle. Look after your health, especially chronic conditions (including AF) because nobody is going to do it for you, and make advised changes to lifestyle such as less booze, healthy diet and work on coping with stress.
3. Get info from reputable websites intended for patients such as AFA, BHF, NHS and blogs from our guru Dr Sanjay Gupta! but do not read reports in medical journals or writings of 'alternative' practitioners unless you want to be confused, scared or want to make a hobby out of your AF.
1. AF is common, so many people have it and lead fairly normal lives.
2. Anxiety feeds AF and the more you concentrate on your heart rate the worse it will be.
3. Avoid all food and drink that contains any artificial additives, try to stick to a more plant based diet and do your best to get some exercise most days..
And help with the housework if your a bloke Jean, left that bit out 😉🤣 x
Yep, you got it.😉
1. Get some exercise - walking is better than worrying.
2. Say goodbye to alcohol - doctors will tell you that one or two glasses are ok, but who stops at two ?
3. Become your own expert, and this includes understanding your own ECG. A Kardia will help.
Good post jedimasterlincoln
1- You are not going to die from it
2- It isn't curable, but things will get better
3- You aren't too young to get AF
4-Read everything, knowledge is power
(sorry, 3 wasn't enough and I like to break the rules )
According to Professor Mary Carol Hunter, at the University of Michigan “The greatest payoff, in terms of efficiently lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol, you should spend 20 to 30 minutes sitting or walking in a place that provides you with a sense of nature."
The data revealed that just a twenty-minute nature experience was enough to significantly reduce cortisol levels. But if you spent a little more time immersed in a nature experience, 20 to 30 minutes sitting or walking, cortisol levels dropped at their greatest rate. After that, additional de-stressing benefits continue to add up but at a slower rate.
Wow! What a great and thoughtful post to create by an ‘experienced Afibber’ like you Jedi. This will be a great help to anyone new.
For my 3tips
1. All of the above posts are great, take note!
2. When attending appointments save, print off, fill in, take a photocopy & take with you the Patient and Primary Care checklist and the Atrial Fibrillation checklist from the AFA website. This can save a lot of time & leave you mote time for discussion with your GP or consultant. They also suggest questions you may wish to ask & provide succinct info on types of AF, diagnosis, treatment, stroke risk & a glossary of terms.
3.Take all measures you can to adjust your lifestyle to minimise the impact of AF.
Take care everyone
Pat x
don't google
Don't Google
DON'T GOOGLE
Does that count as three?!
Seriously, I can't remember the site which struck the most horror into my heart (there were many, but one was particularly bad). I found this site and I am now extremely careful what I look for. There is so much sensationalism out there and it is detrimental to any and everyone who has this condition. Come here - you are home, with friends!
What helped me the most was:
1) following this site and learn as much as possible
2) push your doctor and don't be afraid to change if you aren't happy
3) Reduce the stress on your heart - stop drinking, lose weight, moderate exercise, mentally destress. The less you weigh the easier it is on your heart.
Instead of being Afib free for +3 years I think I would be in persistent Afib now if I had not come across this site,
P.S. Thanks to all you wonderful and giving people.
Cheers
AF or not AF
AF attacks.
AF
