Weight Loss and AFib: Many thanks to... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

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Weight Loss and AFib

Ivan_the_Terrible profile image

Many thanks to all those who responded to me on a previous thread. I am withdrawing my complaint against the hospital. In the light of the following article I am considering seeking to delay any cardioversion until I have lost two stone. (I am 6 ft 5 and 17 + stone) I should welcome any comments on either the article or my proposed care plan.

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Atrial fibrillation: Weight loss reverses heart condition in obesity sufferers

Date:

June 20, 2018

Source:

University of Adelaide

Summary:

Australian research shows for the first time that obese people who are suffering from atrial fibrillation can reduce or reverse the effects of the condition by losing weight.

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Ivan_the_Terrible profile image
Ivan_the_Terrible
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12 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

This is well known in AF circles and has been mentioned many times here. A BMI of less than 25 is deemed desirable . Another addition to the regime is to eat far less meat, more plant based food and less processed foods all of which have shown to reduce AF burden.

Some specialists have been rumoured to decline ablation in obese patients until this has been tried.

Ivan_the_Terrible profile image
Ivan_the_Terrible in reply toBobD

Thanks Bob,

My BMI is, or at my meeting with specialist and nurse was, 28.8 and nobody said anything to me. Looks like I may have sound instincts in not wishing to have a cardioversion until I have lost weight

I didn't use the search facility for past discussions on this as it appears to search the whole site.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toIvan_the_Terrible

Apparently obesity starts at 30. The problem really is that the science of AF is all very new, less than twenty five years at most and things take time to filter down to the coal face unless you do your research or are in the loop for news. Our annual Patients Day in Birmingham for Heart Rhythm Congress usually provides lots of new information . Registration is open. (see pinned posts)

Ivan_the_Terrible profile image
Ivan_the_Terrible in reply toBobD

If you do your research you can end up like the smart schoolkid who knows more than their teacher :-)

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

You don't sound as though you're greatly overweight for your height, but it's certainly a good idea to see if losing between 1-2 stones could help.

Please let us know how you get on and good luck.

Jean

Ivan_the_Terrible profile image
Ivan_the_Terrible in reply tojeanjeannie50

My other half also says I am not very overweight and does me no favours. It's the people who call me fat who help the most. I may not have anything to report for a few months though.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toIvan_the_Terrible

Ok fatty, surely you could lose 4lbs in a month. 😂😂

Ivan_the_Terrible profile image
Ivan_the_Terrible in reply tojeanjeannie50

That's the spirit. I'm hoping for half a stone per month, the sooner I can shed this weight the better.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toIvan_the_Terrible

Try stripping out and re-fitting a large kitchen. I lost 8lbs in a month doing that with no change in food intake! Only slight issue is it costs about £1800 per lb lost.lol 😂

Ivan_the_Terrible profile image
Ivan_the_Terrible in reply toBobD

I'm down to one main meal and one snack, both healthy, per day, I reckon 1200 cal per day and have kept it up for several days. Just four months to go. I don't think the word 'temptation' comes into it when you are losing weight for a medical reason, the chance of avoiding drugs and procedures is a much stronger incentive than looking good on the beach.

S11m profile image
S11m in reply toIvan_the_Terrible

Hi, Ivan_the_Terrible

1200 calories might be unsustainable.

I am glad to see that you are doing Intermittent Fasting - I hope to see you on the Fasting and Furious Forum. see:

healthunlocked.com/fasting-...

I have had three cardioversions, two Catheter Abrasions and two pacemakers. Which I thought stopped the Fibrillation, but there was still little sign of p-waves on the ECG. The NHS can be a trial - but I have had hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of free treatment from them... so I try to avoid telling them what I think of them.

I am 6' 3" and I was 18 stone for about two decades, I lost four stone recently (now 17% body-fat)... I was disabled, and now I am walking 30 or 35 km a week... but, at the time I got better they inserted and additional Atrial lead - which should have helped - but still no p-waves, and the pacing seems to be ventricular still - just before the q.

My Apple Wat tells me I had Atrial Fibrillation yesterday and today - in response to Gluten, I think.

Ivan_the_Terrible profile image
Ivan_the_Terrible in reply toS11m

1200 is a bit of a guess, but I feel fine so far. It's easier in the heat, and we are having a heatwave in Moscow right now, there's a pond nearby for swimming. All my favourite weight loss foods are here, oily fish, pickled cabbage and kefir. I've had a couple of very good operations on the NHS so far, they may be excellent on procedures, not so good on information. I withdrew the complaint, I'd be happy to be marked down as potentially awkward, the art is to know just how far to go with standing up for yourself.

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