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Afib and Skiing??

patience12 profile image
60 Replies

Hi has anyone in here gone skiing with afib? Due to altitude etc?? I’ll ask cardiologist but interested to know thanks

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patience12 profile image
patience12
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60 Replies

Really feel for you patience, most of us will never forget our turmoil when first diagnosed and how difficult it became to deal rationally with problems as they hit us. My suggestion is that you try and stop jumping from one issue to another without first being sure that you are getting your priorities right.

First things first, although we always encourage people with AF to live their lives as normally as possible, this generally applies once they have an understanding of their condition and how it is likely to affect them. As far as your skiing holiday is concerned, the only sensible and safe thing to do at this stage is to cancel it and believe me, I know how hard and disappointing that will be. The chances are that your insurance will be void for the reasons already mentioned. Add to that, because you have not had the various checks necessary to define the condition of your heart, it really would be potentially very dangerous to embark on such a physical activity at high altitudes, forgive for being blunt, but also plain stupid! It might be different if you planned to spend a week or two in Majorca lying in the sun!

Waiting times to see a Consultant is a bit of a postcode lottery but they will not be short so the private appointment option really is worth considering but be cautious because the tests you will need to determine the overall condition of your heart are likely to be very expensive so be sure you understand exactly what you are committing to.

To be honest, the best thing you should do first is read all the information you can on the AF Association webpage as this will make you more aware of how AF might affect you and the various treatment options available so that you can have a more meaningful dialogue with your Cardiologist whether it be private or NHS.

Click on the link below and you will access everything you need to know.

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

I’m sorry to be blunt and appear negative about your holiday but I think it is vital that you understand the risk you would be taking .......

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply to

Ok FJ thanks for voicing my thoughts. It being New Year I was trying to be less blunt! Knew you were a mind reader though. lol 😂

in reply to BobD

Perhaps "unwise" would have been kinder but I felt the need to get the point across.....hopefully patience12 will understand my motives and not be offended.....

GrannyE profile image
GrannyE in reply to

I always used to say that skiing was the thing I did best and I always felt very well up in the mountains. Cardiologist says that going up high is not good for my heart and I believe him. I don’t know about you but walking up slopes and going upstairs makes me breathless and this is at sea level or jolly nearly. So unfortunately mountains are now completely out for me and I love them winter and summer! I do not think your going up high a good idea either.

MS444 profile image
MS444 in reply to

Are there some missing comments from Patience12?

If it’s PAF and you are fully aware of when it is happening I would think it is OK to ski if you are in normal sinus rhythm and have not been diagnosed with any other heart related condition. Just ask your doctor?

in reply to MS444

Suggest you read all three of patience12’s posts from earlier this week. Diagnosed last Sunday in A&E (emergency room), scared witless and knows nothing about the condition as you would expect, has diabetes and has been told to see a cardiologist and have a number of tests including an echocardiogram but has no idea when this might happen which more than likely will make travel insurance void and wants to know if it would be OK to go on a skiing holiday which is booked for this month.

Those of us that have been around for a while do not offer our advice lightly. We check the posters history and then advise accordingly, so the header for this post taken in isolation is misleading. We would not normally suggest that anyone should not pursue their sports or hobbies once their condition is relatively stable but this is clearly not the case here.

The good thing is that patience12 appears to have taken on board what has been said and will seek advice privately from a cardiologist and check out the status of their travel insurance before making a decision about cancelling.

Although most of the replies here have missed the significance of these points, at least they will make patience12 aware that there is life after being diagnosed with AF which is all to the good. Hope that helps to clarify the position.

Ridley60 profile image
Ridley60

I think it depends on the type of Afib you have.

I have/had PAF (In sinus since 2nd ablation June 2019).

I found skiing switches off all the day to day worries about life/PAF and have never had an issue with the altitude. So never was in AF during a ski trip and I’ve been on many.

I also rode the 2012 Etape Du Tour, which involved climbs over 2 2000m cols without issue.

I’d say go for it, life too short, although don’t over indulge on the apres.

in reply to Ridley60

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but are you really encouraging someone diagnosed last Sunday so their travel insurance is likely to be cancelled and has had no tests or professional consultation to "go for it" on the basis that life is to short. Hope patience12 realises that your advice could result in a very short life. Diabetes, a new heart condition and no travel insurance is probably not an ideal combination of factors just at the moment....

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to

I think that might be being tad over cautious FJ. I certainly agree that caution is required and some knowledge of the condition and how it affects you and also a great deal of properception of your own body and it’s limitations.

I also agree that skiing is the most relaxing sport and if you are an experienced skier and can know your limitations and keep to them it’s not really much different to walking ‘cos it’s all downhill!

in reply to CDreamer

Maybe you are right CD, but any accident requiring medical attention could have serious financial consequences if travel insurance is affected by last Sunday’s diagnosis. Fortunately, medical advice is now being sought.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to

I think it’s hard getting the balance between caution and panic.

I think it is natural to panic on diagnosis and believe your life is going to be soon over and adjusting to the new norm takes time so I know if I had been told that I would never ski, sail or dive ever again I would have thought then that there is no point in living anyway.

Unfortunately diving was the one that had to go and I gave up throwing myself down a mountain 5 years ago.

My view is that if you are fit, used to doing these activities and altitude and adjust well to it, know and abide by your limitations, keep well hydrated (biggest risk for me at altitude) and have been checked out medically - no reason not to.

Dawsonmackay profile image
Dawsonmackay

For my honeymoon, about 12 years ago, my wife and I drove into the Rockies, visiting Taos, New Mexico and Telluride, Colorado. Way up in the mountains. It took about 2 days from my home to arrive in Taos and the next morning, when walking around Taos (sunny day in the fifties) I found that the underside of my left foot hurt really bad and limped back to the hotel. We spent two days in Taos and then started driving to Telluride. I felt really weak and when we arrived in Telluride, I could hardly walk up the sidewalk n- feeling faintish. While the scenery was absolutely gorgeous, especially driving on the mountain roads, I was unreasonably scared. When we finally returned home about ten days later, I made an appt. with my GP and he immediately put me on the EKG. It turns out I had Afib. (That was my first diagnosis). Amazing, which accounted for all the symptoms. Thin air is not good for me and not interested to go back there. Ridley 60, says go for it but he has a different type of Afib. I would ask your doctor for a second opinion. While I was able to live in the mountain air, it really shortened the fun of the honeymoon.

patience12 profile image
patience12 in reply to Dawsonmackay

Hi Dawsonmackay/Ridley60/Flapjack - no worries. Based on discussions on timelines to get checked out (seems generally in months rather than weeks) I'm going to get a private appt (if poss) to get seen soon, and go with cardiologists opinion. I am not going without that. I was just interested if even a possibility. thanks for the inputs though - useful to see everyone experiences differ dependent on their particular AF

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to patience12

Sensible - yes it’s possible - within limitations - see my answer below.

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady in reply to Dawsonmackay

Interesting as a Reflexologist, treatment of the body via the feet. Ailments I have always show on my feet. I’ve had a freckle on the top op each foot in the same area fo over 20 years - in the position for the heart!!

Pleased to hear patience12 but please make sure your travel insurance is not affected by the recent diagnosis.

marcyh profile image
marcyh

My AF triggers shortness of breath. Skiing? no way. I would pass out.

secondtry profile image
secondtry

Hi Patience, sorry to say I am another 'Don't go' opinion. Skiing was my favourite sport but after several episodes (and not realising it was AF at the time) I have given it up completely. It has taken 5 years of battling to get very good QOL, I am not therefore about to tempt providence. But of course everybody is different.

Could you go on the holiday but not ski? Hire a car and visit places instead? Holidays are usually a good thing rather than a bad thing from a health point of view.

Kbuck1234 profile image
Kbuck1234

I’ve skied many times with PAF with no issues at all.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

When I was first diagnosed with AF I was very determined that it wouldn’t change my life and continued to do all the things I used to do, including skiing. What I found was that altitude does affect me - obvious really - the higher you go the less oxygen and the more you exercise the higher your HR and therefore the likelier you are to go into AF. I still skied - for a while! Then I just got fed up with being left behind all the time and having to wait hours at the bottom of the slope to recover and my HR to come back to normal which meant I was then exhausted after a few hours and needed to rest.

So the short answer is YES! The long answer is if you are determined to continue skiing don’t go high altitude, lower your expectations of how much and for how long. Wear a HR monitor when you ski and ensure you keep to your safe limit. Over exercising when in fast AF will raise your risk of having a cardiac event.

It takes a long time to come to terms with the changes in lifestyle that AF imposes on us.

Best wishes CD

Ijacp profile image
Ijacp

I’ve been skiing last 3 years with PAF. Stress of travel + First day of exertion on slopes is normally enough to set off an episode in the evening. Typically goes on all night and when I’m back on slopes following day (taking it relatively easy) I will go back to NSR during the day. The altitude did not specifically affect me, if I did a strenuous day’s walking it would be the same story. I count myself lucky that when I get episodes whilst it’s awful, I can still get on with things. I’m now on static dose of Flec which seems to be helping a lot. You must decide how badly it affects you and how you manage it. Good luck.

Good morning Aufgeblassen,

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply to

Ah.....yes....

djmnet profile image
djmnet in reply to

Ditto

MatlockSteven profile image
MatlockSteven

If I had the holiday booked - I would go. If I hadn't booked - I wouldn't.

This is more of an ongoing annoyance in your life now than something really big and scary. It might set off attacks, you might not be as up to skiing as previous years. But take a good book and don't ski some days if you aren't feeling up to it.

Dont panic.

MatlockSteven profile image
MatlockSteven

P.S. And yes you now need to search for more expensive travel insurance that covers specific conditions and give them all your info. I'm not sure the rules here for posting links but a search on the cloud should show someone up. If I remember rightly my annual multitrip cover is now £100-200.

Morzine profile image
Morzine

I live at altitude 1000 meters, when I first got this I asked cardio if that affected me he said “ no and I’ve more clients that live higher than u” I asked about avoriaz high above me at 1800 and he sajd look it fine goung up there too, but if you were to say go much higher I’d say no” he added but I think you will struggle generally though with walking uphill . He was right about uphill.....I’m much better at it now but I’ve had ablation. I’m sure I could ski again if I wanted to, but now ve got bad knees....aaargh, one thing after another eh! I settle for getting the lift and meeting my skiing family for lunch or cuppa up the mountain......

I get where you are coming from,you’ve been diagnosed and think all the things you did are now curtailed and want to know the future. It knocks us all sideways......thing is you are very early days so see the cardio......I think, well from my experience you need to settle into this.......life will get better and things you did will probably carry on...but first things first see cardio.....get a fuller picture.....if he puts you in tablets they take a while to settle in......I understand fully how you feel wanting to tick the boxes of what you Can do if you’re sorted.....but we r all diferent......life does get back to a normality but first see the cardio and check what’s what.......this darling little organ is our life!!!

Skiing insurance will be a Huge problem well not just skiing , general insurance will be a problem right now till you can tell them everything.....one of the questions is are you waiting fir treatment.....saying yes will prob make them say sorry no........you would have of course you EHic card but that doesn’t cover the expense of getting you down the mountain etc.....living here I know some holiday folk without insurance it costs thousands to be lifted off mountain......so you must have insurance and thst won’t happen till you see cardio......

I guess with nhs waiting you haven’t a clue when depending on where you live...I guess you could pay private see a cardio,,,,get the ball rolling......but ditch thoughts of skiing right now.......I’d say you could go and not ski, but even so...you won’t get holiday insurance.....so it’s not worth the risk..........just tick the cardiologist box first......read up on afib, flapjack is right, so you are ready with questions to ask and feel a bit more knowledgeable about this “darn nuisance “ .

Chin up, it’s not the end of your world as you know it.........cardiologist first!

Sue

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to Morzine

I got insurance for skiing whilst on waiting list - and whilst waiting for a procedure - it wasn’t a problem but you won’t get cheap insurance cover from the Internet- I had to shop around & speak to insurer direct. I always use the same company because they have been so brilliant and still come out cheaper than all the online compare sites but it does depend more on age - over 80 & it gets a bit steep.

Morzine profile image
Morzine in reply to CDreamer

Ah that’s interesting, and good to know for folk in uk to know......I’m in France , so guess internets my easiest option for trips far and wide....I did struggle to get insurance for Australia trip even with having ablation......worldwideinsure was the only one I could get.....but I’m a Brit abroad aren’t it.......

Sue

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to Morzine

I think that makes a difference- I had similar difficulty when living in Spain.

Morzine profile image
Morzine in reply to CDreamer

Y es some uk companies that dud insure expats stopped whrn Brexit became a threat . I actually tried a fair amount and none would touch me even though I had the ablation.....worldwideinsure did thankfully as two months in Oz I wanted to feel secure. Weird though they were happy toinsureknowing I had ablation but when I sajd iwas still on tablets there was a major con flab with their advisors.....I explained my cardio thought it was a precaution as I was away sometime so security.....then they sajd ok.....

Steve112 profile image
Steve112

Hi patience12

You don't mention your symptom's your age your levels of fitness and how if at all AF is affecting you.. as you will discover this condition affects each and every one of us in very different ways..Some completely unable to function at all through to those have No symptom's whatsoever and asking such a question you will receive answers accordingly to how AF affects that person and what and how AF impacts on their lives.

Altitude conditions coupled with extreme physical exercise could very much affect your condition as could a glass of wine only you know what's going on listen to your body,

you have had No tests as yet so it may be wise to err on the side of caution until your diagnosis.

For me I still very much enjoy riding Enduro motorcycles despite being in my mid 60's and I have been out riding green lanes over the Christmas period and yes I did come off a couple of times on the mud but despite much medication and an uncertain future with this condition AF it need not control you just listen to your body.

You have a life to lead

enjoy it and Stay well

Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2

Hi Patience

Have ring round some specialist insurance companies, all clear, good2go and others and see what they say. In my experience they don't like anything that has not been investigated, sorted, documented and treated and will refuse cover unless you shell out large sums of money to offer very restricted cover.

You must be scrupulously honest - helicopter evacuation costs about £1,500, and that is just to get you down to the ambulance.

I will declare an interest here. I am deeply, deeply jealous of your ability to go swigging port. I do like a glass of port, Special Reserve port, Tawny port, Ruby port, any port in a storm., but it is for me, a guaranteed, sure fire, works every time, fire starter in my electrical system.

The good news is that type 2 is capable of swift and comprehensive defeat by sorting out you weight and your diet -Mediterranean diet, GPS (Grains, Potatoes Sugar) diet, calorie control, lose the booze,etc, get yourself to a BMI of about 24, etc. I suspect you probably know all that?

You may find getting your self sorted also stops the AFIB, (holiday heart syndrome) but that is by no means certain - however I don't think you will be able to get it done in time for this season but you could be looking slinky for the summer and water skiing perhaps?

123Abc123 profile image
123Abc123

I haven’t been skiing with AFib but I have been to high altitudes. I was fine providing I didn’t walk too fast and kept hydrated. If you are likely to fall a lot though and you are on anti coagulants you might have more bruises than normal. Enjoy!

Bambi65 profile image
Bambi65

I am really shocked that yall have to wait months and months to see a doc for afib related issues. (We live in Florida, in the states.) Then even more time passes, for EKG, and other test then more time before seeing a doc to get results of the test, then more time passes to see and EP.

The longest for us, was 2 weeks for a new EP, and now if I have questions or problems Im worked in withing a couple of days. I have had 3 different EP's in the last 2 years. The first 2 I just did not like their bedside manner nor their recommendations; have ablation, get on beta blockers immediately and anticoagulants, then off to their next patient.

I finally found this last one, who listens to me, understand my holistic approach, not wanting to rush into any surgery, and agrees that just the anticoagulants would be enough, FOR ME, at this time. We can discuss any changes based on how I feel. So changing EP's for us is very easy and quick.

Not understanding what is so different where yall are. Is it because of the insurance or just too few heart specialist? I keep reading all the remarks and cant wrap my head around yalls waiting time... a year? really that long?

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to Bambi65

NHS service is different to private insurance so you can often see an EP within a few days if you pay.

Private insurance will only pay for diagnosis & treatment plan as AF is considered a chronic condition, maintenance is always referred back to NHS where there is acute shortage of trained doctors, ageing population, too little investment in services and quite a lot of waiting patients. The perfect storm for delay.

On the other hand - we don’t pay huge medical bills, pay full price for medication and it’s free for many or pay the amounts I hear quoted for insurance in the US.

It’s a very different culture.

Mike11 profile image
Mike11 in reply to CDreamer

Actually for maintainence of my condition I get my GP to do all the necessary blood tests and perform an ECG, then I take these to the elecrophysicist for a private consultation once a year which I pay myself and is well worth it so he can spot any changes early. NHS appointments are moreorless pointless as the person usually has no knowledge of your condition, or indeed often of AF itself.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to Mike11

More or less what I do.

Bambi65 profile image
Bambi65 in reply to CDreamer

What is NHS?

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to Bambi65

The UK's National Health Service. Free medical access for everyone. That thing the States seems to think is beyond them!

Bambi65 profile image
Bambi65 in reply to FancyPants54

Oh there is free medical access and free prescriptions here in the States. But you have to be a politician to get it, or in the active military.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to Bambi65

Here we all get it. General doctors appointments, medications, access to specialists, all tests and investigations, operations and follow-up, all free to everyone at point of use. Some of our tax money goes towards it. It’s an amazing service. No one charges for ambulance services either. We pay a small, flat rate for all prescription items. People here moan about that, never seeming to understand that in America people die because they can’t afford their medication.

But the NHS is under great stress from years of mismanagement by government and now by Brexit. Under funded and under staffed.

djmnet profile image
djmnet in reply to FancyPants54

Yet you have to wait months to see your doctors, for echocardiograms, procedures, etc. I'm happy to stick with our US Medicare health insurance where you can be seen within a day or two in most cases.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to djmnet

And where half the damn population dies because they can’t afford insurance. If you are seriously ill here you get seen instantly.

America has a ridiculously bad healthcare system. It’s third world for many of the population. Ridiculous. People dying from lack of insulin and other vital medications. Insulin here costs everyone the same. The price of a prescription item. Which is £9 currently I think. £9 and you think you will stick with insurance based healthcare?

jwsonoma profile image
jwsonoma in reply to Bambi65

Hi bambi,

Don't forget 26 million americans don't have any health care. It was 44 million berfore Obama Care. The last company I worked for, in California, paid $11k a year per employee towards health insurance and an employee with a family of 4 paid an additional $5,400. They also had a $2,300 deductible person deductible for all treatment until they reached $6,300. To me it seems a lot considering the US has the lowest life expectancy of industrial nations including GB with its NHS and the US has highest infant mortality rate in that group (even higher than Cuba's).

Bambi65 profile image
Bambi65 in reply to jwsonoma

that was my point!, Free health care, all prescription, dental, vision, hospitalization, all test etc, everything is included IF and ONLY IF you are a politician or active military. Everyone else if they can afford it, pay high premiums, co-pays, and deductibles. It totally sucks.

Mike11 profile image
Mike11

I've done luge, tobogganing and snowmobiling with AF so it isn't a definite no. But I take an oxygen generator with me in case I need it, or you can buy cans of oxygen at the resort as you can't take these on planes.

I usually just need a five minute puff when I first get to altitude and that's enough as the adrenalin rush kicks in and keeps me stable, but I know someone else who needs it after the exertion. So we're all different.

So yes it is possible BUT only after you've seen your cardiologist/electrophysicist and got their opinion. Your travel insurance certainly won't be valid until they agree.

MarkS profile image
MarkS

I skied from about 3,000m when I had AF without problem.

However I then went on anticoagulants 10 years ago, and that's when I gave up skiing. A joint injury can be much worse on anticoagulants as there can be bleeding into the joint which can be quite serious and destroy the cartilage (hemarthrosis). See: medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

AndyDuk profile image
AndyDuk

I’m off snow walking and tobogganing in Jan, after getting the all clear with AF, I found it more cost effective to go for a yearly insurance with AF declared with Staysure. Selecting Europe plus Cyprus, Greece, Turkey brought the cost down drastically ! Staysure also allows you to spread the cost over a year ..

During AF I mountain biked and walked with minimal issues . A good heart rate monitor , and sports watch combo worked out well for me . I used a Kardia monitor and also have a Quardiocore for ECG on the go ..

The rule is simple . If you feel bad, just stop and rest . If you don’t feel great in the morning have a lie in and don’t be afraid of an early night :)

It’s your body, do what you are able to do with it , and just be sensible . Know your own limits .

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

You might find this helpful

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady

You don’t know until you go and try it. But as the others have said, no conclusive tests, no holiday cover😥

Read my reply above.

I want to go to St Lucia or Grenada to one of our haunts, but people are saying heat can trigger it😕 I’ve only had one episode that was diagnosed as AFib, I do have SVT also and had this first. Had one episode of that I think, in South Africa hotel. I was not on medication but we just dealt with it as I’ve done before with ice cold bottled water under the arm pits.

Husband says the insurance company will want me to go a year before re-insuring 😤 He dies know a lot about insurance companies

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady

🧐🧐🧐

allserene profile image
allserene

My event was flutter rather than Afib... I found that I can work hard all day in 90f heat shoveling top soil (what the Americans call "dirt"), into a trailer, and I feel great...The problem is when I slump onto the couch in the evening to watch telly... I can jump on a plane in Chicago and do the 6 hours jet lag to da yookay and hurtle around for a week, and then do 6 hours jetlag back....and no problem. For me, the trigger is inactivity and booze (more than 2 pints, or only 2 pints with high alcohol eg IPA). So for me the high energy stuff such as skiing would be no problem, but I can't speak to altitude which does sound pretty dodgy...

Johnboy64 profile image
Johnboy64

Some good advice in this thread. All I say is I’ve been in PAF for a couple of years and wouldn’t miss my annual ski trip. As with all things one has to modify what one can do if breathless. It is possible to get insurance but can be a little expensive. At this stage a little caution might be the wisest course to take and hopefully you’ll get plenty of chances to ski in future years.

Forgive the pun patience12, but as a recently diagnosed newbie, I’m sure you will take heart from the many contributions from members with relatively stable and established AF, clearly demonstrating there is life after AF. Once your personal situation has been clarified by medics, I’m sure you too will be out there doing your stuff. However, it’s great that you have taken on board the need to be cautious at this early stage but whatever you decide to do, I hope you will continue to find the forum a useful source of information, all the best, John

I go skiing and have Afib. Just have to take it easy. But the best thing to do is stop your afib or reduce it's severity so that it won't interfere with your life style. Here's how I do it without meds:

----------------------------------

After 9 years of trying different foods and logging EVERYTHING I ate, I found sugar (and to a lesser degree, salt – i.e. dehydration) was triggering my Afib. Doctors don't want to hear this - there is no money in telling patients to eat less sugar. Each person has a different sugar threshold - and it changes as you get older, so you need to count every gram of sugar you eat every day (including natural sugars in fruits, etc.). My tolerance level was 190 grams of sugar per day 8 years ago, 85 grams a year and a half ago, and 60 grams today, so AFIB episodes are more frequent and last longer (this is why all doctors agree that afib gets worse as you get older). If you keep your intake of sugar below your threshold level your AFIB will not happen again (easier said than done of course). It's not the food - it's the sugar (or salt - see below) IN the food that's causing your problems. Try it and you will see - should only take you 1 or 2 months of trial-and-error to find your threshold level. And for the record - ALL sugars are treated the same (honey, refined, agave, natural sugars in fruits, etc.). I successfully triggered AFIB by eating a bunch of plums and peaches one day just to test it out. In addition, I have noticed that moderate (afternoon) exercise (7-mile bike ride or 5-mile hike in the park) often puts my Afib heart back in to normal rhythm a couple hours later. Don’t know why – perhaps you burn off the excess sugars in your blood/muscles or sweat out excess salt?? I also found that strenuous exercise does no good – perhaps you make yourself dehydrated??

I'm pretty sure that Afib is caused by a gland(s) - like the Pancreas, Thyroid (sends signals to the heart to increase speed or strength of beat), Adrenal Gland (sends signals to increase heart rate), Sympathetic Nerve (increases heart rate) or Vagus Nerve (decreases heart rate), Hypothalamus Gland or others - or an organ that, in our old age, is not working well anymore and excess sugar or dehydration is causing them to send mixed signals to the heart - for example telling the heart to beat fast and slow at the same time - which causes it to skip beats, etc. I can't prove that (and neither can my doctors), but I have a very strong suspicion that that is the root cause of our Afib problems. I am working on this with a Nutritionist and hope to get some definitive proof in a few months.

Also, in addition to sugar, if you are dehydrated - this will trigger AFIB as well. It seems (but I have no proof of this) that a little uptick of salt in your blood is being treated the same as an uptick of sugar - both cause AFIB episodes. (I’m not a doctor – it may be the sugar in your muscles/organs and not in your blood, don’t know). In any case you have to keep hydrated, and not eat too much salt. The root problem is that our bodies are not processing sugar/salt properly and no doctor knows why, but the AFIB seems to be a symptom of this and not the primary problem, but medicine is not advanced enough to know the core reason that causes AFIB at this time. You can have a healthy heart and still have Afib – something inside us is triggering it when we eat too much sugar or get (even a little) dehydrated. Find out the core reason for this and you will be a millionaire and make the cover of Time Magazine! Good luck! - Rick Hyer

PS – there is a study backing up this data you can view at:

https//cardiab.biomedcentral.com/a...

Stevegeof profile image
Stevegeof

I am 57 yo male with PAF. Have had a radio frequently ablation with so far good results. The cardiologist I see advised against high intensity activity. He did not elaborate. I still have mountaineering goals for the future. The electrophysiology advised that Training is important leading up to a climb and to keep a beta blocker on hand if AF or tachycardia occurs.

It’s risky and in the end you have to use your own judgment. A high level triathlete In the eighties had an arrest post event. In hospital he was interviewed and said ‘I couldn’t live with out doing triathlons’six months later he died during the Napean triathlon (nsw,Australia)

Eastwick profile image
Eastwick

I went to Courcheval a few years ago and almost immediately at that altitude went into Afib and ended up in a French hospital as I was so bad. High altitude and Afib don’t seem to go together.

MS444 profile image
MS444

I’ve never done any exercise when in AFib, but I’ve only had PAF that could be corrected after a few hours of inactivity. Not sure about what is advisable if you have permanent AF.

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