To exercise? or not to exercise? - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

32,304 membersโ€ข38,577 posts

To exercise? or not to exercise?

nickym1 profile image
nickym1
โ€ข29 Replies

Hi all,

Female, 47years young, and diagnosed with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia last year. Treated with Bisoprolol, which taken twice a day has calmed symptoms right down...mostly.

Although, I do still get symptoms sometimes, usually not for long periods.

However, a few months ago, I took part in Dragon Boat racing with work colleagues (just after diagnosis, and totally forgot I had a problem), and nearly passed out. It was quite frightening actually. My heart went crazy.

I have other health problems as well, and have found that I have had a real intolerance to exercise for a few years now. Total and utter prolonged exhaustion after exertion, and obviously a very raised heartbeat.

I assumed it was Endometriosis or thyroid related, but now wonder if it's more to do with the IST.

Does anyone have experience of exercise intolerance? How do you exercise but keep heart rate under control?

I'm feeling eager to start short runs again..

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Nicky x

Written by
nickym1 profile image
nickym1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
29 Replies
โ€ข
jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Hi Nicky, I think it would be wise for you to exercise slowly. You talk about getting back into short runs. This would be best attempted by walking the route at a normal pace a few times and then over a period of time gradually increasing your speed. Any sudden movement or straining of your body can trigger an AF attack, so always start slowly. Boring but necessary! It's really important to keep up, at the very least, a gentle exercise routine to build stamina and keep supple. However dragon boat racing requires a lot of straining and may not be a good idea right now. Jean

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thanks Jean.

That sounds like sensible advice. A good starting point.

Nicky

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

To add to what Jean has written, unless you are a trained athlete the best advice is that you should be able to exercise and talk at the same time. It is very important to listen to your body and act accordingly.

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply toBobD

I agree Bob.

I was so fit in my youth, and I'm struggling to accept my current capabilities. But I am listening to my body, and currently doing nothing! ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ™‚

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Hi yes I have exercise intolerance from several conditions, one neuro muscular so my muscles just stop working.

Dragon Boat racing is upper body strength and stamina and twisting so I can quite see how that put a huge strain on your heart which was unable to cope with and that I think is the key - we need to exercise within our tolerance range - which as we age will often decrease.

Exercise in moderation, wear a heart monitor and take advice from cardiac rehab as to what HR you should work within. I know I canโ€™t exercise with HR above 120 and I also know that rest and recuperation is AS important as exercise. Another rule of thumb is to always be able to exercise and talk - if you canโ€™t talk - ๐Ÿ›‘- rest and recuperate.

Itโ€™s really hard when you have been an active person, able to do anything you wanted to do, to restrict yourself - but it is required. I know of only one person who died from AF and that was because they continued to push themselves into hard exercise to break through the โ€˜painโ€™ barrier.

We must learn to respect our limitations so as Jean says - slow and steady to build stamina - but yes - do keep exercising. My EP says 30 mins of daily brisk walking - even broken into 2 x 15 mins which I often need to do - is enough to improve cardiac health.

Best wishes CD

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply toCDreamer

I actually don't have a heart monitor, but use an app on my phone when I'm aware that my HR is up. I think I will invest in one before starting my new regime. Dragon boat racing was an absolute killer! Totally unexpected..๐Ÿ˜Ÿ (silly me!)

Thanks for your reply,

Nicky

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLadyโ€ข in reply tonickym1

I have a Fitbit 3, itโ€™s ok, possibly not perfect, but gives me and idea๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป I also have a Kardia, only one lead, is a 6 lead one.

doodle68 profile image
doodle68

Hello Nicky :-) sorry to hear about your many health problems . It must be horrible for you.

In addition to Jeannies walking if you are unable to tollerate some forms of exercise have you tried gentle stretching exercise some of which you can do laying down. There are many videos of this on the internet.

Last year I damaged my knee and also developed pains in my back and legs which made walking difficult ( the latter turned out to be a deficiency of vitamin D) I was so disappointed having worked hard since being diagnosed with P-AF to do some excercise each day and to maintain a level of stamina.

The gentle stretching exercise helped to keep my muscles supple.

Another thing to consider is Tia Chi which again is gentle stretching .

Hopefull gentle regular excercise will help to keep you body ready for when you are able to do short runs again.

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply todoodle68

Thanks for your reply. ๐Ÿ™‚

I've never had much patience for gentle stretching type exercise, although I hope to change this mind set. As a child I was a pretty good gymnast, and trained for 7 years. Unfortunately I still feel that exercise should hurt, but am obviously worried about the IST. I guess I just need to start slow, and monitor myself.

Good luck with your health issues too,

Nicky ๐Ÿ™‚

jondeanp profile image
jondeanp

I would advise using a heart rate monitor if not doing so already. This would give you an early indication of any unusual elevation of HR before you may feel it as exhaustion.

Take it easy, maybe use a treadmill to increase your pace steadily over time (ie days/ weeks/ months). The reason i suggest treadmill is to have more control over your pace & also if you suddenly don't feel great then at least you won't be a great distance from your starting point and you can just stop.

Maybe try some light weight training instead or a rowing machine (again same process as above)

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply tojondeanp

I'm thinking a heart monitor is a must. Don't know why I don't have one already..?

I have no thyroid, and my energy levels are often dire without exercise, but I will start slow and see how I go.

Thank you for your input,

Nicky

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire

It is difficult to accept restrictions when one has been used to being active. But on a general note I think there is too much of what often amounts to hysteria round "exercise " these days. We did not evolve to "exercise" . We evolved to move. Our grandmothers did not "exercise" . They were active doing their housework, gardening and walking to the shops. They maybe played tennis or bowls in the summer (if they had time!). They went dancing or cycling -for fun. They would not have dreamt of pounding the pavements running, or traipsing down the gym 2 or 3 times a week . I saw a programme some time ago -it was one of those with Michael Mosely - that compared metabolic markers in peopke with varying degrees of exercise. The person who came out on top was a waitress who never took any "exercise" but who moved around all day relatively slowly.

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply toAuriculaire

Hi,

My reply seems to have posted above, thanks for your reply. Nicky

jondeanp profile image
jondeanpโ€ข in reply toAuriculaire

Auriclaire, the problem is for a lot of people is that they donโ€™t get the opportunity to move regularly throughout the day.

Many people, myself included, have desk jobs and rarely take more than 1000 steps during the day. Coupled with other commitments outside of work, โ€œexerciseโ€ is something that we have to squeeze into the day. Without it there would be very little physical activity to move joints, muscles to compensate for the time spent sitting on our ar5es ๐Ÿ˜‰

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply tojondeanp

Luckily (?) for me, my job is pretty active - and a fair portion of my day is spent rushing about after adults with special needs at our local college.

In fact, I only work three days a week, and on those three days I need an hours sleep on my return home. ๐Ÿ˜‚

nickym1 profile image
nickym1

That's all so true, the importance of just moving!

Well, on the plus side, I am pretty active and don't sit down much, but hope to increase my stamina and strength over the course of this year.

We shall see.

Thanks for your reply ๐Ÿ™‚

Nicky

Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2

At 47 you are entering the danger zone where the effects of your lifestyle choices, too much activity of the wrong sort or lack of activity, diet choices and steady accumulation of weight, all start to get together to cause you problems.

Give yourself an MOT. All the usual things, Blood pressure, height, weight, sugar levels, cholesterol ratios and triglycerides. waist / height ratio and BMI. If you don't want to go down your local surgery, (cough/sneeze) try your local chemist or Tesco chemist (cost ยฃ10). This will give you a base line.

Think back to when you were at your fittest. What was your weight then?

As other have said earlier nice and easy does it. You will need to rebuild your stamina and fitness. When you can consistently go for a six mile walk in about an hour and a half, or less, you may be ready to run, Summer is coming.

I am 75. One of my friends used to get up and blast in an hours exercise at 5 am, regardless of where he was, and then go work. I always thought he was over the top, but he is still doing it.

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply toIanc2

I like your phrase 'the danger zone' ๐Ÿ˜‚

In actual fact I began falling apart before my 40's, just when I was expecting to enter my prime!!!

I agree that an MOT is probably a good idea. My weight has remained fairly stable (despite having my thyroid removed in 2013, but it would be good to see what cholesterol etc is up to.

I know that I will never be up at 5am to exercise either. High five to your friend who can. (Nutter!)

Thanks for your reply ๐Ÿ™‚

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady

Oh my. Vigorous paddling?? I know when I worked for a life assurance company, serious rowers were rated due to the effect on the heart. Think you should chat about it with your cardiologist.

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply toLaceyLady

Vigorous paddling indeed!

I had no idea what I was letting myself in for..

Cardiology prescribed beta blockers then discharged me ๐Ÿคจ so not sure who to go to with my questions...?

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply tonickym1

Apart from you guys...

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady

I know what you mean!

This afternoon I had to have a ECG from Nurse at the surgery for the first time ever since my 1st episode end of May. Got read the riot act, no alcohol, lose weight and why arenโ€™t you on anticoagulant ๐Ÿ˜ณ Err because my consultant cardiologist thought I didnโ€™t need it. The rant I got. No one can give you answers to your questions.

Bear in mind I had to initiate the medical checks! Theyโ€™d just been dishing the meds without any recalls.

You probably red a cardiologist whoโ€™s into sports themselves

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady

Nicky, go on YouTube for York Cardiology or Sanjay Gupta, heโ€™d be the one!

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply toLaceyLady

Thank you, I'll take a look..๐Ÿ™‚๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLadyโ€ข in reply tonickym1

Sanjay might be able to help with the exercise thing, Iโ€™d be interested too. I swim for 20 minutes and do aquarobics 20 minutes 3 x a week. Use steam AND freezing plunge pool ๐Ÿ˜œ To my mind, it jump starts my heart ๐Ÿ˜‚ Not doing the exercises as itโ€™s been 7 wks since partial knee replacement, but hope to get back to it plus.

nickym1 profile image
nickym1โ€ข in reply toLaceyLady

Wow! Apart from the knee thing, you're doing really well!

I've never managed a plunge pool despite the alleged benefits. ๐Ÿ™ˆ

Am checking out YouTube now ๐Ÿ™‚

nickym1 profile image
nickym1

I can relate to this. Not that I exactly trained..but I was pretty fit, and able to go for a run a couple of times a week.

Am thinking that if I don't pick myself up soon and start exercising, it's never going to happen. Am just so tired all the time, and exercise exacerbates this significantly.. ho hum

Respondicus profile image
Respondicus

Hi Nicky, Ive found that when I try to exercise or even walk much I am getting a delayed reaction and going into an AF attack that can last up to a day, its seriously getting me down, I am also type 2 diabetic and so need to try and get my wieght down, i seem to be fighting two foes at the moment and im losing the battle, im eating less and less, my stomach is bloated (two Drs tell me its not water but it doesnt look like fat) so its getting me down, ts frustrating in the extreme when you are willing to try and help sort your body out but prevented from doing so at the same time...I feel for you

RoyMacDonald profile image
RoyMacDonald

Just posted on this topic. healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Exercise or not

I felt afib or irregular heartbeat start at about 423 am today but I slept and woke about 630 am...
Camelia23 profile image
โ€ข

To exercise or not to exercise? Question 2

Hi again, A quick update to my previous post. Today I bought a fitness tracker with heart...
nickym1 profile image
โ€ข

AF or flutter? Stress test and more.

Hi Yesterday I had the stress test which was the second half of my isotope test. I was diagnosed...
Hilly22 profile image
โ€ข

To go to hospital or not?

This is my first post here and over the last few weeks I have found many of the post and responses...
Kingfisher44 profile image
โ€ข

Exercise while in af

Hello any help would help I have not long had an ablation over 3 weeks ago ( was cardioverted 5...
Zombiebenny profile image
โ€ข

Moderation team

See all
Emily-Admin profile image
Emily-AdminAdministrator
Kelley-Admin profile image
Kelley-AdminAdministrator
jess-admin profile image
jess-adminAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.