Yawning and skipped beats

[Padayn01]

Does anyone know or heard of when you yawn quite hard/excessive it causes your heart to flutter/skip slightly? And if so what causes that?

[Finvola]

I’m the opposite Paday - I find yawning helps to settle my heart and I always use yawning when I deep breathe to get rid of ectopics! My mother had what were called palpitations in the 1960’s - probably AF and found yawning beneficial too.

We are all so different but I suspect the reaction of the heart, good or bad, is something to do with the effect of pressure on the vagus nerve

[Padayn01 in reply to Finvola]

I was thinking it had something to do with vague nerve maybe when I yawn loudly it sets of my vague nerve cause my heart to flutter

[etheral in reply to Padayn01]

Yawning would stimulate the vagus nerve and slow down the AV node which could cause a dysrythmia to occur because of the slow sinus beat

[Padayn01 in reply to etheral]

Yeah I was thinking that a loud yawn would effect the vagus nerve

[Lbeat796 in reply to Finvola]

Hi Finvola, I also think its the vagus nerve which starts my ectopics which sometimes develop into a 2 hr fast heartbeat always 98 to 102 bpm. I do same as you if i need to bend down. I always breath out whike bending or take rapid breaths because if not there is pressure in neck which seems to affect vagus nerve. When reading i must keep book at eye level as if my chin tucked down to chest again seems to affect vagus nerve. I will try your yawning trick next time.

[Finvola in reply to Lbeat796]

Before I started Flecainide I had difficulty sitting at my PC - I probably slouched - and my heart would play up. I bought an iPad and used it whilst reclining slightly, propped up high on my knee - it worked. I think any position which constricts my chest is bad news.

Hope you find yawning helpful.

[jeanjeannie50]

Paydayn02, I've never thought about the effect of yawning, don't even know if I do it. My first thought was that I didn't, but I'll be aware from now on. I wonder why some people want to make a noise when they yawn, an older sister of mine does and I find it very irritating. Thank you for bringing this subject up, its something I don't think we've discussed before. I'll be interested in the responses you get. Jean

[Lbeat796 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I think it was you Jeanjeannie who gave the tip of short rapid breaths. I tried it out and it has worked twice. If that doesnt work its magnesium tablets. Only meds i am on is 25mg of Atenolol

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Lbeat796]

Yes, deep breath in through nose and then breathe out blowing as quickly as you can through mouth, to bring down BP. Mine drops quickly this way, so watch that you don't overdo it. Works for me without fail.

Gentle, relaxed breaths deep into rising stomach (not chest) and out slowly to bring down heart rate. I find if I do this in too much of a forced manner it doesn't work, has to be gently done.

Jean

[Finvola in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you for the BP tip - I’ll try to get my husband to do that breathing for his spiking BP.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Finvola]

Would be interested to know if it works for him Finvola.

[Finvola in reply to jeanjeannie50]

The main hurdle is getting him to agree to it but will certainly let you know if it does help.

[Lbeat796 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks

[BobJ52]

Hi this is down to stimulation of the Vagal nerve and can be used to try an revert to NSR if in PAF. Use the old technique to clear your ears when flying, preferably lie flat and then hold your nose shut and blow out through nose hard for about 20 seconds. This stimulates the vagal nerve using what known as the Valsalva manoeuvre and can revert you to NSR, May not work every time but worth trying.

Good luck and keep well

[Lbeat796 in reply to BobJ52]

I am always a bit scared to try this maneuver. When i feel the skipped beat in throat i take a very deep breath and hold putting pressure on back of throat with tongue until the rapid beat returns to nsr. Most times it works but if not i could be 2 hours at between 98 and 102 bpm when i resort to magnesium tablet which usually helps.

[Adalaide2020]

I get that and immediately I freeze( fear of going into af again). I dont know why this happens so will be interested to see what folk say. Thanks for the question.