Saunas & the Vagus Nerve

[secondtry]

I have had AF episodes triggered and stopped by the Vagus Nerve several times, in particular re cold drinks that have both started & stopped an episode. My brother has just bought a wood lodge with a sauna, which started me thinking if you had an episode might half a hour in the sauna and then a cold shower stop it? Anybody had any experience?

[CDreamer]

I don’t think I would want to try the sauna period as any prolonged exposure to heat makes things a lot worse for me - but I try to take a cold shower every day and that certainly helps. I do 10 secs of hot water followed by 20 secs of cold. The advantage of just using the shower is that you have full control of the temperatures so it’s not too much of a shock to the system, which could make things a lot worse. Chilling the body for a short period of time every day also helps to regulate the immune system.

[secondtry in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks CDreamer that was my feeling. Your reply also reminded me of the cold shower I tried 6 months ago when I last had an AF episode, it didn't work but I felt much better afterwards. Standing in hot water and then cold was what I have read in the past to improve circulation in the feet. I am just a tad nervous about cold showers despite the 'feeling great' afterwards when in NSR, in case it trips me into AF. So in the current 'virus' climate will postpone any new actions. Have a good day.

[Lewis1234]

Hi, I'm interested why you say your episodes are started and stopped by the Vagus nerve?

[secondtry in reply to Lewis1234]

Hi Lewis, the Vagus Nerve connects to many areas but principally the brain, the heart and the stomach. Some AFers are vagallly mediated that is to say the Vagus Nerve & associated nervous systems are out of balance/too sensitive to events which can cause AF to both start & stop. That's my layman's understanding anyway.

I have started AF twice by just visiting sites where it had occurred before and also by gulping a cold drink. I have stopped episodes by focussing on a slow heart beat on YouTube and also by gulping down a cold drink.

That's basically what I based my comments on but always willing to learn more!

[BluMts]

Well, my AFib started after I began taking the Sauna a couple times a week and then happened a few hours after 3 Sauna visits, but also happened when I had not been to the Sauna.

Also need to say only option at my council gym was to use the sauna which was most of time in high 90 degrees centigrade. When it started creeping up to 100 and a bit above, and the managers seemed to think that was fine, would not adjust it, I left and went to a Nuffield gym.

I continued to have AFib every few weeks, but never again after the Sauna. There it was kept at 80.

This is all very vague but sometimes our minds and bodies know what is not good for us.

Strange, since March I have only had one bout of AFib and it was such less severe and I was able to shorten the episode to about an hour with ice on vagal nerve... Feel it easing with ina minute of applying the ice.

I think Sauna is a fantastic thing for health so hope above is musing of a stupid woman. 😂. When feel happy to be back in pool and sauna, after this pandemic, I'll be going back to the sauna but not above 80 c.

I'm into special breathing now as well. Guess you've explored James Nestor on YouTube and he has a book out. He's a journalist in the States, not a medic.

I don't really understand the vagus nerve connection properly. So anything anyone can post will be appreciated. I know that vagal nerve can be overactive and cause AFid and under active and cause AFib. It's to know what my nerve is like and how to encourage it to be nice and balanced.

[secondtry]

I have just read Nestor's book Breathe which includes the best description I have read on the Vagus Nerve/Parasympathetic & Sympathetic system plus more for AFers/others...all quite remarkable. If I get time I will post some exerts here.

[BluMts in reply to secondtry]

I think conscious and informed breathing has helped control my AFib. Really hoping so. I don't know why cardiologists I've met don't give us more information on naturally controlling this ailment. Now I've found James Nestor and others,, I just need time, time to read, listen and learn. I am aware that this is not for everyone.