Resources on AF and coronavirus

[Thomps95]

stopafib.org/newsitem.cfm/N...

Has anyone with paroxysmal AF had coronavirus and recovered? Share your stories. Did the virus put you into AF? Did there seem to be an interaction?

[CDreamer]

Thanks for the link - some good information and sources of data.

Thinking about your question - is this just curiosity or searching for information for your own knowledge?

There are so many unknowns, variables and uncertainties around AF and this Coronavirus that I think it will be some time before anyone will really know the affects. I suppose I am concerned that people may jump to conclusions which may or may not be correct ie: if you have AF you will be more susceptible to the virus and/or it will worsen the AF.

My view is that although there can be trends, everyone reacts differently to any disease and taking precautions and staying positive are the things that will help bring us through this crisis.

To the best of my knowledge, but who knows without testing, I haven’t had the symptoms of COVID19 (the disease) but I know from previous viral infections that ANY virus puts me into AF so I expect this one will be no different - but I’m working on not finding out!

The 2 factors I and my husband are currently monitoring x2 daily are our temperatures - consistent at 36.5 ish for both of us since we started - and sats - mine are currently higher than they have been for years - 96-99%. I have been religiously practicing daily breathing exercises to maintain good oxygen saturation. I know from my own previous experience that when my sats dip - and they often used to go less than 90 - low oxygen triggered AF.

The reading and videos etc I have been watching is that COVID19 appears to mimic oxygen starvation as much as pneumonia, especially in the earlier stages and as many of us are aware, that will often trigger AF, if we have paroxysmal AF.

I have a friend who has AF (persistent) and has had COVID19 (the disease) for several weeks now and is not feeling at all well but not ill enough to be hospitalised. She is 70+ and as far as I know at this precise moment, is starting to recover but feeling weak, with extreme fatigue.

[Thomps95 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you! Very helpful. Re your question: Just curiosity and in case anyone had tips. My AF doesn't get triggered when I'm sick with flu or a cold - but it is triggered by digestive problems. My understanding is that if you are unlucky enough to get a serious version of coronavirus, it's like nothing we've experienced - more like malaria or typhoid than like a typical flu or a chest cold - so like you my plan is to not get exposed!

[CDreamer in reply to Thomps95]

My friend said similar - ran a very high fever for 10 days. Nothing like a cold or flu.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

G'day CD,

You are into stuff about which I am largely ignorant ......... so to add to my armoury of knowledge, can you explain to me what "sats" is and also that relationship with oxygen is please. All I know is that on rare occasions when I see my GP or INR Nurse they put a thingy on my finger and it says 97 or whatever the reading might be. Can't remember now what they say ..... derrrrrrr !

John

[jwsonoma in reply to Hidden]

Hi, it's the % oxygen saturation in blood with 100% as max. Dr. Google will give you normal and safe ranges.

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Oxygen blood saturation. I’m never 100% - I’m really happy at 95. At night it often drops to 92 & I start to feel breathless, which is when the HR starts to rise & is the danger point for me, even using CPAP.

[BWS_Boyo in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CD, my understanding is slightly different to yours (almost the opposite way of thinking). After an ultrasound scan I learned that my heart produces an LVEF (left ventricle efficiency factor, I think) below normal which I take to mean - inefficient at getting blood to the lungs so inefficient at oxygenating the red stuff. That would explain my breathlessness (having to pant to reverse that pattern).

Re Covid-19 - I believe it does the same thing ie prevents oxygenation by clogging up the lung or damaging the lung tissue mechanism. So adding the two together - AF + Covid is a dangerous combination and best avoided.

Hope this ramble through my thoughts helps or at least provides another line of thinking.

Best wishes everyone and keep safe.

[CDreamer in reply to BWS_Boyo]

LV EF = a problem with the ventricle pumping oxygenated blood around the body so less blood = lower sats = breathlessness. A LF EF of less than 35% is often classified as heart failure.

The Left Ventricle pumps oxygenated to the body - it is the Right Ventricle which pumps blood to the lungs, not the left.

COVID19 affect on the body is as you say - it prevents blood oxygen saturation which is the same affect as when you go to high altitude but I don’t think anybody knows exactly how it does that. Two entirely different subjects.

I took Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for about 12 months which improved my sats hugely and increased my energy levels. I am wondering if the oxygen therapy they are using to treat COVID is similar - I believe oxygen delivered directly to the airways via CPAP - continuous positive airway pressure - will work in a similar way ie:- when pure oxygen is delivered breathed in under pressure it is known to aid tissue healing. Especially useful for burns, strokes, MS, Lymes Disease and many other issues. It’s rarely used by the NHS but is available through some MS centres which is how I accessed it.

[dave1950]

Well i hope so otherwise there are going to be millions of deaths going on the numbers of people with AF! My concern is that I am in AF about 2 out of every 7 days and it is generally a weakish irrregular heart beat. I've got used to it but do get very slightly breathless and a bit dizzy if I bend down. I suspect my blood pressure is a bit low. My concern is that if it does become severe tis will play havoc in an ICU with the control of things like oxygen rates and ventilators?

[Thomps95 in reply to dave1950]

Yes that was my concern - when I'm in AF it is fairly all consuming - I am not sure how easy it would be to deal with a serious AF attack at the same time as a serious viral infection in my lungs. But I guess most people get a mild case, even those with lots of comorbidities.

[Hidden]

Thanks for that, most interesting, I guess for AF'ers its a groundbreaking analysis. Haven't seen it anywhere else before.

As a key worker, a bus driver, I'm still driving and moving people around. The interesting thing is those that use buses are few and far between with lockdown, but those that need to are elderly folk without any other means of getting their shopping; i.e. private car, someone to go and get, or without IT skills. Journeys are always to local shops, no inter town journeys. I choose not to wear gloves or a face mask, or any other face protection. When a passenger gets on the bus I turn my head away and wait for the ping on the ticket machine, or if I have to talk I turn my head away raise my voice and ask that they don't use coins, but go contactless. No issues with uncooperative passengers or wayward virus issues yet

Mostly though, in the course of an 8 hour shift I carry between 3 and 8 people.

Some times if I am running early, I have to wait at a bus stop and it might be that a pedestrian stop at the doors and asks why I have no mask or face protection or gloves, I choose not to have them, I carry with me in my bag some sort of sanitiser to wipe over the vehicle controls but in this spell of hot weather getting cluttered up is unpleasant given the large expanse of windscreen glass right in front of me ... it gets very, very hot. Most drivers in my depot are the same.

I might add before I leave home for work I take my temperature, and when I get to the bus depot and sign on for my shift my Team Leader/Supervisor also takes my temperature. Within the depot, and staff rest areas are abundant supplies of sanitisers etc.

John

[Hidden]

Maybe the effect of the virus on AF depends upon the extent of a persons exposure to it, I read that people who have had a bad experience with it have been exposed to lots of it. Not sure I entirely understand that as I thought if you had a virus you had it and the amount you were exposed to was irrelevant, but not in the case of Covid that appears to be a factor ? It's a strange one for sure !

Andy

[secondtry]

Thanks for this Thomps useful to have access to. Hope you are keeping well. I don't have the virus but I have been taking 1 or 2 grams of VitC daily for a couple of weeks and reducing that level now. As with any illness/hospital procedure I believe it is best to boost yourself up before the body gets insulted!

[Faraday954]

Thanks for this thread. I have paroxysmal AFib and just started running a low fever last night. Trying not to freak out! The info was reassuring