A subject frequently discussed here on this forum - some surprising results
medscape.com/viewarticle/92...
Take home -
Quote:- Physical activity can either reduce or increase the risk of AF, with the balance of effects at high exercise levels being quite sex-dependent.
It seems women benefit from high intensity exercise more than men.......
Intense physical activity can produce adverse remodelling consequences that increase AF risk. Intense endurance training in animal models produces atrial fibrosis and dilatation, along with autonomic changes such as enhanced vagal tone that, in addition to causing the well-known slow heart rates of trained athletes, also promote the initiation of reentrant AF.
I find this para rather interesting. I wonder if years of heightened stress with increased heart rate and adrenaline could have a similar effect to intense exercise. Could it then have the same effects on the heart and lead to AF? In my case years of meeting deadlines daily at work, under lot of pressure (which I enjoyed incidentally - stress is not always unpleasant) certainly raised my heart rate. Could that have contributed to my AF? I certainly developed a slow heart beat when not in AF, as athletes do, although I was never sporty. It is quite a thought.
Interesting post. Thank you.
I agree and sometimes we don’t realise so we push ourselves harder instead of easing back. As I’ve aged this has become more and more obvious to me.
My chronic health problems, all started after about 5 years of intense stress. The stress chemicals are corrosive.
Living in a world where chronic stress is so prevalent, I am not surprised there is an AF tsunami!
I agree, I think people get so used to being in a state of stress it becomes second nature and they just accept it as normal and in effect cease to notice they are actually stressed ! Obviously long term that's a pretty corrosive state to be in !
Andy
When you get stressed the body is flooded with adrenaline awaiting flight or fight. Since we are rarely able to do that at work (though often been tempted by former!) the body is left in a heightened state of awareness which is very destructive long term.
Exercise helps stress by using up the adrenaline in the way it is intended ( or as a substitute from fighting off that woolly mammoth!).
I've heard this research about sex making a difference to Afib before. I'm female and initially my Afib episodes were blamed on exercise. Then I was told that the low level, I was doing (and slow pace!) wouldnt cause it. Then I was told exercise was good because a strong heart is more able to fight the effects of being in fibrillation. Take your pick! Now it seems the afib is caused by either a genetic condition plus dehydration! It seems obvious it is a mixture of many factors otherwise every gym would be full of afib sufferers and when we ran afib checks at my gym we didn't find anyone (not true, two young lifeguards had it - runs in their families, apparently!)
1st para - spot on! Our system was designed for fleeing from tigers or fighting another tribe - it’s a bit outdated for modern life!
However, in my opinion and experience, it’s not quite as simple as just adrenaline, the autonomic system reacts to many hormones and it is the balance of those hormones in the system at any one time which trigger responses.
I think this study is very interesting and really highlights the differences between male/female - interesting there were no neuters as a control. It also highlights just how much we have yet to learn.
Dehydration is and will always be a big factor, few of us drink enough water. There maybe a genetic link, but there is no particular gene(s) been identified and anyway that would only give a predisposition.
Moderate exercise is always beneficial - it’s just who benefits and does not from high intensity which is of interest.
I think getting the balance correct for the individual, at that particular time in their life is what we need more research and more guidance on. And individualisation of medicine and research is just round the corner with the modern tech we now have access to.
I agree. I would have put more but I was in a hurry 😀
I used to get AF during sex before my ablation, not now thankfully.
The effects of intense exercise are of course known to us, but the fact that it is mainly men that suffer ill-effects is really interesting.
A timely post too, I have forwarded this link onto my daughter. Her university friend (40, living in Australia) has just been diagnosed with Afib, apparently linked to an enlarged SVC (I had to look that up) though when I hear of his training programme I wonder. He 'has to do a 90 minute half-marathon this year, so I can't have any problems'. His cardiologist has told him to run carrying a beta blocker and an anticoagulant both of which he takes as a PiP in case of an episode. He hasn't given her any more detail...
Says it all doesn’t it?
Interesting article, i have had three episodes of AF which I believe are all related to high intensity exercise. All have fallen back into flutter. The first two were dc cardioverted, the most recent they wouldnt due to Covid so I am stuck in flutter and am on Bisoprolol and Apixiban. I am 32 and love working out/staying fit and healthy and surfing! They are recommending an Afib and Flutter ablation. I am still able to exercise but the natural limits in this state are quite frustrating! Any thoughts most welcome. (Sorry to hijack thread but most relevant i have seen so far :)) (im male)
Did you read this article posted a day or so ago? Also interesting comments for those with AF in the younger age group.
healthunlocked.com/api/redi...
No i didnt, thank you
Well this was disappointing... I agreed with the remark "Sex is critical" -- before reading on to hear the article was talking about gender. 
I know, I had the same thought😂.
Gender and sex are different - sex is the bits and chromosomes you were born with whereas gender is about the sex of your brain and if you feel more male or female.
So using sex would be correct - but I also took a double take and 😂
I might still try and mention it in those terms and try my lockdown luck!
Oh. I was all ready to tell the OH that sex was critical to my AF being controlled. I'm now disappointed.
😆
Coitus increases heart rate, blood pressure, etc. - like driving too fast.
If you get stopped for speeding, tell the officer you have bradycardia - and have to drive fast to elevate your pulse rate to enable you to maintain adequate concentration for driving.
Good stuff. Thank you very much : )
New study links poor sleep quality to atrial fibrillation
New study links excessive amounts of vitamin D to onset of atrial fibrillation 
Long term study… sugars and artificial sweeteners increase risk of AF
I am new to AF. Is exercise good and if so how much and what are the limits? I am on blood thinners.
Is there a risk exercising hard when you have had an AF diagnosis?
