A fib after climbing steps

[bikergurl]

Has anyone gone into a fib after climbing stairs? The last 3 onset’s I have had were all in the evening. After relaxing and watching television, I have gotten up, climbed a flight of stairs, and have gone into a fib. Any thoughts?

[BobD Volunteer]

You have AF your will get AF. There is no rhyme or reason.

[bikergurl]

I’ll give it a go! Thanks for your input. Wishing you normal sinus rhythm!

[PlanetaryKim]

That's an interesting theory john. I have been theorizing that shallow breathing (from many hours of computer posture) is somehow related to my Afib. Am trying to remind myself to do more full breathing. and get off computer more!

[wilsond]

Rather an abrupt first reply!...really....!!!

Yes,exertion of any kind ,particularly stairs or on an incline tends to trigger a nasty AF response. Try taking it very very easy going upstairs . I find if I sit down straight away and have a moment it helps a lot

Try not to carry laundry etc upstairs too.

Yes you have AF and will 'get AF' but there's a lot you can do to avoid ( mostly !)

Best wishes xx

[Ciscoguy]

I have notice that if I don’t fully breathe deeply then I go into Afib. If I am jogging and breathing deeply I am good. If I get to the point that I am so tire and breathing too fast. Those breath are usually shallow and cause me to go into Afib. Sometimes, I think it’s the body reacting to the fght-or-flight response.

[Amy2805]

Climbing stairs is one of my triggers too. I try and take my time and climb them slowly to stop it from happening.

[Ppiman]

My atrial flutter did just that until the ablation sorted it out.

Steve

[Pinsy]

I had a similar experience at work when I rushed up the stairs after sitting at my desk - it got much worse when bisoprolol dose was increased - I have since come off this and don’t have the problem. However I gave up tennis as it caused af - I think it’s linked to stop/start exercise - the breathing comments above are really interesting as the “exercise” that has helped the most is yoga and the control of breath is central to yoga

[ETFCfan]

Thanks for that. Food for though, I’m in permanent AF and struggle with stairs due to my breathing. Thinking about it I probably don’t breathe properly as I sort of brace myself to go up.

[secondtry]

Similar to John6 & Pinsey above. To expand to avoid your trigger experience try avoiding sharp contrasts of activity eg. get up from the sofa, do another light chore or take some deep breaths first before dashing up the stairs.

I take some deep breaths whenever I feel a heat blip and when I think about it without a heart blip when I am sedentary in front of the TV/computer screen. I am currently learning to breath much more deeply through the nose as per Patrick McKeowan Oxygen Advantage and I think that could be helping my mild sleep apnea.

[Ribbony]

You are a "card", as we used to say in the old fashioned world I grew up in! Made me laugh out loud! You can write me a "dearest, darling" note anytime!

Stairs don't trigger Afib in Me, @bikergurl, but if I'm already in Afib, I either avoid the stairs until it calms down a bit (though as it takes 10 hours to return to normal rhythm, I might have a long wait!) or have a few seconds on each stair as it will make it SO much worse if I walk straight down. Very slowly is best.

Hoping you find some keys that mitigate this. I do find deep breathing helps too.

[Ribbony]

In case you haven't read my reply to @John6, here is the half that is for you:

Stairs don't TRIGGER Afib in Me, but if I'm already in Afib, I either avoid the stairs until it calms down a bit (though as it takes 10 hours to return to normal rhythm, I might have a long wait!) or have a few seconds on each stair as it will make it SO much worse if I walk straight down. Very slowly is best.

Hoping you find some keys that mitigate this.

I do find deep breathing helps TOO.

In through the nose and out through pursed type lips, slowly. (ish, but I'm sure you know what deep breathing is!)

[wilsond]

Hi! Wasnt you john! First responder was the poster,and I was having a little jest with him....x

[indy64]

From my own situations and from reading theses threads, if an activity exists, there is a possibility of going into afib.

[Redmakesmehappy]

Bummer, guess that means we can’t live a normal life. I do lots of yard work, pick up heavy buckets full of water and worry it will trigger AFib but since taking Flicainite I have been lucky. Hope that continues asAFib really does a number on me. Has anyone had any diagnosis of Heart Failure? I am 82 and my last Echo didn’t look that good. Need to see my EP but this virus has everything slowed down. When it comes to office visit. Telephone visits, not what I need.

[bikergurl]

Thank-you, all of you for your replies. I am an active person; I work out regularly, and cycle for hours without any problems. This crazy stair thing had me scratching my head. The suggestion that going from a low, resting heart rate to a rapidly accelerating heart rate makes sense, and I will pay attention to that. Bless you all!

[2524-GrannyK]

I’ve had the same experience, slow deep breathing and a slow ascent up the stairs can stop the Afib attack for me.

[runningaddict]

Yes, definitely have gone into a-fib after climbing stairs. As stated below, it's from the shallow breathing. Try and take it slower and breathe really deep.