Interested in a lifestyle change that could be a breakthrough in your general Quality of Life & reduce AF?

[secondtry]

Have you considered if you change the way you breathe, your QOL could be increased not marginally but quite dramatically? Look away now if you are convinced the best path is to follow what the medics tell you and the rest is just mumbo jumbo.

Book review:

I have just read the new instant best selling book Breath by James Nestor mrjamesnestor.com and have already acted on some points with early positive results. I have heard the point about improving breathing before but what makes this book so impressive is the convincing way it conveys the potential with clear explanations of issues, including those relevant to AFers.

Essentially, it is all about changing habits to breathe through your nose only, less breaths per minute and the importance of chewing whatever your age. Many of us evidently use our mouths too much & take too many breaths due to stress levels. I made some brief notes when reading which I hope are accurate:

Overbreathing is the reason why our body can't deal with many chronic & other issues & how it depletes important elements e.g. Magnesium & Potassium Mouthbreathing may be causing sleep apnea & too many bathroom visits (clearly explained why). He goes on to provide the best description of the Parasympathetic & Sympathetic systems I have read & how left & right nostril breathing affects these; left connected with parasympathetic before meals can also improve digestion. Nasal breathing releases through the sinuses a huge boost of nitric oxide (not the case through your mouth), which in turn delivers more oxygen to cells and increases circulation. Exhaling properly causes you to loose more weight; of 10lbs lost 8.5 comes from the lungs and 1.5 from sweat/urine.

I hope the above gives you some idea about this book. If just half the suggestions work that will be a huge result for me and I suspect many other AFers.

Caveats: Please take care and consult your doctor first if you plan to try any of the author's suggestions and understand I am not endorsing them. It also occurs to me if he is right on most of the issues one needs to take care when changing breathing habits, select only those your doctor thinks are safe/appropriate and implement them slowly over months as powerful changes overdone in the short term may have detrimental effects.

Note: I have no personal or commercial connection with the author or his publishers.

[10gingercats]

Interesting!Our son who has various health problems has just yesterday rec. this to his dad who has

respiratory problems plus asthma.Never one to grasp at straws i feel sure his dad will approach this with interest and caution.

[wilsond]

I always have an open mind. I think Yoga uses breathing techniques to aid health too, I shall look this research / book up . Thank you Secondtry

Dawn

[secondtry in reply to wilsond]

Qigong may be better

[jeanjeannie50]

Sounds very interesting, thank you for sharing. What difference do you think it has made to you?

[secondtry in reply to jeanjeannie50]

It is very early days. I am sleeping better and not visiting the bathroom as often during the night. We know deep sleep is good for you and longer slower breaths seem to help. The book explains when in deep sleep the pituitary gland releases vasopressin which activates cells to absorb more water, hence less getting up - this was news to me! Last night for the first time I also tried taping my mouth closed - the book explains a simple way to do this with a small strip in the middle of your lips (think Charlie Chaplin moustache, just a bit lower) nb you can do it with a short beard as well. I have been wanting to try this for a while so cut a piece from the Myotape.com I had ordered a couple of months ago. I had a good night but this needs to be tested over a longer period. The bottom line Jean is that I will always back lifestyle change before pills and ablation and the book is entertaining and explains a lot that medics almost never do.

[CDreamer in reply to secondtry]

I use the Myotape strips which are very comfortable & already have a split. They are the most effective I’ve tried.

Ive been doing various breathing exercise from the Oxygen Advantage - do you know if the breathing techniques are similar?

[secondtry in reply to CDreamer]

Broadly yes but he adds a lot in terms of background & practicalities.

[doodle68]

Hi secondtry... a lot of that makes sense though instead of saying ....

''Essentially, it is all about changing habits to breathe through your nose only ''

I would argue we should breath in through the nose and out through the mouth.

I like to use diaphragmatic breathing which is similar to the yoga Pranayama when I am having an episode of P-AF

saagara.com/learning-center...

I feel this type of breathing helps to get a good supply of oxygen to my troubled heart.

Some years ago I was diagnosed with late onset asthma and have a peak flow meter, my reading are high for a woman of my age and I am convinced that is because when out on my daily dog walks in the fields I do breathing exercise and have done for years.

[secondtry in reply to doodle68]

Yes, I know out through the mouth is a widely held view and he does stress increased use of the diaphragm. I am going to read the book again anyway to pick up more info generally and why he advocates the nose for in and out. As far as I can recall he doesn't mention your point.

If you are looking for more oxygen you will be interested to read his researched theory that carbon dioxide is very relevant. The book is likely to be worthwhile for many with respiratory issues.

[MarkS]

I got the oxygen advantage book. I found some of the techniques useful. I think my sinuses are a bit clearer and I do breathe through my nose more. However I wouldn't say it's revolutionised my life, and the book is very long winded. I'm a bit doubtful about books for this sort of thing. A booklet/paper would be more appropriate but of course would not bring in the income!

I'm trying meditation (headspace) and my sleeping has been better. Whether this is definitely associated I don't know, but I do seem to be calmer and less anxious. I was surprised by this as I am a bit of a sceptic when it comes to non-mainstream ideas!

[secondtry]

Hi Mark, this book is a very good read as it manages to combine very well health matters with his worldwide travels and clear explanations of why things happen. How effective his suggestions are gets back to the individual. I hope I will be able to post some positive news on this in the future.

[MarkS in reply to secondtry]

Thanks, Secondtry, I'd like to know how you get on.

Mark

[Silvasava]

Very interesting. My yoga teacher uses a number of breathing techniques and since going to her I've not had an asthma attack for over 20 years . I still use my inhaler but only once a day. I found diaphragmatic breathing good for controling hot flushes too. Alternate nostril breathing and box breathing are quite simple to do so i'll have a word with her as she is an extremely experienced practicioner.

Thank you

[doodle68]

secondtry 😊 I have been thinking more about breathing habits and as I have said a number of times I use various breathing techniques during episodes of P-AF which help and in daily life.

Looking at breathing and AF, a couple of weeks ago I had 3 long very symptomatic episodes of P-AF in quick succession over 4 days .

I had been asked to do some research for a family member and the two days preceding the episodes I spent long hours hunched over my computer also staying up late .

When I am hunched up leaning over a computer my breathing becomes more shallow, I am wondering if this may have contributed to my episodes.

When working on the computer now I am now making sure I drop my shoulders lean back and don't ignore my breathing.

[sandoval22]

I tried the Wim Hof breathing method but I prefer Buyeyko breathing techniques. I'm always looking for alternatives to what's on offer from the NHS. It's all about healthy lifestyle rather than pills imo.

[secondtry in reply to sandoval22]

Totally agree, only pills or operations in an emergency then you can't beat the NHS.

[Afbiff]

Patrick McKeown is also worth a look - he has many videos online about only breathing through the nose an also taping your mouth closed at night. Interesting and thought-provoking.

[secondtry]

Thanks Afbiff, I found PM first, thought he was good and I think he interviewed James Nestor, hence I found out about the latter's book.

[Paulbounce]

Interesting post secondtry.

I think breathing technic's can really benefit us afib people - and other conditions too.

Paul