Imagine if all it took to treat the heart condition atrial fibrillation was clipping a small device to your ear for an hour a day? That futuristic scenario could soon be a reality, according to a new study.
In a small, early trial, the researchers found the device—which emits a mild electric current—appears to be effective at controlling atrial fibrillation (a-fib) and was well-tolerated by patients.
I can only assume they are still working on it or they have no approvals. The article is about a year old but it just was sent to me. That is why I ask if anyone has heard anything more on this. It was presented at the HEART RHYTHM SOCIETY meeting in San Francisco.
I think I first heard about the idea four or five years ago when it was suggested that pinching part of the ear may help stop AF rather like acupuncture. Lots of great hopes come and go and are lost without trace.
Yes, I have heard of this and it's been discussed on this forum before. One person here was going to try it, it was possible to rent one before deciding to buy and that's what he was going to do. Although he said he would, he never reported back.
Thank you for this PubMed article. As for the Vagus Nerve stimulators all I saw was TENS units for sale. Did you see them on Amazon described as Vagus Nerve stimulators?
Forgive me for snooping on your profile but I noticed you got a PM installed. I have been considering that so I mentioned it to the doctor and he just brushed it off. I sense that you are happy with it. Would you say that it is a good choice for most people with Afib and Flutters?
From why I can gather it is very similar to the Tens machine, the only thing different is the company are seeking verification for it as a treatment for AF.
Yes, I have a PM. Tried just about everything Lifestyle, chiro, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, relaxation - ignoring it - then drugs, ablation and then nowhere else to go.
I have a lot of complications as I have dysfunctional ANS with autoimmune which left me with very low BP for which I was hospitalised, PoTS, hypo mobility, IBD (which I think started this whole cascade back in the 1970’s) AF with flutter and since 2014 - Myasthenia gravis. The combination was (still can be) nightmare to manage and is almost a full time job! After very careful consideration of options, consultations with my neuro - thankfully they talk to each other - my options were - Amiodarone (no thanks!) or Pace & Ablate. I chose the latter. My EP felt that as I was relatively young, 67, there was a good chance I would end up with HF with a 2 lead PM so argued and succeeded in obtaining finance to fit resynchronisation PM - pacing both ventricles to prevent HF. PM fitted in Oct 2018 - unfortunately by someone who my EP did not want to work with me and didn’t fit it correctly - but even so it helped. Revision by a member of his team (private) happened June 2019 and I have been so much better ever since that the AV node ablation was cancelled.
If you are interested in vagal may I point you in the direction of STARS (part of the Arrythmia Alliance). There you will find doctors and researchers who deal with autonomic dysfunction for people with arrythmias, some of which are life threatening. I learned more about ANS & the complexities in one Patient Day than in the previous 7 years trying to get answers for myself.
There is a huge amount you can do for yourself regarding stimulating para sympathetic function and the most affective for me were:- eat at least 6g of salt a day (against all other general advice). Drink at least 2L of water + other normal drinks per day. My neuro physio got me using a power breather (athletes use them to improve lung capacity) - he suggested it to exercise the intercostal muscles as mine can go very weak with the Mg and cause me breathing problems but an unexpected affect -improves vagal tone. Cold sea bathing - I spent a lot of time sailing dinghies and in very cold water - I always felt much better for a day or so after so now try to sea bathe when I can and if not have a cold shower routine every day - warm water for 10 secs - cold for 20 secs - repeat x 10.
I have worked with ANS through a psychological lens for 20 years for events in the present but it was only when I started working with it through physical lens and truly understanding wholistically Polyvagal theory and revisiting the past scars and healing them I really got anywhere.
We cannot just treat one part of ourselves and hope for spontaneous recovery of the whole. Vagal nerve and AF is just one very small part of my whole story - which is ongoing.
PS:- Energy Medicine has also played a part and I use and trained in EFT methodology - fastest way to remove blocks instantly. Read/watch Donna Eden on the subject. She may come over initially as a bit flaky but she’s anything but.
CDreamer, thank you so much for taking the time and effort to provide so much excellent information. You have been though a lot and are very knowledgeable. I really appreciate your kind help. I'm fairy new at this and learning from someone like yourself is invaluable. Certainly can't count on the doctors, especially in this COVID timeline. Again, thank you for this.
Yes, like Bob - I saw something similar in development & trials in the UK but seen nothing recently on the trials. It may even have been through the AFA. I understood the principles & if I had been at the beginning of my journey I would consider.
This takes you to a discussion on the same thing last year, but there has also been something else on this forum where there was an option to buy or rent one.
I first heard of this about a year ago. I live in the states and the clinical trials were held in San Diego, California I believe. They showed promise. Then a manufacture marketed it and rented/sold in the UK and Canada I believe. In the States, we could do neither! One of the people on this forum did rent it. He was in permanent Afib, and we kept in touch to see how, if any, much improvement is it. I will go back into my chats and see if I can find his name. I was very anxious and hopeful that it would work. My recollection was that he did not have any success with it, because he was in permanent Afib. I will check.
I wish there was more research available on this type of innovation.
Personally, off topic a bit, I am intrigued by my experience and a few others here that what starts AF can also stop it e.g. a cold drink. Of course, this will only work for some and then not always but if we had a list of such simple actions this could improve lives. e.g. for many lying on the left side in bed can cause AF but has anyone in AF (not from that ) gone to bed and deliberately lied on their left side having previously avoided it?
There is far more money for drug development than alternatives and complementary therapy. Sounds to me the electrical charge would be activating acupressure/puncture points. The vagus nerve go’s up each side of the neck near the ears.
Been a Complementary Therapist for 22 years and part of a treatment I practice I use acupressure points and lymphatic areas to aid ears and sinus drainage. Like everything, it works for some and not others and it depends on expectation
You are 100% correct. The big money is in drugs not secondary items. Who knows if the big Pharma bought or paid off the inventor to put up a heavy selling price on the device or to just stop marketing it. We will never know what goes on. I worked for a large pharmaceutical corp and I know we did things that weren't the proper things to do.
Over the last 5 years or longer, I’ve seen the Homeopathic society discredited and restrictions placed on herbal remedies. There is a certain well known professor who has made it his mission to discredit complementary therapies. Many gain something from complementary therapies or alternative therapy, there are no ‘cures’ just a better quality of life. One has to take part in our own healing process. Finding what is causing the ill health and addressing that, not sticking plasters on. Placebo effect, mmmm, so, it’s only a placebo, well actually even if it is, it’s helped a person feel better. Many therapies do not stand up to the same testing as drugs, but funnily enough been around for many more years than orthodox treatments. How many suffer side effects of drugs? Die as a result of medication, surgery compare to alternative or Complementary therapies?
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