AF and cold water swimming

[JackyMac]

Hi, I haven't been on for some time as my AF has been at peace for 10 months! Suddenly out of the blue it started a few days ago and apart feeling tired, I'm ok. No palpitations just irregular feint pulse.

I have been sea swimming 4 or 5 days a week and as the water has got colder, reducing swim time to 10 minutes. I've not been since AF started and wondering if it would be safe for me to do so.

It's mentioned a cardioversion shock brings the heart back to normal, ( I've had one in the past) but do you think the shock of cold water would do the same? Thank you.

[Hidden]

Not being a water babe (some babe @74 and male!), I’m not best place to answer your question but there have been at least two occasions when ice cold drinks have set me off. Hopefully others may be more helpful......

[BobD Volunteer]

There was a post not long ago promoting the benefits of cold water swimming. My wife starts her showers cold as she says it promotes calmness an mental well being. For me it just remonds me of my sadistic gymn master.

[JackyMac in reply to BobD]

Haha! I love cold water swimming, but would hate a cold shower/bath.!

[CDreamer in reply to JackyMac]

I always finish with cold shower, very invigorating and great for improving vagal tone and really wakes me up!

[BobD Volunteer]

How coincidental. I've just watched "Gordon Gino and Fred in Lapland" and they went under ice swimming on a frozen lake in Finland. Supposed to make you younger! Never laughed so much in ages., especilly Gino's swimming attire.

[CDreamer]

I wouldn’t chance it and I am a fan of cold water swimming and found that it was warm water swimming that would trigger my AF - swimming pools are just overheated in my view.

The danger will always be cold water shock rather than whether or not it affects your AF.

If you do I am sure you would know to not swim alone.

[JackyMac in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you CDreamer , I never swim along and always take a tow float.

[CDreamer]

That sounds nasty.

My hips ache and go very cold, despite ambient temperature, when I’m ill or have overdone things.

[secondtry]

I would try another cold dip with someone in the hope what put you into AF will take you out; I have done this with cold drinks. But I would then stop the swimming completely as my view is that it is to much of a regular jolt to the heart encouraging it to go out of NSR. Good luck.

[mjames1]

Very cold water can stimulate the vagus nerve which could put you in (or take you out of) afib. Lots of triggers and we all react differently. One of my triggers has been ice cold drinks

and on one occasion, ice cream, which I now eat very slowly.

I iced my neck once due to a strain, and went into afib shortly thereafter. YMMV.

Jim

[JackyMac in reply to mjames1]

That's interesting. Twice I've eaten a McFlurry and gone into Afib for a short time afterwards, and I too, eat the stuff slowly now. I've always swam in the sea in winter and go about 3 to 5 times a week but Afib did start soon after a dip last week and although the water was 6.5 degrees it didn't feel that cold. Its been colder.

[sdweller]

Cold water is definitely a trigger for me...almost guaranteed to get some afib. I used to swim laps at the pool, but for me any endurance exercise can up my incidence of afib. So now I work out of for 30 minutes max at a time, medium level.