Can i just ask has anyone on here really seen the benefits to their AF by doing more regular exercise? i mean has it really made a difference?
Benefits of Exercise and AF - Atrial Fibrillati...
Benefits of Exercise and AF
Written by
Padayn01
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55 Replies
•
Honestly Pad, it has made a massive difference for me, its hard though if your in permanent AF as I was before, but walking is the best thing I've found, and has helped me drop quite a bit of weight.
Brilliant mate where you exercising also while you were in permanently AF?
Very little exercise mate once I had permanent AF, I struggled to walk even short distances without gassing out and stairs used to do for me . Now can do 3+ miles fast pace and be fine, with pulse back to 65-69 within 20mins. All about listening to your body and gently pushing, as I got told by the docs, if you can just talk while exercising your at the right level.
Wicked Bro, amazing stuff
I am in permanent afib and try to walk some every day. I do also have heart failure. My a fib controlled by bisoprolol and digoxin most of the time. I notice you say when you were in permanent a fib are you not anymore? When my a fib is spiking I find it hard to move about never mind walk. Xx
Had a successful ablation in 2019, came if bisoprolol etc which has changed things for me thankfully, I was the same, afib usually made it even difficult for me to eoak a shisr distance and couldn't do stairs without being left totally breathless. Bisoprolol didn't agree with me at all and left me exhausted, I was prescribed it as I suffered fast tachy episodes with afib, its usually for rate control.
I also get really tired and have suffered side effects with all my meds but this us gradually improving . I am hoping the lethargy will eventually go as well. Xx
I hope so for you, maybe ask for an alternative to bisop, as I know its a cheap first line drug, but for myself and many others it's turned out not to be the best and left me feeling drained. There are alternatives, a few on here have changed to other drugs and it's been more palatable with less fatigue and other symptoms.
• in reply toIanp66
HiI stopped exercising when I found that even slow walking puts my HR up to 150 or more and it takes a while to drop back to about 85. Is this normal? This is on 40 mg Sotalol twice a day. My GP has just upped this to 80mg twice a day. If mild activity cause HR of 150 does this mean I have heart failure? I was walking outdoors a lot but didn't realise the high HR was happening until I had a 48 hr Holter monitor, so I was having these high rates for 3-4 hrs at a time, and I'm worried in case I've caused permanent damage.
purpleswimmer• in reply to
This was happening to me and I have heart failure as was around for about a year before diagnosed. I knew I was getting breathless too easily for a while but put it down to age. Xx
Hi. You say when you were in permanent af. Are you not anymore? Xx
Yep.....
As well as daily walks, I also do basic yoga movements for about 30 mins most days. Simple bending, stretching, balance and breathing exercises.
This teaches your body to breathe properly. Then, when you go into AF with a fast heart, relax back in your reclining chair and take slow breathes until your HR drops back, 10-15 mins gets mine back below 100.
I look forward to a daily walk and also do a zoom Pilates class once a week plus do Pilates stretch’s etc everyday. Fresh air and walking make me feel better about life at the moment - l’m 77
There have been some studies on it - a Finnish one if I recall. Probably available in PubMed. I was advised to exercise as essential for BP. It was scary at first but now I really enjoy it. I do interval walking on my walk - 2 minute bursts of slow, faster then hurried or running - then stop for 2 minutes. I'm 64 and I love it. I also push myself to walk a little faster uphill or on longer walks, just uphill. No, it doesn't stop my AF but neither does is set it off. Heart Rate variability is a good thing in my opinion plus exercise had greatly improved my QOL because quite simply it makes me feel alive. I also do s yoga class every week and practice it pretty much daily for 10-20 minutes.
I struggled to run while in persistent AF but found I could still get some benefit from doing easy strength exercises ie weights, press ups etc
I have been in Permanent AF for a couple of years. My AF seems to defy any lifestyle change. Here comes the big but. Lots of exercise at the gym and weight loss through a low carb diet made such a big improvement to my general health that I didn't even notice my AF. I knew it was still there because my pulse was very irregular though not too high at around 80-85. Recently I put weight back on over Christmas and then I stopped exercising when they closed my gym. Slid back down the hill quite quickly, out of breath for very little effort, felt much worse than I did. So I am back on my diet and exercising at home. Nowhere near as good as I was but improving slowly and think it will maybe take six or eight weeks to get back on track.
p.s. Before I started on the exercise I didn't think I could do any significant exercise but built up over months doing very, very light exercise but for about thirty minutes a day. Perseverance, patience and determination paid off.
Hi Nybroc, really pleased to hear that exercise is helping your general health. I have been in AF since June 2020 continuously and also exercise. I have had to stop running due to high heart rate when running. I used to go to the gym before Covid but have now got an exercise bike and rowing machine at home, both of which I use regularly, although I don't push myself too hard and keep maximum heart rate down to 140s (average HR when exercising about 115). I don't feel any ill effects when exercising. I would be grateful if you could let me know how hard you push yourself, when back to full fitness, and how high you let your HR get when exercising.
Keep up the good work with the exercise it really does help (as you already know). It is worth the effort for the benefits that you gain. Thirty minutes a day sounds about right and that's about what I do as well.
Steve
I did a mix of aerobic workout, stretching and weights. For more than a year I would keep my maximum exercise heart rate at around 110 and very light weights, 3kg dumbbells. I also did a lot of stretching. I think I was afraid to let my heart rate go any higher which in hindsight I think was a good thing. Then I asked my consultant what was a suitable high for heart rate. He told me 150 to 160. My GP suggested HIIT, high intensity interval training. I was very cautious worrying I might collapse on the exercise bike. Of my daily 1 hour exercise I would do 20 minutes on the bike or the rowing machine. In that time I would do four one minute intervals at full pelt with my heart at 150 or a max of 160. If I ever felt I was over doing it I would cut out the HIIT's. I think what I'm trying to say is I listened to my body. At the start I would just stick to walking. The pace was fairly slow, little old ladies walking at a normal pace would overtake me. So I took the whole thing very slowly, lots of patience. I am 67 now and can do 20 pushups. When I started two was my limit and that was very difficult. Oh the other thing, I have a BMI of 34. When I can get it down to less than 30 with diet my fitness levels are much harder.
Hi Nybroc. Thanks very much for your reply, This is really helpful. I am 68 and am very interested to hear what your consultant said about maximum HR and what your GP said about HIIT sessions despite the fact that your are in permanent AF. I agree with you about listening to your body. I think if you are slightly out of breath then that is ok but if gasping for breath then slow down or stop. If you can get your BMI down to less than 30 then I'm sure you'll not only feel fitter but it will be better for your heart and exercising will become easier. Keep motivated and remember how much better you feel when your are fit compared to how you felt when you lapsed over Christmas.Best Wishes, Steve
Snookersteve - regarding exercise intensity.
I am 65 with a BMI of 27. I developed persistent AFIB (12) months ago. Prior to AFIB I was routinely doing a HIT biking workout that had my HR going from 120-180. I suspect this level of effort contributed to my AFIB but my cardiologist says no. While in AFIB my doctor told me to stick to a HR of 140. I had an ablation in October that so far has been very successful. My Cardiologist told me yesterday that I can resume the HIT workouts that take my heart into the 150's - 170s...just not for long durations...I should have asked him to define long duration but I didn't. I probably won't go higher than 160 because i don't want to jinx things! He also was also ok if my one hour workout averaged an overall 140 bpm....I don't even think i want to put forth that level of effort again
Hi Mjlarson11, thanks for your reply and the very useful information relating to HR. I've read other posts on here that have said that it takes months for your heart to recover from an ablation so please be careful and don't over do it as it is only around 3 months since you had your ablation. It is recommended that AF sufferers do moderate exercise and I wouldn't feel confident doing high intensity exercise. Pleased to hear that your ablation was successful. Best Wishes Steve.
How do you exercise if you are out of breath from just moving from one room to another. Permanent afib.
With patience. Try going from one room to another double the number of times you currently do. This exercise thing is not the best or safest idea for everybody but I am convinced more people could benefit from it. Be very careful, ask for medical advice.
Hi. This was me but my meds have been out up bisoprolol 10mg and digoxin 125mg and it is now mainly under control. I also have heart failure, lymphodema and arthritis. I do still get spikes of my heart rate but find a couple of days r and r gets me back on track. The lymphodema does not help with weight loss and am heavier now than I gave been for about 11yrs. I try and do some exercise every day be it walking, chair pilates and or exercises for my shoulder arthritis. I find it hard to motivate myself but have been better recently. Xx
I would say you need your meds looked at. I have had times when walking through the house would put my heart rate up to 150-160. I spoke with my cardio nurse and meds adjusted. This happened a couple of times and currently have been pretty steady for a good few weeks. Xx
I am a big fan of Tai Chi, although very slow controlled exercise I believe it is very good for your cardiovascular system and joints and also teaches good breathing technique. Unfortunately I can now only do it from video so motivation has dropped 🙁
I think a big plus is the fitter you are, the less your heart has to work when you go into af, if your fit ish your resting af will sit at 70-80 bpm, if yer unfit that might be up to 140bpm so the fitter you are the less stress your episodes cause
Research shows it helps according to the book I just read, called "The Haywire Heart"
Is it a good book I have heard people mentioning it before
Its very good. I got it because I exercise quite a bit and was blaming myself for my afib. But it appears when they talk about aexercise causing afib they are talking about people doing SEVERAL HOURS of HIGH INTENSITY exercise PER DAY for YEARS. Definitely not me! I'm far too lazy to push myself that hard, they are talking off nearly passing out with exertion levels!
So, its a good buy if you are in that category, or if like me, you need reassurance. Otherwise probably not.
Jaja
Thank you
Yes... most certainly. It seems to set heart rhythms to normal. Plus exercise and diet are the two things you have control over to live a normal life with afib. I have fewer , milder episodes when I maintain a strict exercise regimen .
I have the opposite problem, my heart rate sits at 44/46 and if I exercise I go into AF. I walk around 3 miles a day and 5 at weekends while I wait for my second ablation. I have also lost weight by changing my diet, I now eat food that I like, not food that I love. I need to get back to the weight I was when I had my first Ablation. Walking also helps to improve my lungs. Once I have my second Ablation I will need to decide if if get a Pacemaker.
So I would say take do some exercise and increase it as and when you feel you can.
Exercise is always good. Whether it helps AF or not, I don't know, or care much.
Benefits with respect to reducing incidence of afib? Sadly, not for me. But other benefits are quite significant, so I do a good workout whenever I feel like I’m gonna have a good day ( or at least half a day).
Interesting, I’ll kick the cat off my lap onto the sofa and dash up the stairs as a start......
Unfortunately, since I've been put on lots of meds for my AF I can not do exercises at all, no even walking my 10.000 steps a day. I suppose that if you can exercise it would be of benefic for AF and everything else. good luck.
May I ask how many meds you are on for your AF?
Hi. I must admit my meds increase may control my a fib but also makes me very tired . I can sleep fir between 12-14hrs a. day. Really have to push myself to get moving. Xx
Hi Padayn01I have permanent AF. I am 75. I walk everyday without exception (8-10,000 steps) and follow a low carb way of eating. Your heart is a muscle and needs to kept in a reasonable condition, along with the rest of your muscles
If you stop taking exercise your muscle tone will fall away and you will be able to do less and less until eventually you will find that you can't even get out of your armchair and you have to go into a home.
I had very symptomatic Afib despite being pretty fit unfortunately.
Its the real hard-core eyeballs out training that can lead to afib in susceptible people, not low intensity stuff according to "The Haywire Heart"
I exercise pretty hard on an elliptical machine and I can do it even when having a bad afib episode. Sometimes it puts me back in NSR, and sometimes can induce an episode of afib. This condition is puzzlingly random for me.
Exercise, mainly a quick brisk walk, can put me back in NSR. It happened this week. First episode since Oct 20 lasted 2 days this week with 1.25mg of Bisopolol making moderate impact.
Did a hilly walk near me, 4.5km and whilst it was a little challenging i was back in NSR 30 mins after.
It can work well, but a brisk walk is the lower end of my usual regime.
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