Exercise is the Best medicine

[LMCPL]

I’m in permanent AFib, having been in SR for 4 months after my 3rd Cardioversion. However I’m now walking 4 to 5 miles most every day. It took a while to build up to this, but so worth it now. I go out in the morning, because it makes me feel energised for the rest of the day. Now have a bike & going further afield ( not quick ) but it’s a whole different experience. Even so cycling up hills & walking up stairs are both a struggle. I’m just not giving in, but I do go carefully when the body tells me. Just my experience

[Hidden]

Sounds great LMCPL, just listen to your body and if it says slow down or ease off a bit, just react accordingly. The good news for you is that regardless how long you stayed in rhythm for, it’s more than likely that you would respond well to other treatments such as ablation so maybe it would be worth having a discussion with your Doctor......all the best.

[addieBaby2004]

I too am in A-Fib most of the time but I do not know it. The question is while exercising ,how high should you allow your heart beat to go? I play Pickleball, it goes to 130 beats per minute

[Hidden]

I have had constant af for 3 months. I eventually got a cardiology appointment and I now take Sotalol 40mg twice and Dabigatran 110mg twice. Most of the PVCs had reduced but my resting HR is still 75-85 and just walking up the street gives me 150-60 HR. Any strenuous exercise sends the HR up to 170.Is damaging long term? About a third of my ecg recordings on my Viatom device (which measures QTc) are reading QTc above 450ms, up to 480ms. The cardios even so want to increase the Sotalol to 80ms twice. Is this safe?

[MarkS]

I go walking every day as well, 4 or 5 miles with the dog over quite rough, hilly country. I used to cycle but I don't any longer. Winter is a bit risky with ice and the low sun and I really don't want to end up in A&E. I also have exercise bands and some weights to try to target those bits of my body that are falling apart faster than others!On Mike2015's post, I think 170 is too fast when in AF. It sounds as though the sotalol is not working. I found diltiazem much more effective though I was in paroxysmal rather than permanent/persistent AF.

[Ianc2]

Horses for courses. 6 years ago I could barely walk on the flat as my valves were not good and needed to be repaired. After the open hear surgery and an ablation my heart beats strongly, but still not regularly. However I can and do walk , very steadily, every day and my resting heart rate is currently at 53, but it did spike downwards to 47 on the 23rd, and then stabilised back to 53 by 1 Jan. A very definite Xmas effect, coupled with some really wet weather which stopped me going out.

I agree with LCMPL, regular reasonable exercise makes a tremendous difference and I get annoyed and start bouncing off the walls if I can't get out and about. As I get older my balance is not what it was. I have been tempted by an electric bike but I suspect it might turn into a scooter and if I fall off I would probably break something, etc. As a bit of a bonus I have just crept back inside my BMI, which I am very pleased with as it has taken about 2 years to get there. Nice and easy does it.

[Barb1]

I really wish that I could go out and walk more. Just the effort of putting my shoes, coat, scarf and gloves on puts me off. I grab my walking poles, leave the house and within 5 minutes I need the loo! So, I look for somewhere to walk with a loo available. Epsom racecourse is ok but not as easy as walking from your house. I do 3 zoom exercise classes a week but it's not enough.