I'm a really keen Mountain Biker with Afib & when I'm out Biking I proper push myself to the limits. I feel that cycling keeps my heart strong but my brother is always telling me that I should only train at 85% of my maximum heart rate.
My question is, do any of you do regular exercise? If so, what type & to what intensity? & lastly, do you feel that it benefits you?
Some 5-6 years ago, someone in this forum has said: "Isn't it funny how many of us here are cyclists!?" I can not forget these words...
Interesting , yes ! My husband , me , our neighbour , all were cyclists 🚴♀️ .... differing heart problems , the other two certainly pushed themselves very hard !
Hi Finlay
I think your brother is probably right, I have raced bicycles and Triathlon since 2005 I first had Afib in 2012, had cardioversion. I was told my left atrium was enlarged which is normal for an athlete, I then went back into rhythm and carried on as before, did a few more Ironman pushing my heart rate to my max during training,
Then in 2014 I got Afib again, had cardioversion and an Ablation, heart was in back in rhythm so carried on, a few more ironman and other races, I then got Afib again in 2018 was told my left atrium had doubled in size since 2012 and another ablation would not help, if it kept growing it would soon become so big it would be floppy and I would be in permanent AF.
I got another cardioversion and put on sotalol to keep my heart rate down. I still cycle but with the drugs my heart rate does not get over about 145 where before I would be in the high 170s every ride during efforts.
I had my heart measured again in December and it has not changed in the last 2 years!
Was it coincidence or the fact that I have cut my heart rate down and also my training. I used to train on average 15 hours a week, more before a race. I now do 5-7 hours a week at a lower heart rate.
Nick
Good morning Finlay, I’m very old and although fairly fit, I could never be called an exercise buff. I’m afraid I’m going to say exactly what you won’t want to hear, on the other hand, maybe I won’t.
It might be more meaningful if I leave it to a “kindred spirit”.
His book, The Haywire Heart (which I haven’t read) is highly regarded......
Agree....I have read his book. Very informative, but may 'spook' you a bit too. The $10,000 question after reading the book is "how much is too much". Dr. Mandrola says he can't quantify that, but he knows too much when he sees it. I think if we are honest with ourselves, we know too much too. If it gives you bragging or posting rights it may be too much. My problem was Strava. For 5 years I strove to break every single segment record on every single ride. Heart rate absolutely maxed out all the time. No periodization and rest was not prioritized. I would brag to my wife after each ride,...."I broke another PR". This went on so long she would simply ask..."How many did you get this time?". After ectopics and AF kicked in, I reduced weekly mileage from 120 to 50 miles. And, if I do chase a personal best it is on the shorter segments and only when I'm absolutely feeling my oats. I also quit cycling for a 6 month spell but my Atria volume did not decrease. Now if I could just dial back the 4x per week weightlifting...
And this from one of the authors of The Haywire Heart - Dr John Mandrola drjohnm.org/2012/05/cw-a-ha...
I’ll say no more because already been said by others above. His blogs on AF are also excellent and he still cycles and races with AF and he is an Electrophysiologist.
Yes, the correlation between long distance cycling and afib has been established for many years. I presume the same relationship may exist with other strenuous exercises. More is not necessarily better.
There was a survey of Finnish Orienteers many years ago that linked around 10% of long term Orienteers with AF. Over the years I've been an Orienteer, runner - up to 50 miles / week, gym bunnie - loved Spin classes - up to HR Max, cyclist , and currently I use a Concept 2 rowing machine at home - current total 1.9 million metres.
I depends how you've determined your maximum heart rate. Back in the day, Cyclist magazine suggested a warm up, fast couple of miles, recover, sprint, recover, hard hill climb to failure then take your heart rate. I could hit 200 bpm then and, if I'm not careful it will happen on the rowing machine (driven by AF); I use a Polar Vantage V HM with H10 chest strap transmitter, plus the Concept 2 PM5 Performance monitor. I agreed with my GP about three years ago at age 71 that my maximum heart rate would be 180. These days my 3km to 8km sessions fluctuate between 140 and 160, watching the read out like a hawk.
The rowing machine takes my damaged knees through a greater range of movement than cycling or walking : no more cycling as the bike was stolen and a stroke took part of my peripheral vision so no driving either. The rowing machine works more muscles than cycling. As well as a stroke, I've had pulmonary toxicity (respiratory effect like serious COVID) and my neurologist and GP are happy that cardio exercise is beneficial to me, but they would probably tell me to these days to keep a lower working heart rate. One thing that you might find. I have a low heart rate particularly when asleep (all that cardio training) so I can't have rate control medication, only an anticoagulant.
Thanks for the Reply Mate, Happy Rowing 👍
There’s no long term physical benefit, and in a few cases significant harm, in any form of excessive amateur athletic endurance training over multiple decades.
Huge fun and often a great boost for psychological health? Absolutely.
..and another post from an ex marathon and long distance cyclist. All I will add to the excellent posts is. By a fortunate coincidence I met socially my first cardio consultant just after he retired. After I would add a distinguished career. He said those like me with a slow resting heart beat, caused by being fit and years of pushing yourself. Seem to be victims of Afib for reasons still unclear.How much exercise is too much. Well I still cycle, hill walk and do 40 mins Chi Gong exercise most days. But, I keep out of the red zone. Plenty of info on what is your max heart rate for your age.
Reduce alcohol to just a couple of glasses of wine it weekend. Alcohol unfortunately being a major trigger for us, it is for me. Never binge drink, that is consuming nearly your weekly allocation in one go. Reduce caffeine. Try and avoid stress, impose good sleep hygiene. I personally eat mostly a plant based diet, little meat, some fish. I'm irrationally concerned about saying how long since an episode. All I will say it seems to work for me. Best wishes.
Apixaban is my only daily meds. I have Flecannide as pill in the pocket' in case. I have just last week had a phone consultation and annual check up. They have discharged me. Which I'm unsure over. Since they said goodbye, I've been getting ectopic and rumblings. Which I know is me over internalizing. I know its stupid but so are a lot of things that I seem unable to change about myself. But hopefully things will normalise. I've not had an ablation, meds have so far worked for me. Keep active, stay safe and dont overdo the exercise. Never become exhausted my Consultant said to me. Always be able to hold a conversation.
Exercising at higher altitude with afib
Exercising on Amiodarone (and in Afib)
Exercise permanent afib
Exercise induced afib
