This episode of the World Service's Health Check had a cardiologist covering the issue of Afib and Exercise. It's only a quick five minutes right at the very end and a bit childish, but the gist of it was this:
1. Being sedentary is a far bigger risk for Afib than exercise.
2. Afib increases with age which is by far the biggest risk factor.
3. After a marathon there is some damage to the heart but it recovers with proper recovery, so as long as you don't do too many close together you are ok.
4. You should/could replace long sessions of cardiovascular exercise with stuff like interval training.
5. The benefits of exercise FAR OUTWEIGH the risks of exercise induced Afib.
6. The vast majority of athletes do not get Afib, it almost certainly has a genetic trigger.
7. Ironman training is a bit mad and not good for you. But then I don't know anyone - Iron(wo)men included - who ever argued that it was good for you!
I hope this helps clear up some of the misconceptions about Afib and Exercise which crop up regularly on this page, definitely worth a listen - you can get it via podcast.
Written by
Jajarunner
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I’ve never seen a post against exercise so I’m interested at what you perceive as misconceptions?
I have seen cautions that excessive, endurance exercise can be a risk factor for AF - especially as you age.
The only person I knew who died from AF was someone who ignored all warnings & symptoms & ‘pushed through the pain’ and that was a local Ironman.
Unfortunately many are not educated on the importance of recovery but also knowing how to listen to their body because exercise is addictive & if you are competitive it’s really hard to not push, especially near a finish line.
Over the last 3 years ihave become more and more eccersise intolerant yet i am told thay it is important to keep excersising. I go to my club gym and do 20mins on a exercycle at an easy pace at a max hrt of about 115 but the next day i pay for it with extreme tiredness and palpitations and my walking becomes slow and palpitations worse. Thats a big comedown for someone who has been a handy cyclist for life. If i keep tje hrt on the execycle down to say 105 i stay better nut this is hardly excersise to tje point im unable to improve. Im 4 wks since the pm implant in preparation for av node ablation. I think its to do with a severely enlarged left atrium. I have to be very carefull how much i do so im hoping that the ablation will help .
I empathise. I was a competing dinghy sailor before AF and another condition which means I have great difficulty exercising now.
I have sought professional neuro-physio advice so now I do ‘snack’ exercise - no more than 90secs full out with 2 mins recovery time - no more than 20 mins in total.n. That works for me. A mix of stretching, strength and very mild cardio.
Otherwise I play bowls, garden and walk and swim. There are some days I’m unable to do anything but that’s more to do with the neuro condition. I’m 70 year female and it’s been really hard to accept that I’ll never improve.
Whatever exercise is comfortable for you is a positive. My EP says all I need to do to for cardio is 2x15 mins walk of 15mins daily. I can do that most days.
Exercise is good when we work to our body’s limitations.
Thanks CD.Most welcome imformation and encouragement. Im 79 next week. My last hoorah sportwise wise the World masters cycling events in Road cycling. Managed silver in 20k TT and almost Gold in the Criterium but thats another painfull story ! However i have come to terms with reality i think with my competitive endeavours. Just fitness and companionship now.Yes I have heard that enlarged atrium can revert. Thankyou we mist live in hope.
Hi CD, with my left atria having a diameter of 5.4 cm and volume of 73m/m2 im sure that this is the reason why im getting so much grief when and after i try to exercise meaningfully. I have read and you mention that after av ablation the atrium size can revert. Do you know why or how this can be so. I sure hope so. Palpitations are hard to deal with also. I also get weakness and a tremor . I am not getting the irregular pulse for some time now as far as i lnow but
All exercise causes muscle damage. It's the recovery stage that builds them stronger than they were. I'm a firm believer in exercise being good for the whole body including the heart. I'm 77 and have SVT but still race and train most days of the week.
Thanks Roy. Yes looking back i can see that pushing hard without adequate recovery has been a factor in my predicament. I will work on being mlre scientific in my exercise / recovery program !
So my 4 X 45 minute bowls in 9 hrs must by iron man stuff as I have had real probs since then.But I am still awaiting a referral & stabilisation .In a funny way it is a good thing as I was beginning to think I had nothing wrong with me.
Thanks very useful. Am a great believer in moderation in all.......that includes exercise. Not being sporty myself & having had a long bout of ill health its great to be moving again and building strength back up. My EP said moderate exercise and a slow build is the best way forward. This approach does not trigger my Afib.
Thanks for posting this. Very useful, as am waiting for a call from my cardiologist regarding advice about exercise, as my latest echo' showed my "mitral regurgitation is now rated as moderate and some increase in the transverse diameter of left atrium." I don't want to lose the level of fitness I have, as am worried if i ease off, I will never get it back again!! I mostly walk but can manage steep steps up the side of the cliff, with a short pause halfway!!!!
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