AF and excercise

[Daboban]

Where can I get advice on exercise that I do with my AF. I am now attending classes in the local gym under supervision titled Healthy Options. I also have ME and exercise is the only thing that has been suggested to help.

[BobD Volunteer]

The general advice is to listen to your body and not over stress it . Also you should be able to exercise and talk at the same time.

[Daboban in reply to BobD]

Many thanks BobD. I manage a bit cardio ok but when I use weight machines I feel dizzy. The coaches are aware and I am doing exactly as you say. Have you any place I can look for excersise routines. Especially what heart rate should excercice at, I am using the " be able to talk technic ". What I do have is a belt that I wear producing a pulse to the heart rate monitor on the machines. Knowing that there is no device that can accurately give a AF heart rate, I am using this figure as an approximate. I also know my max heart rate should be 157, is there a guide to what bpm I should exercise at? Thanks

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Daboban]

Not sure there is a detailed guide on our website ( AFA) because it is such an individual thing with few commonalities.

[Hidden]

Hi Daboban, If this has actually been prescribed for you (and indeed, even if you've just joined in yourself), I hope that you haven't just been left to attend without the intervention and help of an instructor, as Healthy Option programs are supposed to offer supervision and advice too. And that's the advice you should be receiving and following. In their early days there were actual casualties from participants not being properly advised, and in the case of the surgery where I worked, a death from cardiac arrest. I'm not suggesting for a moment that you are in any danger, but it is vital that someone with knowledge of AF and exercise as a part of its treatment, is making sure that you do what's advisable and no more!

[Daboban in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that excellent advice. Our instructors are well aware of my health conditions and are always in attendance. You do mention they should have knowledge of my condition specifically, I will need to perhaps ask them just how much they know. This is the reason I am on here to get more knowledge on the AF and ME/CFS. My main aim at this to loose weight as no doubt that will help both conditions. I am 4 st over weight. Thanks again.

[beach_bum in reply to Daboban]

Did you go for an initial stress test at the hospital or cardio clinic?That will give you a good baseline for max-min baseline for your particular condition. HR drugs of course lower HR BP, so that needs to be factored in.

Insert my watch to alert me me for afib and max HR.

I set my max to 160... sometimes I get to155-158, but not for extended periods...hill climbs,,sprints etc. It's normal for me.

Also,, many apps, such as Cyclemeter, record min, max, and average HR for a variety of exercises. Quite handy for logging workouts.

[Desanthony in reply to Daboban]

Good Luck with losing weight - exercise alone will not help diet is of the utmost importance.

[Desanthony]

Try to get on a phase 3 Cardio course. Istarted one before i moved house 4 years ago and when I moved found one through the BHF (British Heart Foundation) I then found this was also mentioned on the Hospital website too. I first had to go to see a physio at the hospital and was tested to see what I could achieve and then joined the class and ended up doing all the other classes as well and eventually going back to the gym on my own. At my classes there was always a cardio nurse and physio or two of each present - it was absolutely brilliant. I imagine these things may have started happening again post Covid lockdowns. You could also ask at your local authority Gym - the course may not be available in your town but maybe in a neighbouring town - in both areas I had to travel between 6 and 9 miles. What you are doing at the moment sounds great too Good Luck and don't over do things if you are going to use weights use the lightest possible 1 or 1.5

[Daboban in reply to Desanthony]

Thanks. I am attending a programme called stay active. This is the second level on the Healthy Options autherised by local G. P. practices scheme at my local gym. It is monitored by qualified staff but not cardio nurse. They know my problems and work excersise around them. I do 30 or 40 mins on cardio machines 10 minutes on each. I add stretching between cardio machines as I have become very stiff as I am 4 stone over weight. I have medication for high blood pressure and find myself dizzy after my stretches with getting up and down and changing position.

I am just starting to do some light excersise on the weight machines. I too am allowed to go to other classes and gym on my own.

I use the 220 minus my age to calculate my maximum Heart rate and find 125 bpm comfortable.

I will look at the Cardio programme and see what is on hospital and British Heart Foundation sites.

You sound on the same level as I am possibly. Keep up the good work.

[kkatz]

Hi I am in Persistent AF & for a few months I was afraid to do any excercise other than walk & I listened to my body My tolerance before physical distress from increased HR has improved and & I have returned to local authority sports centre at a lower level than previously used to.Advised light weights and not too much lifting over head.I use 1kg.Both GP & Arrythmia nurse build up fitness but listen to your body.Hope this helps

[Daboban in reply to kkatz]

Hi kkatz. Thank-you for your advice. It fits my circumstances perfectly. My main issue is fatigue/ exhaustion and forced to sleep during the day. Maybe when my fitness level is better I will feel better. At only 63 I feel cheated on quality of life. I do have chronic fatigue syndrome as well though. Stay Active and good luck.

[playcards]

There is a heart charity website called Pumping Marvellous which features a number of exercise videos, the actual exercise part of which last about 30 mins.

[Daboban in reply to playcards]

Thanks I will check that out.

[momist]

I'm of the opinion that 'exercise is always good', but everything should be taken in moderation (including moderation!). I think BobD's advice is good, take as much exercise as you can tolerate without ever overdoing it, as that might wake the dragon of AF.

[Daboban in reply to momist]

Yes I agree. I will keep that in mind.

[Jajarunner]

The cardiac rehabilitation programmes are excellent. Then they can sometimes progress you to a GP referral type exercise scheme at a local gym (I run the one local to me!). You can try the BACR website or British Heart Foundation or you can PM me. With ME do less than your body tells you and build it very slowly knowing that you will somedays not be able to do so much.Good luck, you won't regret it x

[whiteface]

I started with paroxysmal AF nearly 15 years ago and to start with there was no advice on exercise. So I just gently learned my way in "listening to my body" as others have said. The good news is that today I am in permanent AF and exercise completely normally. I don't race any more but this year I completed a wonderful cycling tour of 300 miles in 3 days. Try things out step wise and if you notice anything wrong then stop.

[Daboban in reply to whiteface]

Thanks for your advice. I will listen to my body but as do very light excersise and fell tired and have no energy almost all the time I will never reach anything that you have achieved well done!

[whiteface in reply to Daboban]

What is your resting heart rate? That is important to know. AF comes in many different types and if you have a "flutter" or very high rate then that may explain things.

[Daboban in reply to whiteface]

My heart rate monitor watch says it is about 60 to 75. I am 63 so following the 220 minus my age gives me a max H R of 157.

I don't think I feel flutters or heart racing I just get exhausted and need to sleep. I might be mistaking the flutters for something else.

Does this make any sense.