Looking for more information on sleep & AF?

[secondtry]

Sleep-disordered breathing affects as many as 74% of all patients with AF and has been identified as an independent predictor of stroke, per the most recent data.

Research has also indicated that patients with AF who are treated for sleep-disordered breathing experience an increase in arrhythmia-free survival following pharmacologic treatment or catheter ablation.

As such, the European Society of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society recommend screening atrial fibrillation patients for SDB and other sleep disorders as well as initiating treatment to reduce potential compounding risks for poor health outcomes.

heartmdinstitute.com/heart-...

PS. Daily Mindfullness, prayer, walking in the countryside(Nature), a nasal strip & thumb nail sized strip over the middle of my lips at night has improved my sleep and QOL measurably.

[Threecats]

Hi Secondtry, that’s a coincidence! I have suspected for a while that I have some sleep problems going on, as I often wake up feeling like I haven’t been to bed at all! I recently purchased an O2 ring ( my excuse for another gadget😊) I’ve only been wearing it at night for a week but see that my O2 levels drop to 85% quite frequently during the night , average around 7 times per hour and my heart rate spikes as a consequence and stays raised for quite a while afterwards. I’ll be looking into the nasal strips and tape you mention, thank you, as well as running it past my GP when I next speak to her.

[secondtry in reply to Threecats]

Sounds a tempting gadget particularly if Black Fri discount applies. Expect raised eyebrows from your GP. Suggest you read James Nestor's book Breathe or listen to him on YouTube. Unless you have other health issues/comorbidities I am not aware of any side effects of taping your mouth (I have done it for 16 months now every night). You are probably in for a treat, as it is so good waking up feeling fresh and with a clear nose!

[secondtry in reply to Threecats]

Sorry forgot to mention......I have a O2 standard Oximeter and found that if my fingers got cold the reading was incorrectly low; my circulation of extremities is not good. Maybe this could be a factor at night for oxygen readings but perhaps not heart readings. Just a thought.

[Threecats in reply to secondtry]

Thank you for the book suggestion, I've already downloaded it to my kindle 👍That's a good point about having cold fingers, although I am usually wrapped up like a mummy at night so don't usually have a problem😀 I'll keep it in mind, though.

Nasal strips and tape are lined up ready for tonight, looking forward to giving them a go!

[BobsBeat]

I was surprised when I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea as I don't typically snore or mouth breathe. My AF would always come out in bed, but I chalked it up to those nights when I had a few drinks. My pulmonologist said alcohol would intensify the sleep apnea effect, which is why I probably noticed AF during those occasions. I've been using CPAP for over two months now and have not gone into AF, drinks or not. I am also not on any AF drugs for the last 2 1/2 months but was on Amiodarone prior.

[Jgc61]

Dr Sanjay Gupta has a video on YouTube about AFib & it’s silent but deadly parent, rather an interesting watch on sleep etc

[Visigoth]

I am sure I have some sort of sleep disordered breathing but can’t get referred to have it investigated. The GP says the hospital won’t be interested in that and the arrhythmia nurse thinks it’s probably just the AF and advised me to cut down on magnesium!

[secondtry in reply to Visigoth]

If using strips at night doesn't help, I would consider paying privately for a sleep test over night at home. Its pricey in South East England it cost me around £450 a few years ago now.

I have cut my daily dose of magnesium as seems to be better re ectopics.

[Visigoth in reply to secondtry]

That’s interesting, thank you for your suggestion

[RoyMacDonald]

Interestingly I changed my diet a lot and experienced a 60% reduction in incidents of SVT, but then I read an article on Livestrong about what sleep experts did when they could not sleep and their advice was to eat a banana just before bed time as the potassium and magnesium were calming for the heart. I also read some research into the human body clock that said it was vital to go to sleep between 10pm and 11pm for long life. Since I've added those 2 things my SVT incident rate has reduced by another 35%. In fact I haven't experienced an obvious SVT event at all, despite upping my exercise routine a lot. (weightlifting, cycling 62 km a week and walking/jogging another 13 km) I'm 78 and on Apixaban.

[secondtry in reply to RoyMacDonald]

Brilliant Roy, thats what its all about trial & error on lifestyle changes. Plenty of dead ends but I have found excellent QOL.

[Sustainedvtach270]

Hi Sec. I agree with everything mentioned. I am also now taping my mouth at night, I sleep so much better and deeper! I recommend the books and videos of Ander Olsson and Patrick Mc Keown as well.Changing to a vegetarian gluten free diet rich in magnesium stopped my insomnias. And walking 10000 steps daily also helped but not as much as the new diet and the tape on mouth!

[secondtry in reply to Sustainedvtach270]

Yep, AF is caused usually by a host of contributory factors so it makes perfect sense to me that you have to check it by a similar host of lifestyle change factors. Persistence & patience are valuable!

[Threecats]

Well, last night was a bit of a disaster, I got myself sorted with the nasal strip and tiny piece of tape across lips, settled down and then.... had runs of ectopics, a pounding heart rate in the 90s and the inevitable umpteen trips to the bathroom all night, so there wasn't much sleep going on at all🙄 Never mind, another night tonight😊

[secondtry in reply to Threecats]

Oh no, so sorry to hear that. The first couple of nights I was concerned I might not breathe properly etc but that feeling didn't last long. However, everyone is different and it may not be suitable for you - check with your doctor.

Maybe just start with the nasal strip and get used to that first and in the meantime practice breathing just through your nose and slowly when you are out for a walk. I am afraid I can't recall now whether I practised nose breathing during the day before I taped my lips at night.

🤞

[Threecats in reply to secondtry]

Thank you for your further thoughts, Second, it’s much appreciated. I am slightly asthmatic and also have a reduced lung capacity due to a spine problem, so maybe I was being a bit ambitious and subconsciously the tape was bothering me. Alas, my GP is lovely but not up to considering anything remotely “alternative “. No worries though, I’ll just carry on experimenting, nothing to lose! .

As you suggest, I thought I’d just try the nasal strip tonight and see how that goes for bit, whilst working on breathing through my nose as often as I can remember ( I’m a chronic mouth breather, normally)

Thanks again, TC

[Madscientist16]

The medical community has known for years that there is a like between sleep apnea and AF. If your doctor has not mentioned it to you, then ask them about it. In the US, many EP's will not perform an ablation without a sleep evaluation.

[nmack]

Hi. I have afib and they suspect sleep apnea may be a risk factor. I've been trying to treat my sleep apnea with apap and bipap machines but I swallow air during the night. It's most likely because I suffer from nasal congestion and end up breathing through my mouth. I've worn nasal strips and have tried prescribed nasal sprays with no help. I thought about taping my mouth but it's difficult to get all the O2 you need through one nostril. Any suggestions?

[secondtry in reply to nmack]

Hi nmack, I also have been tested and diagnosed with mild sleep apnoea. I think I have some kind of upper respiratory narrowness, which is prone to blocking and I find I am always blowing my nose during the day particularly when out walking, with no cold.

Assuming you have no other health issues and to be ultra safe check with your doctor, I would definitely try taping your mouth. I was concerned about O2 when I started and particularly so the first two nights, after that and using it daily for 15 months, I wouldn't been without it. I clear my nose as best I can before retiring, put on the nasal strip, then the mouth strip.If you wake in the night put a straw in your glass to have a drink.

The strange thing is you wake up with a clear nose.....and feeling much fresher. If you want to go to bed with a clear nose Patrick McKeown (see YouTube) maintains that you can clear it anytime by holding your nose with shut mouth for as long as you can and repeat around 5 times.

Hope something there helps.