Are saunas and steam room a trigger

[5morechristmases]

Morning all. I've recently had my third ablation but have had a few set backs.

I'm now walking a lot more and trying to lose weight and keep healthy. I went swimming and I actually enjoyed it. To finish my session off I went for a sauna. Within 10 minutes my heart went upto 170bpm. This lasted for 5 hours. Before my ablation I was told I had a/f and a/fibrillation. Is this a one off or are saunas a trigger?

[Finvola]

I would agree that a hot, steamy environment could be a trigger. Before I started taking Flecainide, showering was a nightmare with tachycardia, AF, breathlessness and worry about falling.

After 7 years on Flec I still use a shower stool, keep the water temp low and the bathroom window open. I imagine that a sauna raised your BP and heart rate and the AF jumped in - just a guess.

[10gingercats in reply to Finvola]

When I developed Afib. I was told to avoid hot baths,hot springs and saunas. I do like a hot bath so literally spend a very few minutes in it and that seems ok

[5morechristmases in reply to 10gingercats]

Thanks

[5morechristmases in reply to Finvola]

Thanks. I'll stick to swimming and the treadmill and see what happens.

[Desanthony]

Could definitely be a trigger.

[5morechristmases in reply to Desanthony]

I'll give them a miss, thanks.

[CDreamer]

Could well be, I continued to use steam room in the early days of my AF journey but never stayed long in there. I avoided the sauna because I wouldn’t chance dehydration.

[5morechristmases in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks. Your right about a journey, but also a learning curve for myself. As I'm still trying to find out what triggers any episodes I get. 👍

[Singwell]

Sorry this happened but following with interest as pre AF and pandemic (which hit at sane time almost for me) husband and I were spa hotel aficionados. I miss steaming! Maybe try one without the other I.e. steaming separately from swimming? Your HR would've been elevated after the swim in any case.

[5morechristmases in reply to Singwell]

Thanks. I'm not a fast swimmer, as I just go at my own pace. I felt really fine after a swim, then went in the sauna. That's when I had the episode and it lasted a few hours

[ETHEL103]

Hi yes I too have tacky when I get out of the bath so keep the soak short also hot tubs have the same effect.Tacky can last from a few mins to a couple of hours.Its defo a trigger for tacky but I'm in persistent a fib so not sure if it's a trigger for that.

[5morechristmases in reply to ETHEL103]

Thanks for the reply

[LaceyLady]

When doing any heated things drinking water it vital. I belong to a posh spa and the amount of people that I’ve had to call for help for🙄

[5morechristmases in reply to LaceyLady]

Thanks

[dmac4646]

Is with me but its to do with dehydration - had been without AFIB for best part of a year before Xmas went for quick steam and sauna - 2am pounding afib... when i look back on it , wasnt well hydrated anyway , then peeing all night made it worse - extra Flec even worse and result was days of AFIB - 2 lessons sauna and steam are no go AND keep hydrated

[5morechristmases in reply to dmac4646]

Thanks. Seems to be the general consensus

[FancyPants54]

The heat seems to raise cortisol which will set off the flight or fight response in some of us and that can lead to AF. But so can suddenly swimming after a long absence. My first AF attack in years came after a long leisurely swim when I had my cast off my arm. I felt fine in the water but when I got out my legs felt like lead. I'd overdone it. And of course we do sweat when we swim, we just don't notice it and I didn't think to drink before or during the swim. I didn't use the steam room that day so it was just the swim.

I like a steam or sauna but never stay long in them because I feel my HR rising as it tries to cool me down. Build up the swimming gradually.

[Singwell in reply to FancyPants54]

Useful advice. I never thought that we might sweat while swimming but we're exerting aren't we? Short swim, rest is my plan for a first attempt. And thanks for the hydration tip.

[tunybgur]

I regularly used the steam room and sauna at the gym after a workout, it was my reward for all the hard work, and I never had any AF recurrences.

Unfortunately covid closed the gym and it is only recently that I have resumed my visits.

Personally I find it very relaxing but make sure not to overdo it as BP tends to drop quite a lot and can cause slight dizziness, so get out before you are fully cooked (check your BP after a hot bath and you will be surprised how low it goes).

My resting pulse rate is about 50, I normally bail out when it gets up to 75-80.

It seems a shame to miss out on such a pleasant and therapeutic experience, but it's not for everyone. I would prefer a sauna over steam as there will less chance of picking up any nasty bugs.

Good luck

[Singwell in reply to tunybgur]

Good to hear. Evidently folk respond differently

[5morechristmases in reply to tunybgur]

Thanks.

[daysyday1]

I've had AFib for 15 years and a number of times I've checked with the consultant and he has given me the ok to use a sauna as long as I am well hydrated all the time and don't spend too long in them. Then 3 years ago I had a SCAD (sponteneous cardiac artery disection) and I was not physically able to do anymore than walk around the house for 6 weeks, then started to build up very slowly. After 12 months I was up to going swimming again, taking it gently, and the SCAD specialist said it was ok to try the saunas again as long as I only started with a maximum of two minutes a time to start with, then after a couple of weeks, try up to 4 minutes, again keeping very well hydrated. Now I am on 'being sensible' - not overdoing it, and being aware that if I feel anything untoward, I get out straight away. Fortunately we have a number of different spa rooms, including an ice room, warm salt rooms etc so I have the choice of rooms that are not as hot as the usual saunas. Hydration and taking it slowly are very important.

[5morechristmases in reply to daysyday1]

Thanks

[Tux18]

Yes , getting in a sauna for me would trigger afib and/or tachycardia . As some have mentioned already , even a hot shower can cause some of us problems.

[5morechristmases in reply to Tux18]

Thanks.