I am seeing a trend in an A-Fib event if I “exercise” during the day.
Typically my episodes occur at evening/night.
I am changing lifestyle and attempting just a daily thirty minute walk.
Has anyone who experiences A-fib with exercise figured a way to build up exercise tolerance without starting an AFIB episode?
Thank you
I suffered this and never found a way out of it Figbar. It's not a problem now. Sad to say, my trigger was stopped dead by the pandemic (Scottish country dance classes/Contra dancing, which are now permently cancelled), and almost without fail, at the end of each session I would go into AF after suddenly feeling drained and tired. I tried less dances with rests in between, or doing each dance flat out, and nothing helped. I neither built up tolerance nor found a way to prevent attacks altogether.
Thank you for your honesty; I fear this😞It’s so maddening, yes?
All books/ advice say to exercise/ think John Day, Gupta, etc etc and here we sit😢
Thanks again - keep in touch if you find a way to safely exercise.
I'll do that Figbar and I wish you luck in your quest. It really is maddening to be ruled by AF and robbed of energy and the ability to exercise. I do think it's OK and yes, probably advisable to exercise, but we can't escape the annoyance of setting off our AF at the same time! 🙄
The answer for me was to adopt less strenuous exercise from the level where AF was prevalent. Out went tennis (I was too competitive) and skiing (altitude didn't help) but kept the daily walks and took up walking basketball plus regular jobs on my smallholding. I don't intend to build up from that as I don't want to tempt fate.
That's a difficult question . First, are you sure that it is the exercise which is causing the AF? Generally, moderate exercise is held to be beneficial. One variable would be the time of day at which you exercise. It might be worth exercising earlier if that is possible. The nighttime AF sounds like vagal AF, so you could discuss that with your doctor.
No, I’m not positive it’s the exercise, but it seems to be the trend.I agree I probably have vagal AF.
I’m not sure my cardiologist would do/ prescribe anything differently ( Eliquis 5mg and Diltiazam 120). His focus is making sure I take Eliquis.
Then again he thinks ablation is not the number one way to go so……. I’m thinking of finding EP for his/her advice.
Depends on your physical condition, fitness level, diet, prescribed drugs.Let your doc know. Don’t settle for the first drug they toss at you.
I work out a lot, and sleep like a baby. If you have a large heavy meal in the evening, that could definitely trigger it.
On the late dinner issue, 5 years living and travelling Europe, I noticed that the UK in general ate around 5-6 pm, but on the continent, it can be much later ..7-8 8:30 in Spain. Whatever your tradition, aim for 4 hrs before bed.
Thank you for your reply.I’m focusing on improved diet and sleep habits.
I’m also making sure no eating three hours before bed- I will aim for four.
I love your line “ I work out a lot and sleep like a baby”…… wish I could say that.
Continued best exercise and sleep!
Thanks again
NP, I am also on Diltiazem and no side effects whatsoever...which can’t be said about the initial drug prescribed by the ER doc..Metoprolol..which absolutely floored me, hence my comment about asking your doc if you are feeling poorly at the outset. I know too many people that would just say “they prescribed this, they are doctors, so I’ll have to learn with it” In my case, they prescribed a beta-blocker, when a channel-blocker was the correct drug. No 2 afibs are the same. People should not suffer in silence.The thing is to start with the basics...self help...eating correctly, avoid fad diets and “Dr. Facebook” and exercise at a level commensurate with your condition and medical advice.
Hi Figbar.....My Afib was caused by over doing the exercise on a treadmill. Then my relapse happened 10 days after Cardioversion while wearing a mask! I only walk at a moderate pace now and will not wear a mask which deprived me of oxygen. It is true when triggers are noticed, we should avoid them.
Hello Figbar, can only speak from my experience, but moderate to intense exercise used to correlate quite well with triggering an afib episode for me (mostly after I had cooled down relaxed etc...). I have over time reduced the intensity of my workouts and found less impactful ways of exercising even if it means lots of short walk each day.
However, the factor that has helped with exercise and heart stability has been the use of antiarrhythmics - not saying that these are great or that you can even tolerate them but you may want to discuss with cardio or EP about use, at least in the short to medium term. May be trade off needed so you can continue exercising safely. Keep safe
Thank you.I’m glad you are finding a way to cope.
I am still finding my way and thus forum is very helpful.
Thanks again
Just seen this. I would recommend a Kardia 6L and ecg yourself after every exercise session. Record if you get ectopics (or worse) how many and HR average and max during exercise (if you have a sports watch & HR strap). Rest after incidents of ectopics/worse. Latest training theory recommends 80:20 ratio of aerobic to intense eg at 66 I’m looking for 80% at average HR 120-145 and 20% at 155-165. Lower would be better. And not to go intense on successive days. I ought to design a training programme with short intense intervals - eg from Joe Friel’s ‘Fast After 50’ book. And then add in a monthly race test for each of swim, bike and run (separate so as to recover). In short 80:20, short intervals, recovery ….. Like a lot of my theories it’ll likely be trash within 2 weeks!
I have a Kardia but not 6L- had to look that up since new to me.Thank you for your insight and instruction.
Let me guess- engineer? scientist?
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Exercise permanent afib
Afib, Flecainide and exercise, again!
how to exercise with AFib?
