I've just been diagnosed with AF (aged 60), no underlying health conditions but many years of long distance cycling as my normal way of getting around. I had a 3 day episode in November and got sent to A&E who referred me for 24 hour ECG (in January) and arrhythmia clinic (end of March). I had a 14 day episode in January which will hopefully have given plenty of information on the 24 hour ECG. I've just come out of another 6 day episode, probably triggered by digging up tree stumps.
My fitness - cycling up hills etc. - doesn't seem impaired during an episode but exertion does seem to worsen the symptoms afterwards, so I've been taking it easy and breathing carefully when cycling.
Does anyone with a similar AF background have experience of detraining? I was thinking I would try, at least for the 6 weeks til I see the cardiologist.
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Lorris
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Thanks - that's helpful, though I don't usually talk while on the bike! Perhaps keeping to about six breaths per minute as for vagal stimulation is a similar guide?
Did you ride with a heart rate monitor or, know what your heart rate is in the three or five zones? If so, then you'll need zones 2 and 3 for 5 zones and, cut back on the time or distance. You'll be aware that heart rate can vary from day to day. Back in the day, I used a sensitive device that put a value on heart rate variability as a metric for recovery. However, fibrillation or flutter predicably would cause an error flag. The problem with detraining, is that your body will be used to a higher level of exercise and, you'll be itching to get back out there.
There are lots of things you can do to modify your exercising whilst still keeping fit. Change types of routes, avoid steep hills, and avoid racing the young uns. I have changed things over 15 years and now find an electric road bike very helpful.A good book to read is the Haywire Heart by Dr John Mandrola.
I used to cycle a lot before my ablation for AF 11 years ago when I was 59. I found that AF didn't affect my cycling too much either. I cycled to Paris and back whilst in AF quite a lot of the time. Since my ablation, I have detrained quite a bit. I no longer time myself on the circuits I do through the S Downs. My rides are quite a bit shorter. I do some interval training on short rides. I have also taken up paddle boarding and walk at a reasonable pace for one-two hours a day. So I still keep fit but I don't push it like I used to. My heart has behaved very well since the ablation.
Thanks for this. I cycle mostly to get from A to B. In between AF episodes a few weeks ago I did several 30-40 mile rides, taking it easy and breathing carefully. I didn't take much longer than normal, was just slower on hills, and my heart rhythm seemed quite stable afterwards. I guess it's mostly intensity that matters rather than duration?
There are many clinical studies about detraining. The research on Afib and exercise is very mixed, my EP says it is those who do 'eyeballs out' stuff for many years (ie Tour de France cyclists) who get it, not joggers like me!
I have written a blog about the link, but it does not cover detraining, sorry.
Yes I have been trialing it. I am still working the whole thing out, but so far the results have been good, although it is still early days, but I am encouraged. There was a hidden source of calcium for me, that was keeping my heart not quite right -- my drinking water. I called the local water company and asked what they treat the town water with. Chlorine and lime. Lime to reduce the acidity of the water. Lime is a calcium-containing inorganic mineral composed primarily of oxides, and hydroxide, usually calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide.
So I bought a water filter to filter out these calcium compounds and I noticed a difference in a few days and then much better after a week.
Thank you - that's interesting. Just looked at my water supplier's analysis, and I think it contributes about 120mg/day of calcium for me. But my main challenge is to cut back on greens!
Good plan to stack up your experiences with AF following differing approaches to give your cardiologist better information.
Detraining....well it depends on you. I am half german and it was that side that told me no half measures, quit all exertion (but not all exercise) until I had the AF under control. I am sure you didn't want to hear that but the AF journey is not one where for most being macho pays off.
Thanks for this. And how did it work out - what does "under control" mean for you? I don't think it's exactly about being macho for me - more about self-reliance/independence. I'm quite happy to cycle slowly if that's good enough
Yep, I would say cycle half the distance (or less) and slowly. My journey started with 9 episodes in a month. The solution was 200mgs Flecainide, supplements, and many lifestyle changes particularly on exercise. No episodes in 8 years apart from 2 under an hour caused by well known triggers for vagally mediated AFers. i.e. fridge cold drink gulped & less common revisiting the site of a past bad episode. All the best.
I took no notice of my SVT and continued cycling but adjusted my calcium intake (no high calcium foods) ate more vegetables and protein, rarely get an SVT event these days. I'm 78, still race on the basis that all the tracks we compete on are less challenging than the local roads I ride on. Just accept that I won't be on the podium any more. I do use a Garmin heart rate chest monitor, and that is how I monitor my SVT. The hospital never picked it up. I only take Apixaban. I've always believed in relatively short events of 1 hour and usually 3 hours is the longest I ever do. I've been cycling since I was 3.
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Berberine - does anyone have experience of taking this for PAF?
An Experiment! Update
Can anyone please help?
