Exciting 3 year link between my weight and AFib?

[BigArnie]

All, I really wanted to share this...

Recently have had cause to think more about something that I have been vaguely contemplating for a while, which is to compare my detailed weight history stats with my AFib history stats.

I believe that the result is quite extraordinary and is summarised on the attached graphic.

The top graph is the daily weight in lbs (note some long periods when I wasn't weighing myself, so I have assumed a linear increase to known weights, hence some straight lines).

The bottom graph is my weekly hours in AFib episodes for the same period (July 19 to Date)

I think the correlation is amazing and there seems to be a "critical weight "threshold" when I go above or below somewhere between 195 - 200 lbs and then a "really bad weight" when I get to more like 205-210lbs.

- my first episode ever happened when I hit 200lbs for the first time ever in my life in July 2019

- frequency of episodes drops to zero or close to zero when my weight goes under 195 (coincidentally it has happened 3 times in the spring...) unless I am stupid and (say) run too much and too hard (back when I could still run )

- of my three really bad peaks in episode frequency, two have happened at over 205lbs (coincidentally around November 19 and November 21) and the third was purely medication (tried daily Flecainide...) induced (although coincidentally in November 2020!)

It's not the whole story, but it looks like a big part.

Please let me know what you think!

[BobD Volunteer]

No surprises there Arnie. It is well known that weight loss is beneficial to AF burden. The LEGACY trials in Australia showed that a BMI of 25 or better often removed the need for ablation completely. They also used an 800 cal per day special diet to get obese patients back to a good BMI in three months with spectacular results.

Of course there will always be racing snakes who develop AF but the message has been around quite some time . Glad you found it.

[secondtry]

Well BobD has said it. I now have BMI 23 and no AF.

I would add though I believe with most people it is a cocktail of causes and therefore a cocktail of solutions is required not just weight loss.

[BigArnie in reply to secondtry]

Yes, that is the thing. So, for example, the threshold weight that I have identified only more or less wiped out the episodes when I had stopped running, started Bisoprolol and had much more general experience with my triggers and avoiding them. Of course, optimistically, there just might be a weight where even some of those triggers fade away, but for now I would be more than happy for this current theory to prove its efficacy over an extended period of time!

[CDreamer]

Great post and hopefully a great incentive to those who need the nudge to lose the weight. I have to say I could do with losing another 7-10ths to get to BMI of 25 but because of other conditions and needing to eat something when I take my meds this is really hard to do but my AF burden is now down to 1% - according to my pacemaker stats.

[beach_bum in reply to CDreamer]

My GP considers the dated BMI guide an “aid” and should not be used for sports analysis, employment criteria, or overall health stats. His favourite BMI quote when queried “look in the mirror, not the scales, you know if your over/underweight.” If you do strength training, or work in an industry that develops more lean muscle than most, then your BMI can indicate an overweight or obese score.

Lean muscle weighs more than fat, so one must also take that into account.

Everyone knows what they are supposed to look like, so don’t sweat the math too much.

[BigArnie]

Thanks CD, actually I too am not at the (potentially) magic BMI of 25 yet, so perhaps there are even greater rewards to come!

[Threecats]

That’s really interesting, thanks for sharing BigArnie. I lost quite a bit of weight a few years back but it was starting to creep on again in recent years. Nothing drastic, only just above the magic bmi figure of 25 but realise that it coincided with the AF starting up. I’ve managed to lose some of it and have finally sneaked back under the 25 figure - just! I thought it was the Bisoprolol having a magic effect of stopping episodes but it looks like the weight loss is playing a part too. More incentive to keep going😊

[BigArnie in reply to Threecats]

Thanks Threecats, we have to keep going!

[Singwell]

Really interesting- nice to see someone as geeky as me! Lifestyle plays such a huge part and I see you travelled a lot too pre pandemic- presumably for work. I did too, though much less long haul. I'm sure that's a factor for many of us and personally I'm enjoying the home time that the pandemic had brought to many of us. Though I'd like to travel for pleasure in future. What's the breath work you're doing? I did some with a practitioner I met at a conference back in 2019 and find it really helpful. And congratulations on the lifestyle changes and paying attention to your body.

[BigArnie in reply to Singwell]

Thanks, Singwell, I always thought it might all come in handy one day - it seemed I had to look at it at the macro level for the message to get through! (And you should see all the back up and my running stats as well ) The rest of what you say certainly resonates. On the breathing side, my acupuncturist is also an experienced yoga teacher and we have only had one session on breath work so far, but it has really made a difference already, specifically in stopping a number of situations with ectopics developing into full blown episodes as they would normally do. Coincidentally my second session is this afternoon!

[Snowgirl65]

My a-fib was rampant when I was overweight (I'm petite 5'2" at 125 lbs. now) and when I gain even a few pounds over that, it seems the added fat pushes my diaphragm upwards and affects my heart.

[BigArnie in reply to Snowgirl65]

Yes, I've definitely wondered about that too! Perhaps also/or constricting the Vagus nerve in some way... Given my build/running/exercise I had no issues at around 185 -190lbs pre-Afib, but now having had to give up the running I must have considerably less muscle mass and so need to probably get down as low as 175lbs now.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to BigArnie]

I agree about the vagus nerve. I think you'll agree we both feel much better at a lower weight. I can't believe all the energy I have now -- quite a difference!

[BigArnie in reply to Snowgirl65]

Yes, I am exactly the same! Full of energy in spite of the most challenging work situation I have faced in years with lots of very long days to cope with.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to BigArnie]

Best wishes for your continued improvements!

[BigArnie]

So two months on and I thought I would post a quick progress update as some folks suggested. Basically it is all progressing really well and as I continue the eating plan, breathing practice and weight loss then the Afib has (at least for the last 28 days) completely disappeared. Of course, as you will all know, even after 28 days the fear is still always there, but for sure it has receded and I occasionally find myself going about life as I used to pre-Afib. (And then I remind myself that I managed 70 days last year, but I am quietly hopeful that I completely self-sabotaged that respite with a terrible diet and weight gain.)

Graphs