I’ve got a really good osteopath working on releasing some extremely tight, deep muscles in my neck, upper back and shoulders. I’ve got a really good Accupuncturist treating the same, in addition to some doing some deep relaxation stuff and vagus nerve calming. He’s taught me the pressure point above the ear to calm the vagus nerve(s). I’ve cleaned up my diet, cut right down on caffeine, alcohol and sugar intake.
I’m reading ‘Breath, the new science of a lost art’, by James Nestor and started implementing the breathing techniques.
Within a matter of days the AFib espisodes are getting much less frequent and MUCH shorter in duration. Yay!!
Address the stress folks!
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Dippy22
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thanks Dippy very interesting, I’ll look into your suggestions, in relation to your ear do you simply apply pressure for some time and this relaxes the Vegus nerve?
My AF always happens after alcohol or caffeine then followed by exercise and stress I believe adds to that.
I am a complement therapist of 25 years. One of my modalities is Thermoauricular therapy, Hopi candles with acupressure) this is using acupressure points in and around the ears , head to aid eustation tube drainage, also the accupoints help jaw tension, neck tension. The ears have many points, so I would massage rigorously to soften the ear. I’ve had many compliments of effective results. I have Temporal Mandibular Joint Syndrome which the 3 accupoints in front of the tragus helps enormously
Interesting stuff! I read somewhere recently that the trigeminal nerve links with the vagus nerve(s), and the dorsal vagus nerve controls heart beat rate. Makes me realise that stress can cause the jaw to tense and get misalignment, which in turn can effect the vagus nerves and bring on AF.
My osteo puts on gloves and digs around in the back of my mouth and jaw joints to release seriously locked-up muscles. It’s not pleasant, but it seems to be working.
I’m a firm believer that nothing happens in the body for no reason. My heart ultrasound was perfectly normal, so there has to be another reason for this PAF.
the body all works together in synchronicity, if one part is out of sync, other parts will be to. Impossible to treat one part without looking at the whole.
You’re quite right to be selective, but conversely there’s also some really good stuff out there. And twiddling with bits of your ears certainly can’t harm anyone and I think the more of this type info we get the better. I’m sure I’m not the only who’d rather not take the medications. 👍
Good stuff! If you watch an animal such as a dog, cat or horse when it hears a sound that maybe a threat their ears prick up. If they become threatened or fearful their ears go back. We humans are not much different - we still have the ability to prick our ears up or flatten them when frightened or threatened. If we humans live in a state of constant fear or stress (eg fight or flight) then our ears are going to be on constant high alert and the tiny muscles on the scalp and around the lobes will become tight and exhausted. Hence the soothing feeling from the massage. We humans are more primeval than we give ourselves credit for. It’s all linked! 😀
Being in a state of high alert can be a serious health issue. It means your adrenaline and subsequently your cortisol levels are constantly raised, which is not good. I would advise you to seek help from a naturopathic doctor. x
Of course! I'm well aware. The onset of AF coinciding with a global pandemic and a couple of acute BP hypos led me to experience episodes of anxiety. I've done breath work, had psychotherapy and also do somatic work to change this pattern. I'm doi g well. I hope it helps others to talk about it.
OzJames.. that's been my experience as well..maybe alcohol being a main trigger..but alcohol followed by anything particular vigorous is really playing with fire. Good example..had a few beers with friends at a local place then biked home at a pretty good clip.. AF was waiting for me after I got home for a bit. Caffeine may have similar but lesser triggers.. I generally only caffeinate in mornings during casual a.m. routine so who knows. I do see some studies show a little caffeine has been ok if not slightly beneficial for AFib in folks...while alcohol has gotten even a worse reputation in recent studies for AFib patients . Dammit.
I’m similar, after some beers and wine the dog bolted out the back gate I chased it and felt my first AF…. that was 29 years ago. Since then about every 4-5 years it would happen again, a few reds too many then next morning go and exercise and boom it’s back. I would always be careful about mixing vigorous exercise and alcohol/caffeine but I guess after 4 years I’d forget 🤔 I’d always reverse it in a day or so with exercise or a cold jump in the sea. Anyway happened again August, same cause!! then again in December after a nightmare. Taken me this long to make decisions to give up alcohol and only drink zero beer or maybe just wet my lips on a wine when out with my wife
I’ll try to explain it. If you place you fingers on your skull just above the top of your earlobe you may feel a bit of a ridge which sweeps round and down following the shape of the earlobes. Gently feel around this ridge with your fingers until you find a minuscule dip or change in the ridge - about the size of one finger tip. It takes a bit of practice. I knew when I’d found mine as it was really quite tender to the touch. This is the acupressure point for AF/heart rate. If you manage to locate it, then press gently for a minute or two.
no, I don’t have any devices, beyond my iWatch. I’ll have to keep a log - if/when I get another episode. I’m also doing deep breathing exercises. I firmly believe mine is all longterm stress related - tight neck and shoulders, and two years of back pain and now facing spinal surgery has literally exhausted my nervous system.
Accupuncture guy said a couple of times a day, plus when in AF. Mine was really tender when I started. Not so much now and haven’t had an AF episode since. I was having 2-3 a week since October and even the last one last week was markedly shorter -they were lasting two-four days, but that one stopped after a mere 12 hours. 😀
I’d only used it for a day or two before the AFib started, but as I said the episode was so short it was almost laughable. And I’ve eaten loads of Jaffa cakes and drunk quite a lot of red wine over Christmas and NO AFib! That would never have happened in the last few months.
I’m also regularly doing deep neck stretching to try to keep the tight muscles at bay
Also found another heart/pericardium acupressure point - three fingers up from the crease in the wrist and between the two tendons. I’m going to try that one too. It’s called PC6.
I absolutely cannot have alcohol not that I am a drinker as such but I do love a nice glass of sangria or red wine once in a while at dinner. I never thought of it as being the sangria so light and fruity but every time we had Mexican food and I had my sangria, By the time I reached the car with my cousin I was having an attack no doubt about it. I only have one glass evidently that was enough for me I’ve always been a lightweight with drinking lol I do have my coffee and that does not seem to bother me although I drink flavored which is lighter in caffeine. It’s just me saying it but if you know those things start you up I would think you would want to avoid them pretty much. Best of luck whatever you do
Try German Reisling with a bit of tonic water or soda water … maybe half and half … l have been doing this on Saturday evenings when we go out to dine … l stretch one glass out during our evening … l get a little relaxation and fun … yet l don’t get afib episodes from this concoction. Try it, it’s fun! I used to be a two martini girl …
To stop AF? Nope. The 2nd ablation did that (at least for now). To gain awareness of breathing patterns, yes. Useful. And I invested in the mouth strips for nasal.breathing at night. Better sleep!
I found the book useful. It’s changed the way I breathe and I’m far more careful to mouth breath now. And yes, as he says in the book, in a very short time your nasal passages open up more.
I forgot to say that sadly none of it worked. The Af got steadily worse and more frequent. Three months after I had the spine surgery I had to have a left pulmonary vein RF ablation. Doc said it was “acutely successful” and so far it’s been amazing and has completely stopped the AF. 🙏
I am still on cloud nine, thank you. Since I came back six days ago, I've had occasions to bring on an AFib episode, but none this time. The heart is steady, my ECG monitor shows very regular heartbeat pattern with less variability than before. As I mentioned on other posts, I also am not aware of the heart, which is a blessing for me.
Before, I was conscious of every little change and it ran my life. I hope that you are well and no AFib burden. A scintillating Happy New Year to you with Joy and hope. Saul
Thank you. I thought you did such a bold move! I've been in Sinus continuously now since mid May and am titrating my pills. Had to address some hypothyroidism but those symptoms improving now. Hopefully all will stay in balance.
Hi Singwell, It is good to hear someone has addressed hypothyroidism issues. I'm also a singer (tho more of a harpist and pianist) but troubled with too many vagally-mediated episodes of afib, esp. since being on prednisone for an inflammatory bowel flare up. Breathing techniques, including some attempts at didgeridoo, have helped in past. But we've always believed I have subclinical hypothyroidism, just don't know what to do for it. May I ask what has helped you to get into stable NSR related to your hypoT? Many thanks. Merry Christmas--still in the spirit here! Diane S.
Glad for you and envious. Are you on blood thinners, cos osteopaths have told me they can't do their stuff if you are for fear of causing an internal bleed. I found osteopaths were only ones who could sort my back, now I'm in pain and stiff every day.
My osteo hasn’t been fazed by the blood thinners. She does quite gentle release work and only does ‘snappy cracky’ as I call it when absolutely necessary. Curious that you’ve got back pain, as so have I. We body workers believe that the curves of the spine (lumbar and cervical) are intrinsically linked - lose one and the other is always affected. With the state of my lumbar spine (I’m waiting for fusion op) I’m not at all surprised my neck (and vagus?) have been compromised. And living in almost constant pain is also another stressor. My back pain has resulted in a complete change of lifestyle - another load of stress! And we wonder why our hearts get sore. 😟
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76 years old with A F
apixaban and hematuria 
Is this afib?
shortness of breath
3% Afib burden and proposed medication
