Hi there, probably just looking for some reassurance here.My AF has seemed to stabilise other than a few ectopic beats over the last few months.
I had a very bad year AF wise between September 2021 and 2022.
I also have gastritis which was bad over the festive period including heartburn but seems to be improving now.
Out of the blue today whilst at work I had a few bumps (ectopic heart beats) big ones. I immediately had the feeling of being light headed and weak.
This all happened after eating my lunch.
I had these feelings for about an hour and then started to feel better gradually.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this and could the fact that I have gastritis and had eaten immediately before it have any bearing on my episode.
My smart watch certainly didn't indicate anything too alarming it was just the sudden nature of the episode and the symptoms immediately thereafter that concerned me.
Hopefully I have nothing to worry about.
Regards wwatson
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wwatson280283
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I have just been posing about the stoache and ectopics. My stomachs is really not behaving ( belching, gas,bloating) and when I eat anything above the size of a bowl of cereal then big big ectopics. So definitely a big relationship with your gastrointestinal problems.
No Af hit I am glad to say but cluster headaches and tinnitus going mad. I suspect vagus nerve irritation via your stomachs or the other way round?
I think you will find it can be a common experience and is to do with the Autonomic nervous system and vagal nerve which control HR, Digestion and all other automatic functions in the body. It seems that AF and gastric issues are linked. I think I counted about 5 posts about this in the last few days - you might want to review threads over the last week or so.
You might also want to look at what you ate, when you ate and how you ate and what you did immediately afterwards. I went through a period of time when AF was at it’s peak when if I as much as got up from the table within 20-30 mins I had full blown AF, I just had to rest. Certain foods such as carbohydrates seemed to be triggers, sticking to mainly plant based foods helped also
Thanks Cdreamer. Believe it or not it was cheese on brown bread. Glas to hear its not an unusual episode although wishing nobody had to suffer anything like it
Like CD I could never move about after having eaten my lunch, or my AF would kick off. I'd go walking with a group, we'd stop to eat our packed lunch and all I could have was a banana and some nuts. I do voluntary work and other volunteers would often make cakes, they would set my AF off too and I became too afraid to eat any. Re your gastritis, I have to avoid fatty foods and vinegar to keep that at bay. If it does threaten to kick off I eat some almond nuts, they have to be well chewed to help. I guess yours may have been bad over Christmas because of all the fat containing food you ate. If all else fails try some mastic gum capsules, they're expensive but a course really helps. Oh and lose weight if needed and don't wear anything tight around your waist. I'm resigned to mostly wearing dresses now.
Good luck, I hope these tips will help you like they have me.
Avoid sugar and carbs like crazy is what I would suggest Jean. If you have to some carbs, (like I do, as when I reduce my carbs my heart does not like it), have some boiled rice. Increase the healthy fats in your diet (which includes fat from grass fed, grass finished beef), which contrary to popular belief is actually very healthy for you. And drink as much extra virgin olive oil (try to buy Spanish, I find non-Spanish varieties are very dodgy) as you can (add to every dish, etc.).
Do about 30 minutes of cardio every day, if out of shape, start slowly, like brisk walking for 30 minutes, then move up to either cycling for 30 minutes or jogging for those 30 minutes. You will improve dramatically.
Thanks for your tips Tarikor, luckily the problems I mentioned in my reply are all in the past now. Hopefully they will help others. Changing my diet was the cure.
I found mature cheese or steaks, possibly high tyramine foods, would often set off AF. Having been cryo-ablated last May, I'm slowly experimenting with stuff I used to eat but haven't risked mature product yet. Funnily enough, Kraft cheese slices were ok and the cheese they use on pizzas was tolerated without triggering an episode. Sometimes I'm amazed our bodies work at all given their complexity....!
Thanks UK5010. Yes I'm just realising how complicated individual beings are and how the same things can have such a different impact on each individual. Cheese and dairy products didn't used to cause any problems but maybe my body is changing.
Unfortunately I have the same experience on a regular basis. Both my EP and gastroenterologist accept the connection but finding any solution evades us.
The vagus nerve and autonomic nervous system are seemingly culprits but what to do about it is another matter. Best wishes.
When I was in this position back in the early days of my AF and indeed up to about Sept 2011 having had many symptoms that have been described here I gave up on medical profession as peddled by the NHS. Having established I was clear of IBS and Coeliac Disease I privately consulted a nutritionist. As I result I was prescribed some probiotics, then went gluten, wheat and oats free. Over a long eriod of time I then widened my diet to include a range of food stuff , from no added sugar to no Duck or Pork. This year has been my best non AF year yet, only one event of 2 days which put me off work. Other years I have only had 3 or 4 events with only one being disabling.
Thanks John, yes I too am starting to lose respect for the medical profession in relation to these issues. I have certainly learned more from the people on this forum than I have from doctors.
Almost certain there is a link between gastric issues, the Vagus Nerve and AF. This will be of varying importance for each individual. Some good tips already above. I would loose no time in consulting an Alternative Practitioner as you won't get anything out of the regular medics unless you are very lucky. Be prepared to do a lot off trial and error to find the best for you.
I eat badly, too fast with stress had reflux, sometimes struggled to swallow.
One good tip on digestion that has worked well for me based on Chinese practices.....imagine the gut is a cooking pot digesting the food. Don't put cold water into the pot particularly at the start of the day. Now most water/squash I drink is with warm or hot water. Never ice water.
Thanks Secondtry. The point about cold water is an interesting one as I almost always drink cold water. Yesterday in fact I had cold water from a water cooler at work immediately after my lunch.
Its been mentioned before, but interesting that some things that trigger AF also stop an episode, cold water being one of them. A previous GP now retired, suggested I ate crushed ice or plunged wrists into cold water, have never needed to try it as deep breathing 7/11 usually works. Am not suggesting you have a carbs binge to stop an episode of course!!!
I have seen over a dozen cardiologists since 2000, in Africa, Europe and North America, not one, not a single one has EVER replied to me when I asked them why when I lower my calories I have an AF episode. They mearly shrug their shoulders or say I am not aware.
What and how we eat has a massive influence on our heart, whether or not doctors are aware of it or not, and quite a few of my AFs were directly related to food. Not only that, but a lot of my digestive issues (I have a lot of gas, indigestion etc. that gastroenterologists are useless to fix as well), that many times cause me to have heart rhythm disturbances. Gas pushes upwards against both the diaphragm and the vagus nerve, and for me, I also find that when I have a big blob of gas stuck in my lower oesophagus, my heart tends to produce a lot of very strong ectopics and if I don't release that gas very quickly, it tends to go into AF.
Watch your diet, avoid things that trigger you, check for SIBO and methane SIBO (stuff that western medicine is extremely poor at fixing as well) and if present, work on resolving them (tons of info online on how to deal with SIBO and methane SIBO).
If I could fix my digestive issues, 90% of ALL my health issues (have a lot of issues breathing as well), would disappear, including my heart problems.
Thanks Icenae. I agree about vagal nerve. From the little research I've done it would appear that due to the proximity of the vagal nerve to the heart mixed in with additional inflammation caused by gastritis this has an impact on ectopic beats which can trigger AF.
I have had this several times and, like you, have gastritis issues, even though they are mostly controlled with esomeprazole. I find that "heavy" thumping ectopics can easily increase my anxiety levels and increase my heart rate. As well as feeling transient light-headedness, I also sometimes get an unpleasant "spacey" feeling as if the world and people talking are somehow more distant.
Thanks Ppiman. Ditto. I too am on esomeprazole aswell as recently being prescribed Famotidine to be taken in the evening. Your "Spacey" feeling is exactly what I endured yesterday. I will use your description when I am next trying to articulate the feeling to my GP.
The light headed sensation and feeling weak could be reactive hypoglycaemia. I have had this on many occasions in the past . I feel really ill after eating - weak, lightheaded and nauseous. I have to lie down and wait for my meal to "get through" -usually it takes about 15- 20 mins. I have also had afib come on after feeling my blood sugar has dropped a lot. I don't get it very often now but can't explain the improvement!
That brings back such bad memories for me, problems after lunch with stomach cramps etc., and affecting my heart to the point of having to lie down, I would need to undo anything around my waist after eating or my heart would ‘ dance ‘ it’s way through the next hour and I would be exhausted.
I now take a digestive aid, sometimes necessary as we get older and no longer produce as much enzymes as we need to break down our food. I have been on a wheat free diet and that was a big help, also cutting down on carbohydrate can help. It is trial and error for each of us. Good luck and I hope you find an answer soon.
Strong link between digestive issues and AF in my case too. The more wind I have the more AF episodes I have. Excess fat and/or sugar seem to result in more wind. Broccoli, paradoxically seems to reduce the wind problem over time - presumably by improving intestinal health - and decrease the risk of AF/ectopics/abnormal beats. Cheese, though, may be an issue for two reasons: it's calcium content, which excites the heart, and tyramine, a long established trigger for AF.
Thanks Jimlad2. I'm going down the more vegetables route however I tried taking broccoli and this caused a lot of excess wind most of which got trapped and caused significant pain.
I have no idea if this might help, but it was an article I just read about gastric issues and afib. There is a condition known as Roemheld Syndrome (RS) or Gastrocardiac syndrome. The link to the article is below. I have no idea if this will help. I am certainly no physician just sharing information. It is an interesting read. Ignore the popup of the doctor when you get to the page. The real info is there when you get rid of the pop-up. Also, if you Google Roemheld Syndrome, you should also get info.
wheat sets me off and artificial sweeteners. As long as I stay clear of those ingredients I do well. On occasion, if I have too much sugar, I will get mild ectopics but wheat and artificial sweeteners cause full-blown high heart rate tachycardia. I had been diagnosed with gastritis many years ago, but after going gluten/wheat free that resolved.
going gluten free made all the difference to me. If I accidentally get “glutened” at a restaurant it sets my heart on crazy mode. Tachy and everything.
anything sugary in the associated meals? I’m finding that sugar must aggravate my stomach/esophagus and causing extra ectopics. Also, yes, a big flutter can make me light headed. Also, recovery from Afib does this.
I'm not an expert. But I have worked with people who had the Vegus Nerve Stimulator Implant for seizures and I found out that the Vegus Nerve runs right by the gut and the heart so if you get an upset stomach it can set off seizures. I was told this can prompt an AFIB incident as well, hence the advice to stay off spicy foods, hope this helps
Gastric distress (bloating, gas, and pressure under the xiphoid process area) has been the source of 80% of my afib episodes. The others seem to have resulted from sleep apnea or other lapses in breathing. I found out that I have Celiac disease and have had success by being careful with my eating - avoiding gluten (to accommodate the Celiac disease), alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, cruciferous vegetables and some fresh fruits. I also take a probiotic and over-the-counter gas-relief products.
It is tedious, and I sometimes pout because I can't eat or drink what I want, but it has been worth it.
If you have not done so, get tested for Celiac and other possible gastric issues.
I was told by my EP that my efforts would not result in reduced afib attacks. Experience has shown that not to be true.
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