No more multiple PVCs after daily sauna - Atrial Fibrillati...

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No more multiple PVCs after daily sauna

Sustainedvtach270 profile image

I am a 58 years old male. I went into cardiac arrest almost 2 years ago when I was rapid afib. I now have a pacemaker defibrilator. Thanks to my diet,rich in potassium and magnesium, I have been afib free most of the time. Though at times I still had multiple PVC's, bigeminy usually at lunch time. Since I started my daily sauna more than 1 month ago, the frequent PVC's are gone! I have low blood pressure and I am on beta blocker so I drink a lots of salty water in the sauna. Sauna may not be for everyone, so use caution and talk with your doctor if unsure. If you do not have access to a sauna, a hot bath that makes you sweat, will do the trick. And to cool off after the sauna, I always take a cold shower... That provides an incredible sens of calmness!

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Sustainedvtach270
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29 Replies
Jalia profile image
Jalia

It works for you so thats good ! I couldn't think of anything worse . I would probably pass out 😬 I know that saunas are of great benefit to very many but as you say , be cautious and check with your doc if necessary

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply toJalia

Absolutely Jalia! My wife with no cardiac problem, does not stay as long as I do. I usually stay 20 minutes and longer if I swim before, the pool water is quite cold.

lovetogarden profile image
lovetogarden

oh, I love a sauna. Maybe I’ll use your example to convince my husband we need one in the back garden? 😀 I wish! That’s great that it helps your heart.

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply tolovetogarden

I did not take a lots of saunas since my 20ies, but I have been missing out!😄.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Anything that works for you, sounds counterintuitive but go for it. I always finish my shower with 20 secs of cold water - so good for you.

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply toCDreamer

I understand saunas are not for everyone and we as afibers or potential afibers should use caution. But the studies out of Finland are very encouraging for heart health. I always make sure to drink a lots of salty water during the sauna.

lovetogarden profile image
lovetogarden in reply toSustainedvtach270

The Finns I know also love to swim in icy winter lakes and the sea. Crazy people! 🤣 Ice❄️🥶

irene75359 profile image
irene75359 in reply toCDreamer

My daughter's Italian mother-in-law finishes off with a cold shower and was waxing lyrical to me the other day about how alive and invigorated she feels - I have yet to try it!

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply toirene75359

Hi Irene, it is all about stretching our body out of the comfort zone. It is like exercise.

Eliktrick profile image
Eliktrick in reply toSustainedvtach270

heat is very different from exercise.

DawnTX profile image
DawnTX in reply toirene75359

the French women also believe in it and claim that is why they have the beautiful skin they often do

Singwell profile image
Singwell

Lucky you! I used to love a sauna. Haven't had one since diagnosis. COVID didn't help of course. Would love to start again with 5 mins at a time...

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply toSingwell

Hi Singwell. I was really afraid at first. I have to give credit to my wife to motivate me to take a membership at the pool where our son is taking some swimming lessons. It was before christmas when the temperature dropped to -20 celcius/-4 farenheit,my wife who is always cold wanted to use the sauna... She is now using it once a week and I go every day😄.

BeeBee79 profile image
BeeBee79

hi there,

Thanks for posting. I too have AFIB most of the time, I’m currently due to have a 4th ablation. I’m 43 and last year had a cardiac arrest on holiday. My quality of life seems pretty poor in comparison to a few years back when I was running 5 times a week. All I can do now is daily hour long dog walks and I struggle with that.

I find the sauna and diet intriguing and although I’m not a lover of the sauna, Im willing to try anything so will mention it to my doc. Do you take magnesium supplements?

Thanks, Bee

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply toBeeBee79

Hi Bee. We are all different of course. But we both had a cardiac arrest and seem to be the athletic type. I was fortunate to have my cardiac arrest while hospitalized for rapid afib. I did not stay unconscious for long. This wonderful forum taught me that the number 1 thing for us is the diet. Few months after my cardiac arrest I was eating pizza and ice cream on vacation, my heart rate went back to 200! I manage to get my potassium and magnesium through my diet. I am now vegetarian, gluten free and alcohol free. I do not take any supplement. My quality of life is almost the same as before. I skied last saturday, I shoveled my driveway for 1 hour this morning, there was a fair amount of snow and ice🥶. The main change, my finger tips get numb more easily with the cold. I use more hand warmers and the sauna really helps to get the blood moving!😄And above all, the sauna makes me so relax, which helps tackle our number 2 concern:stress. Take care and feel free to ask any question

Eliktrick profile image
Eliktrick in reply toBeeBee79

have you heard of Hesrt Calm? Or read The Afib Cure?

BeeBee79 profile image
BeeBee79 in reply toEliktrick

no I haven’t but I’m intrigued…

Eliktrick profile image
Eliktrick in reply toBeeBee79

Heart Calm is a good supplement I can’t take it because if the taurine.. I take Cardiac FX prescribed by my naturopath.. The Afib Cure is a good start.

BeeBee79 profile image
BeeBee79 in reply toEliktrick

thank you, I will look into this 🙏♥️

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65

I recall in my early days of afib that on a few occasions when I took a quick shower before heading to the ER because of a bad afib episode, directing hot water on my chest converted me to NSR and I didn't need the trip to the ER after all. Maybe the same effects as a sauna but not quite!

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply toSnowgirl65

Hi Snowgirl. The sauna's heat dilutes our veins, lowers our blood pressure. Important to stay very well hydrated.

Eliktrick profile image
Eliktrick in reply toSnowgirl65

this is so interesting

Eliktrick profile image
Eliktrick

I’m glad that works for you! Heat puts me in Afib.. I have to be careful in out hot summers!!

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply toEliktrick

Hi Eliktrick. Important to have enough potassium and magnesium in the system. If we lack any of those 2, we flip easily to afib whith the heat. That happened to me last summer, when I decreased my potassium and magnesium level to help my IBS.

Eliktrick profile image
Eliktrick

coconut water

Jetcat profile image
Jetcat

I’m really happy that it works for you. I wish I had the courage to take a cold shower.!!! I don’t mind a tepid shower but not a cold one.!!! In my eyes a Cold water is for drinking not bathing.🤪

Crash88 profile image
Crash88

wow, you sir, are an animal. doesn't sauna make heart rate spike as if you are working out??? how high does your rate get in the sauna? I would be scared shitless

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply toCrash88

Hi Crash. I check my heart rate with my watch only when out of the sauna. The highest was 90 and goes rapidly back to the 60s. G

Sustainedvtach270 profile image
Sustainedvtach270 in reply toCrash88

I also did not mention, I keep active, I walk 10000 steps daily. When in the sauna, I do some slow diaphragmatic breathing but keep my eyes open to not pass out and keep drinking salty water to compensate for the sweat. I am more afraid of eating a pizza for my heart...

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