Breathing Technic for Afib: Hi HUC. I... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

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Breathing Technic for Afib

Paulbounce profile image
37 Replies

Hi HUC.

I thought this link might be helpful for forum members. Practising this technic can really help lower your HR and calm you down during an afib attack.

health.harvard.edu/mind-and...

It was initially posted in another thread in response to Tapanac but I feel it's worth starting another thread for other members to read.

Sorry, but I don't have the time today to personally respond to any comments - so much to catch up on this weekend with my business projects. There's no rest for the wicked.

I'll still 'like' any replies later today. Practise the technic for ten minutes so you know how to master it if Mr Afib pays a visit. It could help to show him the way out for a shift exit along with a PIP if your medic has suggested one.

Have a great weekend.

Paul

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Paulbounce
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37 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Pretty much what we promote to stop ectopics. Came from a video from Dr Sanjay Gupta of York Cardiology some years ago.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toBobD

It's great to hear that this technique has been recommended by Dr Sanjay Gupta of York Cardiology, and I'm sure many members of the forum will find it useful in this case.

Thank you for your contribution to the thread.

Paul

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toPaulbounce

As I always explain to people here slow breathing down to less than 6 BPM for at least five minutes.

sassy59 profile image
sassy59

l practice breathing deeply quite a lot Paul but thank you. It’s a good technique to master.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply tosassy59

Ty Sassy. It's certainly worth mastering.

Enjoy your weekend.

Paul

sassy59 profile image
sassy59 in reply toPaulbounce

You too

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Thanks for posting this Paul, always a good reminder for all of us and very helpful for new forum members.

Jean

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thanks Jean. Have a lovely weekend.

Paul

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut

I think I’ve found the exercises you suggested and hoping to print them out and start doing them but seems I have signed up for lots of other stuff from them!!

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toVonnegut

I think you may have pressed the subscribe button by mistake Vonne. Simple to solve - print off what you want and hit 'unsubscibe' when you recieve another email.

Job done.

Paul

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut in reply toPaulbounce

Remember “i before e except after a c”’

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toVonnegut

It is considered bad forum etiquette to correct the spelling of other posters. You have done this twice now to Paul .

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut in reply toAuriculaire

It must be from the years I spent teaching when such things were considered important and helpful rather than critical-

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toVonnegut

They are- for children who are learning to spell. But we are adults here.

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut in reply toAuriculaire

I still appreciate helpful suggestions so I’ll take yours as well meant!

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toAuriculaire

Thanks, AC. I did actually reply to 'Vonnegut' yesterday but I felt guilty about my reply and took it down. I try to avoid pretty spats online and just won't bother to engage with the poster anymore. It's just water off a ducks back to me.

Happy Sunday.

Paul

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut

Sorry you took things so badly,Paul. Do please forgive me. I didn’t mean my posts to be in any way at all nasty.

Cholla3 profile image
Cholla3 in reply toVonnegut

V, I expect my friends to stop me from walking into a brick wall if they see that is where I am headed. I like friends who help me improve in little and small ways.

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut

And it is only the second time I have signed up for Health Unlocked!

50568789 profile image
50568789

Breathing well is a fundamental of Tai Chi and Qi Jong exercise. Liverpool University is preparing a PhD project investigating the potential benefits of Tai Chi for AF sufferers. Invitations to participate have been posted on this forum several times. I have signed up for it, but understand numbers are still low. Maybe the perception of Tai Chi is not clear - it's not kung fu fighting! It's a gentle, meditative, rhythmic series of stretching moves, combined with controlled breathing. I would encourage members of this community to get involved in this project, it is very undemanding, might do you a power of good, and may deepen our understanding of applications to lower the impact of AF.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply to50568789

Thanks for your reply 505. I think Tai Chi could certainly benefit afib suffers.

Paul

Tamgirl profile image
Tamgirl in reply to50568789

I have signed up and am in the control group. It is very worthy research.

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut in reply toTamgirl

I have signed up too but not sure which group I have been allocated to yet. We are all going to get the sessions at the end of the experimental period though.

Tamgirl profile image
Tamgirl in reply toVonnegut

Yes should be interesting. I have been going to Tai Chi classes for a year and I love it.

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut in reply to50568789

I have signed up too as I miss the Tai Chi classes I used to attend until unable to do so as the fatigue worsened. I hope I’ll be able to manage the online sessions.

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut in reply to50568789

Very pleased I am going to be taking part as I miss the Tai Chi classes I used to attend.

50568789 profile image
50568789 in reply toVonnegut

I've been attending Tai Chi classes for over 20 years but it all went pear shaped when Covid hit and classes were cancelled etc. Trying to get back into regular sessions, but imo it needs to be a daily discipline to really get the benefits. Will be interesting to see what style is being used and the structure of the programme. I'm in the exercise group.

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut in reply to50568789

So we might meet on the zoom session tomorrow if I can get a signal as we’ll still be at the podiatrist when it starts but home before it ends!

irene75359 profile image
irene75359

I use a this technique when having a cannula inserted; the nurse invariably has to try at least three times and then gets someone else to try and without fail I end up with massive bruises. Having had countless cannulas over the past couple of years due to cancer treatment, one would think I would get used to it, but the last time I passed out and then vomited when I came too. Deep breaths!

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toirene75359

Hi Irene. I too have a problem having cannilars fitted - they always have to try several times before success and do leave bruses.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Paul

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toirene75359

I have problems with these too. For all three of my ops at the same clinic the nurses on the wing have refused to do them whilst I was there and sent me to theatre to be dealt with by the theatre nurses! They remembered the difficulty they had when I was hospitalised there with diverticulitis and my veins kept shutting down with the iv . I'm probably labelled in their heads as Mme Veines Nuls- Mrs Rubbish Veins .

irene75359 profile image
irene75359 in reply toAuriculaire

Ha! You probably have small veins as well as being deep; when I was eventually having the contrast for the CT scan the guy pushed the syringe hard and I hit the roof; it was really painful and they all looked baffled but within seconds the site had developed a large bruise and the area was swollen. And it wasn't the cannula leaking either.

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toirene75359

That sounds awful! Mine also have a tendancy to slide away from the needle .At my local lab where I get my blood tests done they know to use needles meant for babies on me. The lady I always asked for is no longer there since it changed hands. She always got into a vein first time so going is now more of an ordeal.

Vonnegut profile image
Vonnegut in reply toirene75359

Poor you! Your experience certainly puts mine in perspective!

fibnum profile image
fibnum

Any relaxed inhalation will produce natural, abdominal breathing. Wind instrument players must learn to breathe relaxed even when preparing to play a treacherous passage in front of an audience. Making an "O" in your throat and keeping your head up are keys to abdominal breathing though the mouth.

Nybroc profile image
Nybroc

Paul, thanks for your post. I've recently been suffering from shortness of breath, gurgling and wheezing, probable culprit weight gain due to raids on the biscuit tin. Have tried pursed lip breathing exercises which are similar to what you are advocating. In just a few days the gurgling and wheezing has virtually gone and the shortness of breath is much reduced. I know my heart medication is important and intend to stick with it. Nonetheless I am amazed at how much we can help ourselves with exercises and diet. Think the NHS is missing a trick here, not just for recent sufferers but for people like me who have had heart problems for nearly fifteen years.

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply toNybroc

Hi Nybroc. Diet and moderate exercise can help very much with afib - as can the correct breathing. Check out 'grounding' as well online as this is very useful if you start to panic.

Thanks Paul

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