Alcohol afib

[Gawlfer62gg]

I was diagnosed about 4 yesterday ago. I can months 6 or more without an episode. I have cut down on alcohol, but still drink usually Fri Sat night. My question is why don't I have episodes after drinking? Mine always come night 3 to 5 a.m., heavy late meals seem to be a culprit.

[sassy59]

It’s good to know what triggers AF and try to cut down or stop. Perhaps you could eat a lighter meal in the evening and not too late. Alcohol is a trigger for me so I don’t drink anymore. Good luck to you.

[Gawlfer62gg in reply to sassy59]

Thank you

[Jalia]

Well, you've identified your culprit .....eating heavy meals late at night! You're fortunate in not getting episodes after heavy drinking as well but it could come to that in time ! Moderation is the key and avoid eating late at night if you can.

[Gawlfer62gg in reply to Jalia]

Thank you

[Paulbounce]

Hi Gawlfer.

Some people can have a few drinks without any afib problems - others cannot. Even one sip can trigger afib in some. I'm lucky as a couple of beers have never put me into afib.

One thing is for sure though. I think for all of us if we have a heavy session of binge drinking - we know what's coming our way!

The keyword again applies here......

Moderation

Paul

[Ppiman]

I have read, and this applies to me, that a bloated stomach from drinking (or eating) is more of a trigger for AF than the alcohol contained in the drink. I gather the bloating pushes the diaphragm higher into the heart and sets of an ectopic beat which can trigger AF.

Steve

[Gawlfer62gg in reply to Ppiman]

Makes sense my doctor mentioned Vagal afib. Ty

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Ppiman]

So.. would that be the alcohol or the volume itself. Would a wee whiskey be OK as opposed to five pints of ale? I tend towards fizzy water these days, but I’m sure even that’s going to trigger some people 😮

[Ppiman in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

I think the condition is so very variable that as soon as we think we have a trigger, we know it wasn’t.

A bloated stomach, or anything that causes the intestines to move about, can result in pushing the diaphragm upwards against the heart. That can set off ectopic beats. Whether it’s the physical volume of liquid or the effect something in it has on the stomach (e.g. alcohol or spices… so many things), the digestive system moves and squirms naturally and the organs are all interconnected with bands of tissue pulling and pushing.

Steve

[OldJane]

both are vagal triggers and there can be a delay in reaction. You are fortunate in being able to drink at all. I do miss it!

[irene75359]

Alcohol has never affected me although I don't drink to excess. Near seven years down the line I still don't know my triggers, just that when I do (quite rarely) have an episode it is usually early in the morning and wakes me up. 200mg flecainide always gets me back in sinus rhythm (so far!) in under two hours.

[Gawlfer62gg in reply to irene75359]

Ty

[Cookie24 in reply to irene75359]

Have you had an ablation?

[irene75359 in reply to Cookie24]

No. I was diagnosed December 2015 and asked if I wanted to go on a trial at Hammersmith Hospital. They prescribed daily flecainide but about a year down the line and having only had about three episodes I withdrew from the trial and with my GP's approval started flecainide as a PiP. It has worked remarkably well, last year I had only one episode and for the moment I can't see any reason to have an ablation, my AF burden is so light.

[Shcldavies]

it’s the chemicals/alcohol in the drink that mess with your electrolytes which in turn effect the hearts electrical signals and once started needs something to trigger it back into NSR. These chemical reactions can take time to manifest (hrs or days) not least as your body is trying to keep itself in balance. It’s a reasonable bet that the drink effects your Magnesium balance (it could be other electrolytes, potassium, sodium, calcium etc), if it is magnesium supliments may help but you will have to see which magnesium works best for your body. It may be one of the other electrolytes in which case the magnesium supplements will not work. Don’t take supplements for any of the other electrolytes without Dr referral as this could potentially make your condition worst.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Shcldavies]

Yes, interesting points about electrolyte balance. There’s also the diuretic effect of alcohol which could potentially upset the balance. Also interesting what you say about the timescale taking several hours to a few days. It’s the same with migraine which actually starts 24-36h before experiencing symptoms. The brain, like the heart, can become more “irritable” in susceptible individuals. Quite often people look for a trigger, usually a food, that they’ve just eaten but it’s more likely to be a combination of several factors over the past couple of days, and it’s unlikely to be just one food. As Bob says, looking for triggers is a way to madness!

[Ducky2003]

One thing to consider, even if the alcohol doesn't trigger the AF, it can exacerbate the effects of certain medications, one of which I believe is anticoagulants and you don't want them working more than they need to 😁.

[Gawlfer62gg in reply to Ducky2003]

I do take magnesium, cardio has ok that. I have lost about 25 lbs since diagnosis, think that has helped.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Gawlfer62gg]

That's good if that's the only thing you take. I rattle when I move 😁.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Ducky2003]

That must be a good party trick 💃🏻

[Ducky2003 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Especially if I get my maracas out. 😁

[Paulbounce in reply to Ducky2003]

Lolz

[Tantaanna]

Interesting replies, I always learn on these posts-the heavy bloating, the indigestion, eating all have seemed to contribute to how I feel and it seems to have worsened in my journey. I think there might be something in the mind about one sip-I have tried going back to having one drink or half a drink and it does me no good. Unfortunately, social media plants a picture that going out with friends, always includes a drink of sorts.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Tantaanna]

Yes, you’re right. People think there’s something wrong with you when you don’t drink alcohol and there’s always one person at a gathering who will just keep pressurising you too.

[Cabinessence]

Interesting to read on here about alcohol triggering episodes. My consultant at Barts in London wasn't familiar with this when I told him that all my previous paroxysmal attacks over the past 15 years were following drinking beer. Not straight afterwards, but mostly days! Now I've been in permanent AFib since an alcohol-triggered (2 pints of light beer) mega attack back in Feb and I've stayed away from the drink other than once about a month ago when I thought I'd try out a single glass of beer having been on Bisoprolol for about 5 weeks. Just to see if I could now tolerate it courtesy of the meds. But no, big attack came my way. Now on Sotalol because of Biso side effects and hoping once again that I might be able to have an occasional glass, but too scared to try it at the moment as the last 2 attacks were the worst I'd had by miles. I had hoped that since going into permanent AFib I wouldn't get the big attacks anymore, but no. Hoping the fact that Sotalol is also an anti arrhythmia drug it might be better at stopping the attacks?

[jwsonoma]

You have my condolences.

Sadly as government health departments have pushed back against the alcohol industry the truth comes out.

Alcohol is a poison although it comes in a delicious mixture. It is listed as a carcinogen in California. So no amount amount is good for you. Having a drink is like having a cigarette. How many do you want?

The latest Gov, recommendations I read said a maximum of 4 drinks a week for a man will, in most cases, not cause harm. Another study said alcohol in any quantity damages the heart to some degree.

Of course what happens to the group is an average and doesn't necessarily apply to the individual.

My cardiologist highly recommended(on multiple occasions after I told him I cut back from 2 a day to 1 a week) Less is good non is better to help keep permanent fib at bay in the long term.

I live in Napa/Sonoma wine country which also has many craft breweries. I love both (a lot). I used to have a tasty beer when I got home from work and a glass of wine for dinner. I'd have more on the weekends.

One of my retirement goals was to visit and get to know 1 winery/craft brewery a week.

Now all I do is I mix a small amount of IPA (less than 1 per week) in with my semi daily Becks NA to add a little more flavor. Bummer.

When I use up the last of my beer stash I am done.

I love my cardiologist. Even though I was the skinny guy at the office he pointed at my small gut and said "That has to go. Try to loose 10 lb". My BMI was 24 at the time and I have some muscle. Tough luv.

I am in the eat to live camp vs live to eat.

Even after 5 years I miss it terribly but I would prefer to give myself a better chance of living a long a-fib free life.

[Morzine]

alcohol doesn’t affect me it seems, but I have little afib in the night I’m told by my cardio but I rarely know as I’m asleep….occauduonally I know as it’s when I get up to go to loo….but my cardio told me some people just have it in the night and never ever know…

So listen to what’s feel…late eating isn’t good for a lot of us older folk afib or not,

Main thing…keep well and happy eh!

Sue