Vagal/Nighttime only Episodes

[MeganMN]

My episodes of SVT (Atrial Tachycardia) stop and start like clockwork. They are almost exclusively at night and start sometime between 5-8pm and are over by 8am. Every single day this repeats. I have read some research on this possibly being vagally mediated. I have read some of the posts about vagal stimulation with interest. I have not really had a good explanation from my EP about this phenomenon of nighttime only episodes, although I understand that it is common. Any thoughts out there? I am curious.

[CDreamer]

There is some enigma around vagal AF. Some doctors do not believe it exists, many do not know anything about it and most patients find it difficult to cope with. Two links for you

richardbogle.com/blog/vagal...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Because vagal AF is about the Autonomic Nervous System - sleeping position may help, improving vagal tone may also help. Learn about the ANS and the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic. Vagal AF is often triggered because one is out of balance with the other.

My suggestion is to be your own observer and experiment to see if you help yourself - research well and talk to your EP about what you have found out about your particular brand of nocturnal AF. There is more research being done and dig deep enough and you may find it. Some links on the STOPAFib site.

Mine more or less disappeared as soon I was treated for Sleep Apnea BUT I had AF at all times of the day as well.

Good Luck

[MeganMN in reply to CDreamer]

What a fantastic resource! Thank you so much! I met with a Naturopath and she had similar thoughts, but as of yet, I have had little success in mitigating it. Some of the interventions/lifestyle changes have stopped it for a few days, but then it comes right back. I will keep investigating and I really appreciate the resources!!

[manabouttown]

Have you tested yourself for sleep apnea.

It is very common for Sleep apnea to trigger AF.

Once I strted sleeping with a CPAP machine,my PAF improved.

[MeganMN in reply to manabouttown]

They did an overnight oximetry study and that was okay. The SVT usually starts after dinner and continues all night. It is usually the worst from 7pm-midnight.

[estesbubba in reply to MeganMN]

Do you eat big dinners? Eating a big meal in the evening, or a late meal, can be a trigger for heart issues.

[MeganMN]

It doesn't seem to matter. We do intermittent fasting (only eat between 10am-6pm). As if yet, I have not found anything to change the daily episodes (cut out caffeine, alcohol, eating habits, etc). I feel like there is something I am missing, but not sure what!

[secondtry]

You seem to be on it already having done some good. Numerous lifestyle changes haver been discussed here and no doubt a search will bring up enough reading!!

From your brief post I would prioritise looking at improving digestion, cutting stress on all fronts and improve breathing (YouTube James Nestor & Patrick McKeown).

[OzRob]

Search for Vagal Manouvers, I can turn my Vagal AF off as soon as it starts using this technique..

The most documented method is to hold your nose and build pressure as if you are in an airplane, equalizing pressure

The funniest method I discovered was to place my thumbs in my ears and move them up and down. The ears are the only external part of your body where the nerve travels to, so makes sense that you can stimulate the nerve there.

I had tried electrical stimulation with a TENS machine on a few points in the ears without success, some studies indicate this has works, but did not work for me.