Atrial Fibrillation Attacks

[southkorea]

Has anyone found a way of stopping these once they have started?

[jeanjeannie50]

These are all the tips I’ve saved over the years, given by forum members, for stopping AF:

I am a therapist in private practice for over 20yrs.One of my therapies is yoga based. Having quite an accurate knowledge of anatomy, neurology and physiology also having PAF I have found this technique helps me immensely when my heart is fluttering like crazy. Make yourself comfortable either on a bed or lying on the floor, position a pillow under you head, Raise your left arm in an extension position as if you are doing the backward crawl. Stretch as much as you can and imagine that it is stretching your heart muscle...I bend my arm and position my hand under my head palm upwards.. Stay in that position for as long as you can or until the fluttering subsides...At the same time I think of something pleasant. It does not matter what you think about as long as it is a pleasant thought for you. This stops my heart jumping about almost instantly....I also place my right hand over my heart area...Don't panic and just keep calm thinking pleasant thoughts....I do hope this helps you. Kind Regards. C

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As someone else who finds yoga breathing and some positions helpful, I would love to try (xxxx) suggestion, but lying down flat tends to make things worse for me. My most helpful position, taught me by a lovely yoga teacher, is based on a yoga forward bend. I sit up with my legs outstretched in front of me and a pillow under my knees, and then bend forward from the hips not the waist, with my arms relaxed but outstretched towards my ankles, and breath deeply and slowly. It's not so good on a full stomach and is more comfortable with your knees slightly apart, and I guess you have to be a bit flexible to find it comfortable, but it has proved to be a great help.

I agree with (xxxx) that staying calm and focusing on something pleasant is a must, and I've even fallen asleep like this as most of my episodes occur at night. All the best Liz

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Finally, like AV nodal re-entry, some people have recurrent rapid rhythms that are infrequent and easy to self-control by using various methods to increase neural slowing to the AV node (so-called, "vagal manoeuvres"). Using these manoeuvres, one can sometimes stop the arrhythmia. These manoeuvrers include:

Bearing down forcefully like you're having a bowel movement for 5-10 seconds, then slowly exhaling in the neck while lying down for approximately 5 seconds

Placing very cold (soaked in ICE water) cloth on the face abruptly.

Coughing forcefully

Rubbing the carotid artery (only one side at a time, never both).

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There's a yoga breathing exercise that has worked for me before. Lie on your back, bend your knees up so they are above your hips and your lower legs are at 90 degrees. Take a breath in for a count of 4 then breathe out for a count of at least 8. As you breathe out, bring your knees into your chest so you curl into a ball. When you think you've got all the air out of your lungs, try and breathe out more! Breathe in again for 4 and release your legs out to the starting position. Repeat several times. It helps to reset the diaphragm and focus should be on a good long out-breath.

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So, after discovering that making myself sneeze stops Afib. I have discovered another novel way to stop an attack. It involves drinking a litre bottle of water while holding my nose. It's especially effective if I experience almost panic as I can't get a breath. I don't always finish the bottle but find that's not always necessary to gain the desired effect. Works especially well if I catch an attack early. Kenny

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This works like magic, and works every time.

A quarter teaspoon of sea salt mixed with 10 ounces of warm water. drink that and then put a smaller amount on your hand and lick it off. Within a minute my afib stops.

This may sound like a "wind up" but believe me it works, for me anyway.

Hope this is of use to someone.

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Please let me know if any of these procedures work.

Jean

[southkorea in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you!!

[BobD Volunteer]

Ah the six million dollar question. No.

[mjames1]

You can try some of the various methods Jean lists. Some might work, or not. Very individual. As someone who has had SVT in addition to afib, I found these types of vagal manuevers more effective with SVT than afib. Some also have found that ironically exercising in afib -- running or walking up a hill -- puts them in normal rhythm, however something certainly not recommended without medical clearance first.

Regardless, most episodes tend to terminate by themselve within 48 hours. The key is to have at a minimum a rate control plan in advance so that you can get your rate down to a safe level while waiting to convert. Otherwise, over time, your heart can get damaged.

My rate control plan involved the medications Diltiazem and Metoprolol. My doctor gave me the appropriate dosages to take at the onset of afib to get my heart rate down to a safe level.

Later, my plan was the anti-arrythmic drug, Flecainide. It always converted me within 1-4 hours. Flecainide is a powerful drug and most often requires some testing beforehand to make sure your heart is structurally sound.

Jim

[southkorea in reply to mjames1]

Thank you !!

[Speed]

Have very occasionally had success with the valsalva manoeuvre despite my EP believing my AF stems from the pulmonary vein (not Vagal nerve induced). Maybe it was pure coincidence. My trigger is usually exercise (HR > 140), though on these successful occasions of using valsalva, they were spontaneous, but interestingly, prior to doing a “race” event. Btw, I don’t race, just go at my own pace, keep below 140 and try to enjoy but finish in a respectable time. However, the formality of the event maybe adds stress and prompts an episode (and therefore Vagul nerve induced?)

All other episodes have been reverted by PIP Flecainide, sometimes after 1 x 100mg, often after 2nd 1x 100mg 2-3 hrs later.

V occasionally it has taken a few days of the max 300mg Flec daily.

Yesterday, it reverted on its own after 20 mins. Flipped to 215 bpm during run, so slowed and walked, and after 20 mins walking, it had dropped to 88 bpm NSR, and normal for me for walking.

Currently having episodes weekly. Like to think I’m getting more in control and frequency is dropping.

I take 50 mg Flec bd.

[southkorea in reply to Speed]

Thank you !!

[Ppiman]

No and I have always rather doubted that there can be a plausible way since the root cause is unknown.

Steve

[Jpot34 in reply to Ppiman]

Dr. Randall Wolf disagrees. Vagal nerve impulses running down into the exterior pulmonary vein. Makes total sense.

[Ppiman in reply to Jpot34]

It also made total sense to me once as I often get AF alongside gastric issues from my sliding hiatus hernia and acid reflux. The EP cardiologist I asked about it disagreed and explained that whilst vagal involvement can cause arrhythmias it was a very unusual cause even if popular on the internet. Also, he explained that it always showed itself by swings of extreme brady- and tachycardia along with symptoms from other organs that are also innervated by the vagus nerve.

Steve

[Elli86]

Hi Southkorea.

My heart rarely goes out anymore unless I do something stupid like attempting to show my 7 yr old how to do a handstand 🤣 stupid reason it went out last time which was months ago now. Anyway the time before last that it went out it stayed out for a very long time for me, longest its ever been and I was starting to worry a bit as I was on holiday. I tried various different manoeuvres and nothing worked. So rather disappointed I went to the shower and put it on warmer than usual (I usually have showers on the colder side of things) and bent over touching my toes and slowly sinking into a deep stretch with my hands flat on the floor and the water beating on the back of my chest. It felt very relaxing and I was extremely comfortable. I would say I stayed like that for 3-4 minutes. Got out the shower and by the time I was dressed I realised it was back in 🕺🏼🕺🏼.

After the very dumb free handstand attempt last time I decided to try this a couple hours after it went out again and it worked exactly like before. I did everything exactly the same as last time.

Maybe a coincidence but I’m hoping I’ve found my elixir if it ever goes again 🙏

[southkorea in reply to Elli86]

Worth trying.Glad it works for you

[secondtry]

I stopped two episodes by:

Gulping down a large glass of cold coconut drink straight from the fridge. ( I keep a carton in the fridge at all times). The success may be increased if you drink a cup of hot drink first but I haven't tested this).

Relax in chair and listen to a slow heart beat on YouTube.

[southkorea in reply to secondtry]

Thank you I will try that

[Jetcat]

Iv tried quite a good few things over the years but unfortunately nothing has definitely worked that I could use every time I get a AFIB episode.!!!!! Iv drank freezing cold water and knocked myself back into sinus rhythm but it’s failed more than it’s worked. Good luck In trying to find something that works for you 👍

[southkorea in reply to Jetcat]

Thank you. I do know someone who dunks his head in cold water and it works for him every time

[Jetcat in reply to southkorea]

I wish it did for me. 👍

[Ronnieboy]

Taking note of the excellent comments on this forum is a good start.