Weight loss and remission

[Pommerania78]

Two months ago I was diagnosed with PAF. I began that day weighing 2 61. Since then I have lost 25 pounds. I intend to lose at least another 25. Does anyone know of the success of remission of Af with weight loss and other lifestyle modifications. Thank you.

[BobD Volunteer]

The LEGACY trials in Australia showed that weght loss leading to a BMI of 26 or better greatly reduced AF burden , often to a point where ablation was no longer necessary. Well done an keep it up.

[Pommerania78 in reply to BobD]

So, do you think that the BMI is perhaps more important than the weight loss itself? Although I know that both are of course connected. Do you know of anyone personally who has put the Afib into remission. Thanks very much for your answer.

[mjames1 in reply to Pommerania78]

One study showed 10% weight loss resulted in a significant reduction in afib burden. I do not believe that particular study measured BMI. Keep the course.

Jim

[NewOne2023]

Hi there. I'm almost in the same shoes as you. Diagnosed with PAF 45 days ago. At the time I was 265. Since then I lost 23 pounds due to diet, no alcohol lifestyle changes. Hopefully gonna continue to lose additional 35 pounds which is my goal, and hopefully lower my AF issue. Good luck to you, I will watch this post for updates and opinions/experiences.

[Frances123 in reply to NewOne2023]

You lost 23 pounds in 45 days? That sounds quite extreme and surely can’t be good for the body to lose so much that quickly. Was this through your own dietary changes or from your doctor? Good luck to you though.

[NewOne2023 in reply to Frances123]

Well I would say it's due to diet change. I stopped eating junk, processed stuff like salami, no bread, no sodas, no juices except water, tea and coffee. No alcohol also. But bare in mind when you are over 250 pounds, it's kinda easy to loose those first pounds. My weight loss has slowed down as my metabolism adjusted but it's still going. And another important part of this rapid loss is my overwhelming anxiety and fear after the diagnosis that practically ate my body quickly. Now after more than month, my anxiety has finally lowered and I slowly accepted the situation.But people often don't realize the power of anxiety and stress on their body in form of weight loss. Not a good place to be. But I'm getting better, and fitter thankfully.

[Pommerania78 in reply to NewOne2023]

Are you in remission and how long has afib afflicted you?

[NewOne2023 in reply to Pommerania78]

Well I'm still new in all this because I was diagnosed just 50 days ago. I had 2 short episodes a day in the beginning and after a week I was put on daily take of propafenone (4 times a day) and bisprolol which did it's thing and I was episode free for the next 20 days. My cardiologist told me to lower propafenone to 2 times a day, and 10 days ago I had 2 short episodes again which I managed to stop in 2 seconds with vagus maneveur, strangley enough but it worked. Since then I didn't had anything last 8 days, other than 2-3 times strange moments of heart rate spikes when I stand up which goes back to normal in 4-5 seconds.I'm sure my level of immense anxiety, stress and fear had it's effect during last 50 days.

I just started to accept slowly this AFIb as a part of my life now but neverthless I will do everything in my power (lifestyle changes) to try and affect this. I will have my first BP meeting next week. If he suggests an ablation, I will probably accept. I'm 40 btw.

My ideal head scenario is that while I wait for my ablation (its gonna take around 3-4 months in my country if Im offered one) that I go into a remission due to my lifestyle u-turn, but will se what's life got in store for me.

[Pommerania78 in reply to NewOne2023]

Keep us advised of your progress. I think my situation is similar to yours.

[NewOne2023 in reply to Pommerania78]

I forgot to mention that when my episodes came back 10 days ago, I upped my propafenone to 3 times a day. Don't know if that's the reason episodes stopped again as I adjust my medication to my needs, but from what I learned so far, with Afib you're never sure about anything.

[AustinElliot in reply to NewOne2023]

Hi NewOne,

I experienced the same anxiety/weight loss. I lost about 20lbs, cut out caffeine etc. I am in the normal BMI, normal BP, 0 CTcalcium score, passed stressed test.

Not to diminish the affects, but I am still experiencing PAF. I think mine might be more related to Salt, Tyramine and dehydration rather than being overweight.

From all the posts AF is very individualistic, so continue your hard work, it helps all around.

Good fortune on your AF Journey

[NewOne2023 in reply to AustinElliot]

Yeah, my circumstances are a bit different. I weighted 265, regular alchohol intake, diet was mostly bad. Salty, sugar, sodas with occasional healthy lunch but mostly not enough. And another big thing - stress. I had a really stressful season during summer as a wedding videographer and with 24 weddings this season and additional pressure to deliver all the films on time, I wasn't in a good mental place although I didnt noticed that, probably because I compensated the burnout with regular drinking (once or twice a week but like 4-6 beers each time) and junk food. And all that multiplied with my everlasting combat with my weight, something had to give. My BMI was 35 when I was diagnosed. Luckily I mamaged to put that number down to 31 so far and hopefully next year I will reach 25-26. Aaaand with all of that, by nature Im a big overthinker which just added more stress all this years. Also I snore a lot but I dont think I have OSA, as far as my girl tells me.

So, with all this in mind, I should probably be lucky my gasket blew in this Afib form and not a heart attack or a stroke.

[CDreamer]

Maintaining a steady, healthy for you weight, I believe is much more important than losing weight per se and then yo-yo- ing. People who diet tend to to-yo which has been found to be worse as you always put more weight back on so changing your eating plan to one you can sustain forever is important.

More important than weight loss IMHO is stress management and restful sleep, get those right and you should find maintaining a steady weight much easier.

When you eat is also important- eat when you feel hungry, rather than because it’s a set time. If you don’t feel hunger, then don’t eat. Unfortunately I need to eat to take my drugs, at set times 🤷‍♂️

Losing weight did nothing for my AF. Addressing Sleep Apnea helped. Addressing stress helped. Moderate exercise helped. Eating 80% plants of every color helped inflammation, main cause of AF.

[Pommerania78 in reply to CDreamer]

Are you in remission?

[Autumn_Leaves]

I had a BMI of 19 when I first developed AF and I struggle to keep weight on. I’ve never been overweight or anywhere near it. If you want to lose weight do it for your overall health and well-being and not for the specific goal of controlling AF. If it helps your AF, that’s a bonus, but you really need to take a holistic view and look at your overall dietary pattern, your stress levels, your sleep habits, your diet exercise/movement routines, exposing yourself to daylight and so on. People of all shapes and sizes can have AF.

[CDreamer]

PS - read every label on every food item you buy and avoid all UPF which include all the usual suspects but especially anything labelled ‘low fat’, all artificial sweeteners, ‘modified starches’ and especially emulsifiers. These are not foods, they are chemicals, your body has no idea how to digest chemicals. A high nutrient eating plan is eating fresh if possible, organic, plants of every colour. I would recommend reading The Doctor’s Kitchen website - young doctor who developed AF as a junior doctor living off Hospital canteen foods - switched to freshly cooked and no more AF.

thedoctorskitchen.com Delicious recipes.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to CDreamer]

I like Dr Rupy and I heard his story about AF during the lockdown when I listened to a lot of podcasts. That was before I had AF. I would caveat his story by saying that that older people with AF may well have different root causes of AF. For some people there is evidence of valve regurgitation, for others it’s the presence of CVD, and sometimes it’s just the wear and tear that comes with a longer life. For Dr Rupy it was probably a highly stressful job, chronic lack of sleep, shift work, and perhaps some of that was not eating particularly well. He was otherwise young, fit and healthy and his heart was good in every other way. As much as our echocardiogram and ECGs show that our hearts working within normal limits, and the doctor says “everything is fine”, we won’t the hearts at the age of 65 that we did at 25. So we may well not be able to “reverse AF” like Dr Rupy. Don’t get me wrong, he’s someone I enjoy and I like the guy. I think he gives good, reliable information and I’ve made a few of a recipes. He’s had some very interesting guests too. But it’s going to be a tall order for, let’s face it, elderly people to have the same success as Dr Rupy. But by all means listen to him. He’s good.

[Speed]

Maintaining a healthy weight, not too high, not too low, by means of eating healthy food and reasonable exercising is the best possible foundation you can give yourself to help avoid health problems. A good indicator, though by no means definitive, is BMI of between 20 and 25 is the general target. It may not prevent nor stop a health problem but it will almost certainly reduce the chances of any occurring and improve long term QOL.

As per previous posts, there is research to show the potential specific benefits in respect of AF of being a healthy weight.

Well done for loosing an impressive amount of weight already, that level of commitment can only be a positive.

I conversely have put on 7 lbs in 12 weeks through poor food choices for which I take total responsibility - other peoples influences, circumstances and temptations but MY poor choices. Time for me to change / address before there are consequences.