Weight Loss

[Pommerania78]

If anyone lost weight and either the Afib went away or improved, how long after the weight loss did the improvement begin?

[BobD Volunteer]

The LEGACY trails in Australia showed that weight loss leading to a BMI of better than 26 often reduced AF burden to the point that ablation and other treatments were no longer needed.

[Pommerania78 in reply to BobD]

Was this your personal experience? Thanks

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Pommerania78]

Not had AF since 2008 but did greatly reduce blood pressure by loosing weight.

[mjm1971]

I’m 5ft 11 , male and age 52 . I went from 15st 6lb down to 31st 6lb . I was in constant AF for 6 months before losing the weight and now have 1 episode lasting 4-6 hours once every 3 months .

[Pommerania78 in reply to mjm1971]

Thank you for your comments. I did not understand the weights that you mentioned. I use American measurements.

[CDreamer in reply to Pommerania78]

2 stone = 28lbs. 14lbs to a 1 stone.

[Pommerania78 in reply to mjm1971]

How long did it take you to lose the weight? How long did you have constant AF? Thanks.

[Mugsy15 in reply to mjm1971]

You may want to edit those weights mjm!

[mjm1971 in reply to Mugsy15]

lol😂15st 6lb down to 13st 6lb , I lost 2 stone lol

[Mugsy15 in reply to mjm1971]

😁👍

[Ppiman]

If you lose significant weight, I have read various studies that show how the heart also reduces in size to match the new body weight. Since there are an irreplaceable and fixed number of heart cells, a smaller heart will be made from cells that are somewhat less "stretched" and it's known that stretching heart cells causes them to be more likely to misfire, so, you should have fewer arrhythmias as a result.

Also, your blood pressure will have fallen a little with your new weight and that will also be asking less of your heart and generally will improve long-term health all round, so that, too, should lead to fewer arrhythmias occurring. It sounds all good, to me! But back in the real world... those things might take a while to happen!

Well done on losing weight, though. I could do with losing half a stone but today I will not be trying to lose even a gram!! A very Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Steve

[Pommerania78 in reply to Ppiman]

What would you consider "significant weight"? Thanks.

[Ppiman]

I think there’s no certainty yet in the science as some studies show that being overweight does not influence AF.

This study makes many useful points although, of course, it’s rather heavy going and long:

cardiab.biomedcentral.com/a...

Steve

[Pommerania78 in reply to Ppiman]

I have scanned the article and read the conclusion. I will study it as I get time. Thanks.

[Pommerania78 in reply to Ppiman]

I have lost a bit over 10 percent of my body weight (per the Legacy Study in Australia) and my situation has improved, but I have also been taking Flecainide for almost 6 weeks, so, I'm not sure if it's the medicine starting to really work or my weight loss or both. My next goal is to lose 20 percent of my body weight.

[Ppiman in reply to Pommerania78]

I have a suspicion that once AF has been triggered, it will never fully go away but being a healthy weight will reduce its frequency and the way it makes you feel. It can certainly go away for long periods - my last episode was in March, if I remember.

Have a lovely new year!

Steve

[Teresa156]

Hi,

I lost 33% of my body weight about 4 years ago - and I’ve kept it off. I lost 5 stone 3 lbs in total as I weighted 15st 3 at 5 ft 8. Afib certainly hasn’t gone away, even though it was always quite infrequent and nothing has really changed on that front. However, feel fitter, healthier and have far more energy than I ever had, so that’s probably the best thing,

Happy Christmas!

[Pommerania78 in reply to Teresa156]

So, you feel that losing weight did not decrease Afib at all? Thanks.

[Teresa156 in reply to Pommerania78]

Not for me unfortunately…but everyone is different. But my afib was very infrequent anyway ( once to twice a year for a few hours only).

It is always good to lose weight of course, if needed - which I did. I didn’t do it to reduce afib and I didn’t know I had afib at the time as it wasn’t diagnosed then. I also reduced my BMI from 31 to 21, which is a good thing of course. I’ve never had high blood pressure either, so that remained unchanged too.

Not sure if it makes a difference too, but I think I have what they call ‘Lone afib’ in that I don’t appear to have any underlying issues/comorbidities.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Not sure.

I decided to check my BP and H/R when feeling improved. I was surprised that my H/R had dropped further after a year. From 88-96 to 60s H/R.

However after trying reducing Bisoprolol nothing happened except bad eCGs.

Tried leaving out Diltiazem 120mg altogether but ECG bad. Nothing less in dose.

So I've stayed in my regime. No dizziness.

I changed to A1 milk and sour dough bread and I think that is how I lost 6kg.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Pommerania78 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thank you for your comments. Did you ever take an anti-arrythmic medicine, such as Flecainide? I am always amazed that people thousands of miles and oceans apart can communicate!

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Pommerania78]

Hi there

Yes communication is good.

I spent a great 6 yrs in Devon in 1990s and joined the Exeter walking group and walked all over!!!! Both sets of grandparents were born in Devon. I managed on a moped and a Reliant 3-wheeler!

Unfortunately my heart is structurely abnormal so no cardioversion, ablation or anti-arrhymnic meds. But the private cardiologist put me on CCB Diltiazem. 180mg 1/2 dose dropped me 105bpm! to 51. With help from Dr at Healthline and Nurse at NZ Blood Foundation she rang my Dr who rung the priv Cardiologist and I was prescribed 120mg AM and keep the BB Bisoprolol separate and reduce to 2.5mg PM and from then I was controlled H/R and BP.

3 operations since Feb 2020 - thyroidectomy when uncontrolled, then TVT Kit Johnson & J removed March 2022 last year with threat of "no operation if you are above 100bpm" and private ACC none of that because losing 6kg I'm now down to 60s Day at rest and I remain regardless of med 47avge at night. Always had cold shoulders through the night!

Historically the AF undiagnosed due to thyroid cancer caused an embolic strike. Had 3 traits, dropped mouth, dropsy in right hand, speech problem. So at 2pm it happened - sore head, I toileted and went back to sleep. Just my Jaz m/schnauzer and I. Reawoke 5.30am and rung our 111.

Problems with thyroid hyper or hypo can cause AF. That was me and oneday I'm hoping .....

Unfortunately I was left for 2 years 3 months with H/Rate Day of 186 on Metoprolol now rebanned from my 'do not prescribe' list." it made me again breathless, fatigued, no energy and pauses at night and Bisoprolol 156bpm OK but only for BP.

Research now is questioning Beta Blockers BB for AF patients.

Yes on Pradaxa twice daily and reverted to 110mg.

I read that Diltiazem is an anti-arrhymic med. ???? So I am on one. It certainly brought down my H/Rate.

Oh dear Christmas and now Boxing Day WET. But no matter my Christmas on the beach was cancelled because friend had sore throat and runny nose, same as a friend with MS in a retirement village didnt meet but both in Kerikeri former as a stall operator, symptoms from Tuesday night. Latter started with chest pains.

Latter on PAX.. the anti-virus 2 pill drug but struggling with throat stuff. She is 84!

I had been with former last Sunday but outside.

No symptoms and I had turned up Wednesday for 6th jab. I didnt get his email until arrived back home.

So happy watching TV and reading with my 10year old pooch JAZ.

COVID is rampant here with no rules just recommended to stay home if synptoms and get tested. The former hasn't got tested and was a stall holder this weekend Fri-Sun but when I advised latter to be tested she was and is POSITIVE.

I read that an anti-arrhymic med can make one's AF worse especially if heart structurely abnormal.

I have severe left atrium dilation and what goes with it RVentricle tribuscid or something regurgitation. I think that's what makes me stop and pause whilst walking usually in elevated area.

As I told my public cardiologist NO PAIN, NO PALPITATION, or NO FLUTTERS.

My first symptoms were aligned to rapid H/Rate - sweating uncontrollable and on exertion no energy.

So this time I'm discharged from outpatients (when there was NO followup from Left Frontal Embolic Stroke! That's where it went wrong. Left me in rapid persistent AF.

The least meds the better I feel. Controlled AF H/R and BP a.s.a.p I say. After thyroidectomy I refused (low risk) RAI Radio Active Iodine and TSH Suppression. The same lovely Surgeon removed full thyroid and 12 RH lymphs (2 infected) and I trust him, who in 2005 removed a carcinoma in situ 0 cancer. I refused yearly mammogramme on left breast as it was healthy, and staff were aghast. But it was my decision as always it is your personal decision.

It is why you are questioning now.

Great, JOY