Hello eveyones. I ve been diagnosticted with Afib one year ago. Now im under Xarelto (low dose) and metoprolol. It work; but time to time I still have taquicardia episodes. No arritmias anymore. I would like to go to natural approach to Afib but I cant figure it out yet.. I visited a natural cardiologist 7 monts ago; but It was too early; she recommended me stay with regular medicine. I just worry for the side effects of medicaments. Any advice? Thank you very much
I hope this groups still active.
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Skyly
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Life style can be a great help in reducing AF burden but the one thing you must NOT try and change is your anticoagulant which is vital to help pervent stroke.
Welcome to the forum Skyly.I think the best thing you can do is change to a natural diet with no artificial additives. It's strange how we swallow food contaminated with chemicals, but shy away from pills that can actually help regulate our heart rates and prevent them from enlarging and causing heart failure.
None of us want to take any medication, it's just a case of having too. I worked in a nursing home and have seen the results of severe strokes I'm far too scared not to take pills that help prevent that.
I've had AF for 19 years and I too felt like you at one time re taking drugs. Spending time in hospital with severe AF soon made me feel differently. Please never ever stop taking your Xarelto, in my mind it's too big a risk.
Yes this group is still very active. Feel free to ask any questions and remember we always say there's no such thing as a daft one.
Hi and welcome. Just like to echo what both Bob D & Jean have said about Lifestyle being able to reduce (not always eliminate) AF burden. I agree with you about affects of drugs and I was unlucky enough to suffer from their effect but the one drug I will not stop is anticoagulant.
Managing your stress is I believe crucial and at my No 1 as AF feeds off anxiety.
Getting enough rest and sleep is my No 2
Jury is out on no alcohol/caffeine - some find it very much a trigger whilst others can tolerate with no affects - it’s very individual.
Sticking to a mainly plant based, preferably organic diet and eating the rainbow with as many different coloured foods as you can - at least 30 different foods per week - will ensure you have the micronutrients your body requires. Let food be our medicine.
Avoid all and any UPF - (ultra processed foods) and you would be surprised at just how many there are that we consume - unknowingly. Become the label boor - read every label.
Avoid in particular anything which you would not recognise as a food from nature especially artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers and any other ingredient that is obviously a chemical.
Unfortunately I found that I could not tolerate any Beta Blockers, just made things a lot worse and there it becomes difficult because managing heart rate, if your HR goes high during AF, is after anticoagulants, a first line treatment.
Take moderate exercise.
Practise breathing exercises - you can moderate your heart rate with practice by staying very calm and practising breath control - takes a LOT of practice and is not foolproof so know your limitations and when you may need to take medication and try restrict to the lowest possible dose.
A good way to reduce/avoid side effects from drugs and prepare for an ablation if necessary, is to make sure your body and mind is in tip top condition.
So as has already been said above double down on Lifestyle changes in particular clean food (eg organic, unprocessed, low sugar and gluten), drinks, moderate exercise, reduce stress, proper breathing and don't forget the spiritual side; for me the latter is prayer and getting much closer to Nature.
There are many more Lifestyle tips that are mentioned here regularly.
The grim early days do not last and with perseverance it is perfectly possible to have decades more of good quality of life and better than that I credit AF with many life improvements I would not otherwise have made 😁.
Welcome to the group. Yes we are still very active. I agree with everything that has already been said, especially never to stop taking your Xarelto. I fear a stroke more than Afib. Please ask anything you like. Hopefully someone will have the answer or at least point you in the right direction.
I would be adamant with your H/Specialist to have a 24-hr H/Monitor.
Why because research now questions whether BB and Metopolol is, are the correct med for AF.
I struggled with Metoprolol for 1 year 5 months after stroke.The 24-hr heart monitored picked up pauses at night with an avg h/rate of 186 Day. No energy, fatigued, breathless on any exertion.
Under Hospital H/Specialist changed to Bisoprolol. Lower H/Rate Day but no control at 156bpm. But no pauses.
Locum suggested a well known H/Specialist. He introduced CCB Calcium Channel Blocker. Diltiazem 180mg (1/2 dose) and within 2 hours down to 51.
Tweaked AM Diltiazem 120mg for H/Rate Day now 60s after 11months from 88-96 but lost 6kg.
PM Bisoprolol 2.5mg gor BP control.
I'm on the minimum dose for me.
Was first diagnosed with rapid, persistent AF H/Rate.
Now controlled persistent AF H/Rate no symptoms.
Yes, take your anti-co.agulant. I take PRADAXA 110mg x twice daily.
Do you have a link or website to share or suggest, I was prescribed this by a nurse who was not very helpful. My resting heart rate is often in the 50’s and low 60’s
Very concerned that it will drop far lower on this medication. My pulse did go to 140-173 the 1-2 times i have been in AF (may possibly be 3 plus but nothing recorded, to prove it, just recorded heart rate on BP monitor at home. I only once have for sure recorded a confimed AFib experience (bought a Kardia Mobile 6L and recorded that last year)
I am thinking of consulting with a different cardiologist because I don’t get to see or talk to him and have to visit with his nurse who isn’t very helpful or pleasant.
Hi Skyly. Thank you for your question and all the excellent advice given above. I agree with all of it, and just want to add that some acupuncturists claim to help reduce AF and improve recovery after ablation. There has been research in this area. I discussed this with my EP who said anything that helps the relaxation response is going to help. Although I could only arrange a few sessions it certainly taught me the value of very deep relaxation and I now practice this and meditation daily.
Hello Slyly.Thank you for raising your question which is relevant to me as I am on week 2 of anti coagulation for no symptom AF. Also new to this group - altho 3 years ago I needed help and advice about Bundle Block not AF.
Atho I consider myself very active and mainly plant based diet etc., I still could make lifestyle changes - no alcohol (thank goodness for good choice zero o/o beer instead of g&t!) Or caffeine - only ever drank I coffee a day, no more dry roasted peanuts - unsalted roasted cashews much nicer than unsalted peanuts. I don't like anything with sugar in it anyway. Definitely cook from scratch and watch eating out - it's expensive and goodness knows what is in the food or where it has come from.
This forum is so informative and helpful and puts everything into perspective for me - can't praise it enough. Despite a health career background I have learnt alot.
I agree with everyone else, and the main thing is don’t stress, life does tick on merrily with afib and I think if the meds are working don’t stop. Take the advice below and your cardio
My cardio weaned me off my arythmie drug as I hadn’t had episodes for years but two weeks off afin came back. The thing is you dont know if like me you are having little fibs while asleep….which the holter monitor showed I do.
You will get those racing episodes but they are safe now you’re taking Xarelto. If they persist or are troublesome, perhaps ask your doctor if an extra beta-blocker tablet might help for those times.
The problem with this is that once the racing stops, the heart rate can drop rather low so you need to be guided by a doctor with experience of this.
Another problem might be if you’re taking a slow release form of metoprolol. I take bisoprolol, just 1.25mg so an extra tablet is still quite a low dose. If your doctor recommend the beta-blocker, it does take about 30-60 minutes to work, keep in mind.
Don’t try anything at all without your doctor prescribing or advising it.
hi skyly. As already mentioned I would stay on the anticoagulants if I was you. But I believe Some natural herbs/ remedies/ vitamins/minerals can interact with them so make sure you check with your GP before starting on anything first.👍
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