I notice that on this forum, whenever someone writes in with a problem, almost 100% of the time, the only discussion and recommendations are about pills and the doctor and procedures. Why so little about the things that are so important and totally within our control: diet, weight loss and spirituality?
Why so little about diet, weight loss... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Why so little about diet, weight loss and spirituality?
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Pommerania78
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Because it’s highly unlikely that you will effect a cure for AF with diet, weight loss and spiritually. AF is a Mongrel condition that will in general worsen.
I agree that nothing will 'cure' AF, Mrsvemb, but we all seek to alleviate the awful symptoms and follow medical thinking - eg having a healthy weight, avoiding junk foods and relieving stress.
Why condemn yourself to believing that you cannot be cured?
I never think 'I can't be cured' and am always searching for a solution. I know for a fact that artificial sweeteners used to trigger attacks for me. I never eat any food now that has them. Also mass grown fruit and vegetables these days have none of the goodness that they used to contain and are sprayed to kill bugs etc.
I used to belong to an alternative therapy group and one of the girls that went there was an architect and she spoke about the fumes given off by plastic window frames. When you think of all the plastic items we have in our homes too. Also clothes containing dyes, shops full of clothes. One well known large shop I go to always makes me feel ill and I can't wait to get out.
Anxiety almost feeds AF and keeps an attack going longer than it should but it takes many years before we can push that anxiety aside and get on with living
Bob thinks that we members here who search for a cure are mad but I will never give up.
Jean
Why do you think Bob thinks that?
I think his EP told him that - not to search for a reason why AF has struck. Bob often says about it on this forum.
I think some EPs/other medics make the comment 'it will drive you mad trying to find a cure' because they don't stray into diet, spirituality or other advice outside of their silo; correctly so with little training/knowledge in such longer term 'treatments'.
I believe improving Lifestyle choices ARE 'the cure' for the majority but in most cases (including my own) things have gone too far and therefore a drug or procedure is needed to deal with the emergency.
Why don't you lead the way and write a post with your views on diet, weight loss and spirituality? All comments that may help control AF are welcome on this forum. I'm a great believer in those things and if you know something about them we'd all be interested to hear your views.
This below is something that I regularly post on the forum:
Having had AF for 19 years, three ablations (where they go up through your groin to burn or freeze the inside of the heart the rogue pulses often come from) and numerous cardioversions (electric shock to put the heart back into it's correct rhythm) my advice to everyone diagnosed with AF is the following:
1. Be Aware you are most unlikely to die from Atrial Fibrillation (AF). I used to think that the way my heart bounced around I would surely be found dead next day. Still here though!
2. Changing your diet to a more plant based one, avoiding any foods containing artificial additives, not allowing yourself to become dehydrated, cutting back on sugar, alcohol and caffeine, also losing weight (if it's needed) will all have a beneficial effect on your AF. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for my attacks. How I wish I'd known all of this before having any of my ablations. Would I have listened if anyone had told me? Probably not, because I believed ablations would cure me - three didn't! They have helped some people though and my AF now is not so severe.
3. This is a hard one, but looking at gadgets that show your pulse and AF will make you anxious and anxiety feeds AF. I was obsessed with what my heart was doing for about the first ten+ years of my AF journey and my attacks were so debilitating I'd end up in a hospital ward, it has taken me a long time to take my mind off this subject and get on with living. The less I think about it, the better I feel. Now I used to feel cross with people who suggested I stop looking at my pulse rate machines, I thought that their AF couldn't be as bad as mine and they didn't understand how poorly attacks made some of us feel. I would get cross with anyone who said they could still go on holiday and carry on life as normal. They made me feel evil, by not understanding how ill I felt! In our minds AF is only as bad as we have experienced, for some attacks are mild for others they're more severe.
4. Make sure you don't slouch, or unwittingly do shallow breathing while watching tv or if you're online. If you do your heart will protest. Also avoid tight clothing around your waist or chest.
5. Try supplementing with magnesium, any type except oxide (I use glycinate from YourSupplements and also take taurine, zinc, vitamin B complex, D3, K2 & C). I feel fine and there's little I can't do now, despite being in constant low rate AF. Or at least I think I am, I don't check these days.
6. If over 60 I would make sure that you’re taking an anticoagulant to prevent blood clots forming and causing a stroke. Note that they do not thin the blood in any way, just stop it from clotting so quickly. You should not notice any major difference in the way you bleed.
Hope this info will help you.
Jean
A really honest response. Most helpful esp the bit about thinking AF would kill you and it hasnt. I would not want another ablation and it and covid plandemic has made me change course with diet planned exercise to remain toned and stop worrying , get tested and do something that doesnt involve a Big Pharma pill. Thanks for yr post.
we can't know what others think. do what is best for yourself. I you think not enough is said about holistic living, you have to do your own teaching and studying and reading.
Well said Jean. Striving for 'a cure' I would say is more than likely to reduce AF episodes.
I can agree about the clothes shops and dyes Jean. I often find my eyes starting to ' smart ' and water in such situations.
Really good post spot on
Good reply. Way too many chemicals in the air, food and water what chance do we have? we can only do our best. I will always look for better ways to live in this toxic world. The other issue is so many of our medications come from China and I have my own thoughts on that.
Good for you — I agree- “Where there’s a will there’s a way !!”
Where there's a will there are usually arguing relatives.
Because I am a realist - AF symptoms can be controlled or alleviated but I believe my heart will never return to its pre-diagnosis state.
That may well be your experience but please remember that for many, many people the heart DOES return to pre-diagnosis state.
Mine has been vastly improved and in some ways AF has helped me to improve my health because that is exactly how I got into Lifestyle Medicine - because the drugs prescribed ‘to control’ symptoms made me very, very ill, so ill I refused to take them.
5 years ago my husband was in persistent AF and in heart failure. Now although he does have occasional episodes he is no longer in heart failure and lives and full and active life at 90.
Mmmm... I am no medic/scientist but I often marvel at how the body can heal itself given the right conditions.
I don't see how it can return to its pre-diagnosis state, improve yes, but I feel it depends on the age you were diagnosed. Most of us were in our sixties or seventies, so our hearts as pumps, would have suffered wear. But possibly, and I do believe this could be the case as with my son who was an extreme athlete (he still cycles , hikes and canoes at a lower level)and was diagnosed by a fellow canoeist who was also a Cardiologist at the age of 36, (he is 54 this year), had an ablation immediately after diagnosis, and has had no signs or symptoms since, either physically or on routine examination, can be cured or be in long term remission. Whether it will return when he is older (I won't be around to see )as in my case the condition is familial, nut none of us were diagnosed until we were older. My oldest sister is 92 and is well controlled as we all are, with medication. Neither myself or 4 sisers have had ablations.
I never use the word ‘cured’ because AF is not a single disease to be cured of. It’s a chronic condition and dysfunction of our hearts, usually caused by underlying conditions which if addressed and treated will improve or even stop AF eg: thyroid dysfunction, leaky valves, high BP, sleep apnea etc etc.
There is no such thing as ‘a cure’, cures are god given. As a Complimentary Therapist of 25?yrs if I used ‘cure’ I’d be sued.
When I weighed around 200lb (90 kg- anything above 130 lb (59 Kg) here is considered obese for my height), didn't exercise regularly, and ate a lot of processed foods, I would get AF once or twice a week for 6 to 8 hours and plenty of ectopics. Now I've weighed 124 lb (56 kg), exercised regularly, and eaten almost all vegan, unprocessed foods for about 4 years, I haven't gotten afib in over a year and only have a couple of ectopics a day, depending on stress. I understand that a lot of people on this forum are already healthy otherwise, but for those who aren't and who have PAF, change of diet and exercise might work for you too.
I do still take a low dose of metoprolol and losartan, also different things for sleep. I have recently started meditating a bit before bed, see if that helps. Always did have trouble sleeping but thats a different subject.
I would be interested in hearing more details about your change of lifestyle. Thanks.
I do think we discuss diet and weight loss quite frequently and I remember several discussions about the power of the mind - whether via prayer, mindfulness or various types of meditation and how each of us found benefit from our chosen path. For me, mindfulness meditation works well and in a discussion with my cardiologist, he told me that many of his patients benefit from prayer (in addition to medication).
The secret in dealing with such a capricious condition as AF and its fellow-travellers is to adopt a multi-discipline approach, ie drugs, diet - the lot.
Lifestyle changes can certainly help, as can weight loss, diet and dealing with stress, but afib, as others have said, cannot be ‘cured’. I lost a lot of weight (over 5 stone) about 5 years ago and have kept it off, my BMI is now 22, but my Afib hasn’t gone. I don’t drink alcohol now and eat a very healthy diet My burden is low, but the Afib is still here.
It all helps certainly, but sadly, it isn’t a cure.
Hi. Well done for losing 5 stone. That’s amazing! I am over weight and since my AF diagnosis I have tried so hard to lose weight but I just keep putting weight on. I think it’s the Cavedilol but I’m hoping my body will get used to them and I’ll start shrinking! How did you manage to lose weight? I hope you don’t mind me asking
Thankyou 😊 not at all. I went on the Blood sugar diet ( I am not diabetic) it was 2018-2019 that I lost a majority of the weight - about four stone in just over a year. It’s a difficult diet for the first few weeks, I won’t lie, but I was determined. The rest of the weight has come off in past couple of years. I’m on a beta blocker too - Bisoprolol, a low dose, but it hasn’t made any difference to my weight fortunately. I don’t eat meat, but haven’t done that for nearly 30 years. I think giving up alcohol helped get the last stone off. I’ve plateaued now and stay around the same weight that I’m happy with. Losing weight is possible, but it does take a lot of effort, but it was worth it.
Thank you. Is it the Michael Moseley diet? I really like him and what he says. I used to really enjoy wine, until I had this diagnosis. I haven’t had any at all since and I’ve stuck to a strict diet. I seem to lose a pound and put on 2! It really gets me down. I have assumed though, that if I lose loads of weight, my heart problems will disappear but, it seems, it won’t be the case. You’ve definitely inspired me to keep trying though. Thank you
IT’s NOT about DIET! Lifestyle Medicine is about:-
1. Managing Stress
2. Getting good Sleep
3. Exercise - not too much or none at all
4. Breathing
5. Nutrition - very different to dieting and losing weight.
I always completely agree with you.
Have you had your thyroid function checked?
No. I had blood tests when I went in to hospital, via A&E but they didn’t say what they were testing. I had an appointment with a GP a couple of weeks ago and I told him I was worried about how how weight I was putting on and he changed the beta blocker I was taking to Carvedilol. I haven’t put on much more weight but I haven’t lost it, despite trying really hard. I know losing weight isn’t everything but I’d be doing my heart a favour not to be carrying so much weight around.
Yes, that’s the one. I bought the recipe book too and did adapt it a bit as I’m a pescatarian and some things I just don’t eat, but I was strict. Sticking to the 800 cals for a while WAS hard….but I did do it. My husband tried, but couldn’t. You have to get through that bit I think, in order to succeed. Once the weight started dropping, it spurred me on. It’s worth a try if you can, but do think hard about it as it is difficult that 800 cals for that short while and not for everyone and you can feel very hungry. I mainly eat a Mediterranean style diet now and fairly low carbs.
I used to like a glass of wine too - I know how you feel 😊
Many, many people HAVE found that Lifestyle changes have stopped their AF episodes but most then leave the forum. You right though - no such thing as a cure as AF has a habit of returning just when you think you have it beat!
Lifestyle changes are a very long journey, one where most of us never arrive at the destination. Past habits may have complicated things eg I know stress has and still remains an AF problem for me. However, by throwing everything at Lifestyle and taking Flecainide I have found a hybrid cure for the last 11 years.
That’s really good Secondtry. I am only quoting what all the medics tell us, that there isn’t a medical or long term cure as such. I’m sure it can go for a long time, if we try hard enough. It’s all the ‘trying’ that is the hard part for me anyway.
What is your definition of a hybrid cure? Thanks.
Lifestyle changes & pills combined.
I think weight loss is quite frequently mentioned but you have to tread carefully because some people feel very sensitive about it. Soirituality is another minefield, we are all ok with mindfulness etc but mention of religion isn’t always welcome. And if someone asks about pills or ablations they don’t always appreciate you going off subject, however when someone joins and asks for general advice then lifestyle changes are usually suggested.
Yes, people are so sensitive about religious comments. I don't get it as this Forum is supposed to be a platform to openly discuss what has helped the individual.
I have mentioned prayer for that reason just as much as I do many other Lifestyle choices I have found to be beneficial. In doing this I am not hijacking the Forum with missionary zeal 😁. My suggestion - take it or leave it just as I do with many comments from others.
I feel there is a lot of discussion around alternatives to just the medication route,have you brought up past posts?Really?
A wealth of advice,support and information to be found on this forum!
Not so, I have written extensively in the subject and I can name you about 20 forum members off the top of my head who have also and are incredibly knowledgeable, including several who are qualified therapists. Unfortunately we find ourselves repeating ourselves and after 10 years of it tend to get somewhat tired. Look back at many of my posts along with those of Auriclaire, Secondtry and and few others.
I don’t take any drugs although I have been treated but have been practising Lifestyle measures with some success and writing about them and for about 4 years arranging talks with our Lifestyle GPs and Consultants.
Actually, people may begin by talking about their conditions , medications or symptoms in a post because that is what they are most concerned about but more often than not discussions about Self Care and Mindfulness blossom within the replies in the posts themselves .If people choose to post about Self Care , Diet or Mindfulness questions just like you have done they are all welcomed and discussions are very lively.
Sometimes , rather too lively!😆😆😆
Please post more about these areas of AF care if you want to.
One thing is true. Self Care , Diet, Exercise, Trigger Avoidance , Pacing Activity and Mindfulness are helpful in improving your AF and essential to manage the condition .
But they aren't a Cure, even if you can become AF free for years there will still be a risk of AF events in the future.
In fact , many people have AF as a condition for years but don't have symptoms both before they get diagnosed and after.
Supplements and Herbal Preparations are chosen by some but again these are still types of chemical intervention, they are available over the counter but they are still a way of medicating oneself and they can have their own side effects, may not suit you or be reliable long term, and aren't a Cure either.
Therefore, in most cases Medical Care is key and as most people are new to the medications or procedures when they are diagnosed with them, and they aren't sure where to find reliable information on the internet, they understandably have more concerns about these and ask more questions about them on health forums like this.
Medications and Medical Intervention are also part of AF management.
They are required when AF symptoms become more regular , symptomatic or severe.
The effects of prescribed medication and interventions are more reliable , but if you read people's posts you can also see that using these does not always mean you are 100% cured, or that your AF won't still be triggered by things in daily life, or that your AF will never come back in the future.
Medical Intervention is key but it won't work alone , which is sometimes the mistake that people can make.
Without Self Care , Stress Management and Lifestyle changes people put themselves at risk of triggering AF events or having a return of AF, or, developing different severities in their AF. Which is why both Self Care and Medical Care need to be recognised as equal in Illness Management and Prevention , although sadly this doesn't happen as much as it should.
With equal consideration , however, we have more chance of maintaining a good quality of life for as long as possible whether we have AF or are symptom free.
One reason apart from the fact that people write posts with less questions or positive stories about Self Care, other than it being easier to find on the internet, is that apart from the basics of healthy living and breathing techniques their aren't really that many "Universal Truths" about what will work best for everyone.
Triggers and Self Care techniques vary massively. Each individual has their own needs based upon their full medical history , gender, age, previous lifestyle, mental health needs , triggers and so on.
So, what can be a "Cure" for one can be a " Curse" for others.
What is a " Miracle" for another could feel like " Murder" for someone else.
In particular this is true in terms of complimentary medicines , supplements and even food products like coffee, chocolate , ginger, garlic , turmeric etc.
what is fine for one person can be the ultimate trigger or even toxic or harmful for some on certain medications or with other health problems.
Because the problem is there are so many different reasons that AF developed for a person, and so many different types of AF , and to add to the complexity, depending on whether you are on medication or not , or have had an intervention or not , Self Care advice cant be used the same way by everyone so it is hard to write a post that is definitive.
If people do post about Self Care , therefore, this can lead to complete polarization of opinions. Sometimes people get very heated in debate because they don't recognise that everyone is different and, sadly, sometimes misinformation is discussed which could be harmful if taken up without further research causing the need for a post which was otherwise helpful to be removed.
It's this that means people are often put off writing a post about useful Self Care even if when you read more posts you will find Self Care ideas are still discussed as much as the medications are.
Please start posts about these subjects yourself if you want to as I'm sure many people would be eager to share their experiences on them with you. You could start a trend!🌻🌼🌸
Take care , Pace Yourself and Keep Positive , Bee
Lovely response!
As someone who's put a lot of effort in mentioned things since my diagnose, I never felt that discussion about them is minimal on this forum. Maybe the medications talk is a bit more prevalent yes, but in no way these other important issues are neglected. At least that's my experience.
Hi
You obviously missed the Forum suggestions on those subjects.
And we often go PRIVATE messaging to answer the persons ?
When you FOLLOW a person all his/her correspondence comes to you.
We get posts 'just for us' and it is my understanding never the same put together.
You see when you put up DIET for AF, or LOSING WEIGHT or SPIRITUAL.
Its a learning aspect of HOLESTIC MEDICINE.
I personally follow a 'LOW FAT DIET' all my life since my gall bladder was an issue.
Out at 50 years - had disintergrated.
At 70 discovered with Thyroid Cancer so surgery and daily thyroxine means more 'losing foods' such as soy, chlorine and fluoride in water, less greenery Vit K, and waiting 1 hour until breakfast. Milk and Iron 4 hours after thyroxine.
Diet is such a personal thing.
With the type of diet weight loss can occur.
Spirituality. BAHA'I FAITH is never listed in any range. So I undertook to find out.
Reason because the principles of my FAITH encompass all God's (1 only God) Prophets are accepted and given the respect to followers.
But the BAHA'I FAITH stands alone with Prophet Baha'u'llah , the latest Prophet has sent for this era.
We will have a new Prophet every 1.000 years.
PEACE no warring, UNITY, EQUALITY, RESPECT FOR ALL GOD'S persons, JUSTICE and includes all races and colour.
Most Baha'i grow from CHRISTIAN so I remind those who make the list of RELIGIONS to give the BAHA'I FAITH a place in the Spiritual List.
That's me. JOY. Stroke 2019 with AF Rapid and Persistence caused by Papillary Thyroid Cancer. No meds except B12 for B12 Deficiency. I'm controlled on Meds CCB & BB low doses and separated. Yes, I take my anti-agulant PRADAXA 110mg x twice. And of course my thyroxine.
cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
You do have a good point, a lot of this condition can be stress, diet and lifestyle related. Medicine, generally doesn't look at prevention its easier to get us to pop another pill all driven by huge profits for big pharma or undertake expensive in many cases unnecessary procedures . We really have to look at lifestyle factors not only for AF but so many other avoidable conditions and diseases. Personally I find mindfulness and meditation to calm stress very helpful my diet could be better but I am aware and working on it .
TBH I'm surprised to see you say this. While it may be the case that its rare to see an OP raise these topics, they often appear in threads of advice from forum members. I personally am a meditator and have practised meditation daily for 36 years. And I still have AF. Meditation in fact has never seen off an episode and - trust me - I tried.Humming though, along with the slow beat and sleep frequencies of Max Richter's Sleep album has seen AF within 10 minutes off on more than one occasion. I also use breathwork and have a technique to slow down my breathing to 6 times a minute, which I find helpful too.
I made significant lifestyle changes soon after developing AF including dietary.
All of these things helped and improve my life generally. For me, they did not stop the AF.
As CDreamer says, AF is multifactorial- meaning it's often triggered or fostered longer term by other conditions. In my case it was hypothyroidism which had upset my system long term - leading to high BP, low HR etc and general sense of poor well being whilst I still tried to carry on with a busy life.
I consider I'll always be prone to AF. But with the help of the ablation I had and taking care of my body systems I will not often get it.
I’m not sure I recognise the forum from that description and the tone of the post isn’t very friendly!
Lifestyle is vital- but probably more for prevention than “cure” and often the horse has bolted. Hard to lecture folk who are struggling and who are unhealthy. Also, lifestyle can be over sold. I have relatives devastated by older age illness despite being naturopaths! Total shock to them.
In my case the only lifestyle element I could am change was my daily tipple. I was good BMI excellent diet etc. can’t exercise much at all due to a serious orthopaedic/ nerve damage condition. Less stress than most.
EP said early ablation, it will increase otherwise - and no more tipples. EP keen to stress lifestyle changes in general though.
I know that it’s hard to think about weight loss and diet when you are feeling low because of a condition. Indeed, comfort eating can follow rather than healthy eating.
I’m on a bit of a cocktail of medication which I’m sure is working for me but I have also taken my diet in hand and have lost two and a half stone over seven months. I’ve also cut out alcohol and coffee. I’ve dropped two dress sizes and boosted my self confidence in the process. My healthy eating is now established and being slimmer definitely helps with movement and exercise.
I feel so much better than I did when I was diagnosed and admitted into hospital last summer. I’m guessing that most of the improvement is owing to the medication but I’m pretty certain that the weight loss, and my new regime, has also made a significant contribution.
l see you haven’t been on this forum very long so it will be relatively new to you. The reason most folks come on here is because they are in need of help with AF and worried about things associated with this condition, which is what the forum is for. We may not be desperate for things that are in our control. There are other forums related to diet, weight loss and spirituality, I don’t think folk come on here for general chit chat when they are feeling ill and need help with the situation they are experiencing. Diet, weight loss and spirituality are not of fundamental importance, although they may help. l don’t want to sound rude, just trying to explain.
I agree, and once when i mentioned faith or spirituality i was admonished strongly and that really hit me, we all have ways of dealing with the problems of life and if my faith helps me I dont expect to put up with cruel nasty remarks
My faith helps me too. Prayer is a powerful thing but you have to have faith. Don’t worry what others say. Jesus said that when you are cursed you are blessed. If the world hates you, remember it hated me first. However, l believe this forum should be kept in the realms of AF help. This is what people need when they come on here, and God uses others to help, direct and speak to us.
When I first was diagnosed, I was completely ignored by the health system for months. I turned to forums and facebook trying to get info on how to see a doctor and if I needed some therapies, trying to get some actual medical information (I know it was the wrong place but I was totally lost to where to start). And it worked because someone directed me on how to book a private EP appointment. Personally annoyed me loads to receive comments that downplayed it and suggested "lifestyle changes" or do yoga. Honestly, I wrote I couldn't get to see a doctor with a totally unexplainable heart condition and someone I don't know is telling me to drink less (I have less than a drink per month) and do yoga 😤
I think when someone is after medical advice, the anwers should be about medical experiences/opinion. This doesn't stop you from creating all the posts you like about spirituality, yoga and diet.
From my point .. Diet and exercise has put my heart in a good rhythm I have kept off inflammatory foods kept calmer do a lot of breathwork walk daily ..no sugar . I am keeping like this and not rocking the boat .. it makes life so much more manageable Its all about choices this is my choice. Spirituality is top of the list..I read the Bible regularly.. One interesting statement is Jesus'words in Matthew 6: 25 "Stop being anxious about your life...Does not life MEAN more than worrying over food clothing etc etc. Since God grants us life .. we are dependant on the fact he keeps the earth spinning on its axis..verse 27 anxiety will not add any extention to our life it can shorten it" Something to meditate on as Jesus said this three times in his sermon on the Mount. In v 33 it tells us something we must seek first..that is what counts with God if its from our hearts in appreciation for what he does yo sustain our life. Each day has its anxieties live our life one day calmly at a time
I don’t accept the premise of the question.
I read quite a lot about lifestyle. It’s quite a popular topic I would say.
I look forward to your future Posts and Replies to hopefully understand the positive contributions you are capable of making on this matter, as well as on the many other matters you have addressed previously in multiple questions to others on the Forum.
To be fair, I think that there's a fair bit on here about those excellent topics. You just never know when a discussion is going to go that way. This is a wonderful forum with so many really great regular contributors and some of the best will discuss the topics you mention.
My take on it - with great respect and the recognition that this is a huge generalisation - is that a high proportion of folks on this forum are elders and generally speaking those generations tend to really respect doctors and do what they're told by them. Since current Western medicine, and therefore the NHS, throw medication at every problem that is what happens. Some of it is cost, I'm sure. It's far more time consuming to discuss lifestyle changes than it is to say "Take these pills twice a day". And I do say that with great respect, I have a lot of time for all the folks on this forum, and doctors for that matter!
And, elder or not, AFib is a wretched condition that in most cases not going to be 'cured' by lifestyle changes alone - although they can certainly reduce the AF burden - so medication comes into the equation always.
As jeanjeannie suggested, why don't you start some threads discussing those topics?
Thanks Good point. I asked my Cardio nurse about diet. She recommended a Mediterranean approach to diet.
Totally on board with you healthy diet is key too many tablets prescribed.
Not at all, my experience is that these topics are well covered on the forum. There are champions of lifestyle that post all the time on here with their advice on all these matters. We are all seeking to find ways to live better with our condition so experience of others is always interesting to hear.
When reading about lifestyle changes etc,the one thing no-one mentions is smoking and smoking history. It may be that all those who suffer from afib etc have never smoked, but given that we are an aging population it is unlikely. I once worked in epidemiology and the one way we estimated the rate of smoking of a population was to look at the incidence of mortality from heart disease. This type of pollution is far more relevant than whether one does/does not eat gluten or milk products. Obviously these can cause problems, but these are of an order of magnitude less than those caused by smoking.
Because they are unimportant for AF. Shock horror! skinny people get AF. Elite sports people often get AF. People with excellent diets get AF. People who believe in fairytales get AF.
It's an electrical fault in the heart. Do whatever you like, but diet is almost never the answer and prayer never will be the answer to anything.
There are people here who are triggered by certain foods. They find that out very quickly usually, because it's obvious. They can then avoid them.
Thank you for speaking some sense ❤️ The Truth 😂
it may be because people do or have tried these things but still get plagued with AFIB and so revert back to prescription medication.??
Iv tried all sorts over the years and sometimes for a while may have improved my symptoms but eventually have had to go back on the meds.!!
I’m very sceptical about any treatments that are not science based.
I am believe that improving fitness, eating a nutritious diet and meditation will support improvement in symptoms for many people and is certainly helping me. I have experienced a radical reduction in symptoms over the past 2 years as a result of the above. ( I also no longer drink alcoholic nor caffeinated beverages - and I’m happy! )
Medication also plays a part in coping with AF and I take an anticoagulant and on the odd occasion a bisoprolol 1.25.
If other people find their answer in nonstandard treatments and I’m glad for them. In my view that’s proof of the placebo effect.
Will I be cured? I don’t believe I will.
I’m getting older and despite all my efforts to stave off decrepitude I know that bit by bit I will develop leaks, knocking sounds and other things that come along with advancing years.
Eventually of course, sooner or later, I’ll come to a halt but before I get there I will never have willingly given myself over to despair or fear of what is happening.
I will have enjoyed everything I can in my life, appreciated the expertise and kindness of the medical professionals who I deal with and in turn I hope I will have been a good friend and support to as many people as possible along the way.
I run a dual path of healthy enjoyment and acceptance and in that way I can remove most anxiety from my life and overall steer clear, for now, of most that triggers my PAF.
Two years ago I was a mess.
I think many people who write in, and certainly yours truly, state that AF is linked to excess weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, sleep apnoea and more. If only losing those would get rid of AF, though; but it doesn't. Hopefully the symptoms lessen in frequency and force, though.
As for spirituality, I have read many posts in which the writer mentions the benefits of non-religious meditation and relaxation through breathing techniques. Not a spiritual technique, but the Valsalva manoeuvre is an accepted way, medically, to shock the vagus nerve a little to induce a low heart rate and stop tachycardia. I'm not a believer in the supernatural forms of spirituality, but I think there must be those here who are and, hopefully, you will hear from them. Faith and prayer can be very powerful ways to affect the mind and body as I have witnessed a few times in different people. They don't work for me, sadly.
Steve
Hi Pommerania78,
That is primarily what I have written about. I am not sure how to find them on here, but you have responded kindly to them.
Peace...
Fibsernum
Just click on your Profile photo in the top right of a page in HU (when logged in) and you will be taken to your Bio page where you can then select Posts or Replies (next to About) to read everything you have written and possibly find the past details you are seeking.🔎
That's what I do.🤔
Well how can you ignore the fact that life expectancy has increased from 68yrs in 1950 to approx 83 years now and all due to advanced healthcare and interventions including vaccines and medications etc. Back in those days people worked much harder ensuring they were anything but overweight, had no access to processed or junk food outlets, were way more inclined towards spiritual matters as in much deeper religious beliefs etc and much more family orientated. This upward trend in life expectancy has been rising since records began and I will admit that while people in the last century probably smoked a bit more I still am convinced that medical advancement and intervention including medication is the main hero in these statistics. Of course lifestyle has a large role to play in ones health but this is so well covered nowadays that we are all aware of it, Now whether one chooses to lead a healthy lifestyle is completely down to the individual. Lots of people alive today due to stents, by/pass surgery and numerous other interventions not least the most hated one medication which apparently so many people can not tolerate any of them?? even placebos according to research. Just my take on it all and life is for living and enjoying when you can as we all are heading in the one direction irrespectively.
Maybe because some are fit, eat well, meditate and still get afib due to bad genetics (presumably)?
I've been a forum member for a few years and have seen plenty of responses regarding diet, weightloss and mindfulness. Names that spring to mind who comment about these things are CDreamer , jeanjeannie50 , BobD , Singwell and Auriculaire
I've seen so much discussion on here about diet and weight loss that it's become repetitive, so I'm somewhat surprised at your assertion that those things are seldom mentioned!
I've seen several references to spirituality too, and although it's certainly not for me personally, all power to those for whom it provides comfort in whatever form it takes for each individual.
My impressions of this forum, and other HU communities, is that we are welcome to say what works for US (for me), whether it's physical, emotional/psychological or spiritual.
I do agree, we benefit when we focus more on lifestyle for our health. I believe generally our culture has focused too heavily on Pharma.
I have found a lot of help on here in the discussions around healthy eating, avoiding triggers in diet, how to have a healthy sleep pattern and advice about exercise. And I have contributed a little of what I’ve found helps with managing my condition, afib cannot be cured, just managed. I was diagnosed 11 years ago and my medication backs up my lifestyle rather than the other way round. I usually go for many months at a time, barely noticing I have paroxysmal afib.
Thinking about spirituality; I just thank 'god' that there are folk clever enough to realise that scarring the inside surface of the heart in the right places can disrupt the errant signals that create AF and flutter. How on earth did they think that up and also the procedures and kit to get inside a pumping heart and 'tune it up' ?
AF and flutter don't seem to be instant killers but the feelings can be pretty disconcerting !
Curiously it was during my first ablation that they managed to 'kill' me for a couple of minutes
(unexpected asystole, 'flat lined') But with great skill and practice the team got me going again.
...just took another year and 3 more femoral catheter heart entries to stop my AF and flutter.
(tbo I had accepted that any of those procedures could kill me but I thought it was definitely worth the risk !)
3 years later I'm feeling fab and entirely med free again (age 72). But I don't thing spirituality had anything to do with it, though I'm quite proud of 'dying a bit' and coming back full steam in the end.
I guess I'll hang on this forum until I hit 5 years free of arrhythmias (covid excepted)
Thank 'god' for EP's and the NHS !
I have tried in the past to let the members know what helps me to cope with afib is by trusting in JESUS CHRIST but I received a few requests not to bring religion into the forum posts, so I don't do it any longer.
I think the word Spirituality can cause problems in a discussion on a forum with people with lots of different beliefs.People forget that spirituality isn't only about a religion you believe in.
Many people get strength and a feeling of peace and relaxation because of their Faith in a Religion.
Sadly, sometimes when people disclose that their faith is something that helps them feel more able to cope , no matter which Faith it is , others assume they are trying to force religion on to them and can act angrily or unkindly. It would be nice if we could just state that we were happy that works for them even if we would choose or use something else instead.
Many get their strength, support and mental and spiritual healing from other beliefs , meditation ( which is the essence of prayer ), relaxing activity and connection with themselves , others and the World around them.
Basically Spirituality is a form of Mindfulness , a positive process of learning about your body and mind and finding ways to improve your connection with them and with situations and people to help you to remain happy and healthy.
Sadly, people often dismiss these ways to help oneself too as being unscientific, which isn't true.
Or as hippy , trippy nonsense because Mindfulness as a technique has been sadly taken over , and much demeaned , by all those people wanting to make money of the back of it , and whom feel the need to dress basic Mindful Mental Health techniques with buttons and bows , bells and whistles and cosmic truths to give it a substance worth paying for which make it appear fanciful and fake to the ordinary "Joe" and prevents Doctors from putting it to better use.
All Spirituality, whether it comes from belief in a system of religion , comes in a package of Cognitive Behavioural sessions provided by the NHS , or through your own research into which of the array of Positive Mental Health options exist in the World helps you to have better Health , should be respected and people should not be made to feel negativity for their beliefs and trying to find what works for them.
Some people get Mindfulness through a God.
Some people get Mindfulness through Recognised Therapy .
Some through connection with Nature , whether that's hugging a tree or riding a bike through a forest.
Some even get it from tinkering on their car or having a regular giggle with their mates.
They are all Mindful , and are equally positive and important to our daily care as each other and the other elements of our health care.
For many , they make the difference between them getting sicker and drowning in the feeling that come with a long term illness or feeling able to swim with hope towards the shore.
People often don't realise what makes them feel good is a form of Mindfulness. It's not a cure but it can help to keep us mentally strong and relaxed enough to keep on fighting.
It would be nice if we could all be kind to each other and remember that.
Positivity to everyone , Bee
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