triggers????

[peachtreepiggy]

Does anyone find that hunger or heat outside can trigger a fibs? I have been working in my garden in the US and it's been in the 80's (degrees C???) with high humidity and I have noticed my heart threatening to break into an episode. It gives a few irregular beats, I freak out, and fortunately, so far nothing has materialized. Heat and hunger possible triggers? Thanks.

[BenHall1]

Hi,

Well, here in UK we'd hardly ever get temps in the 80's with high humidity ... so thats a non event.

When I lived in Sydney those sort of temperatures and higher were a summer norm and I (when young - in my mid 30's ) did use to go out lawn mowing, gardening - but always well hydrated and wide brim hatted and for short periods only before stopping seeking shade and more hydration.

Today as an old guy, late 70's, with my beloved friend AF tagging along I would'nt dream of it if I lived in that climatic region. In my view heat/humidity and poor hydration would be a trigger.

[peachtreepiggy in reply to BenHall1]

Your response made me laugh. I'm also an old girl close to 70. One thing I make sure of is that I'm well hydrated even though the heat and humidity is bad.

[BenHall1 in reply to peachtreepiggy]

Well, young lady ...... glad to have given you a laugh. I would love those temperatures and humidity right now - here in Cornwall, UK at 01.28 am it is 53 degrees ............ groan !

More seriously, I still think that even if you are well hydrated etc and doing it all correctly it could still be enough to to challenge your heart into a trip into AF, especially if you are doing a great amount of bending, this could well challenge the vagal nerve and could be the conduit by which AF kicks off. So - thinking gardening - it might not be the heat/humidity that's the problem as much as the bending/stooping. Just sayin' 😊

Wishing you well.

[GoodHearty]

Looking back I noticed when I did gardening couple of years back it triggered AF episodes, but that similarly coincided with playing golf where both involves bending down at the hips or at least in some contorted manner. I was convinced of it, mentioned it to my GP who just brushed it off as learn to bend properly!! This was before I had any tests and was on long waiting list for cardio appointment. I started research and came across POTS, GP never heard of it!!

So could it be just bending over and up as part of gardening that may be the trigger? Who knows, but now I deliberately dare my AF to start doing things so I can find the dastardly trigger and try be more in control, but the bending over has not caused it since I eventually have done tonnes of research and just take Mg and multi B vitamins along with nuts/seeds that are high in heart healthy electrolytes (potassium, zinc like pumpkin seeds).

But I am convinced originally when started having AF bending during gardening/golf was a trigger. I haven’t stopped either btw, that is off the trigger list now . Luckily my AF visitor doesn’t come round too often now, even if he does, I show him the door in a couple of hours by simply taking another Mg tablet and putting feet up (that for me helps recover dropped BP during episodes).

AF is a mongrel condition (as someone once said here).

[Goodguy1471]

yes I have found heart Rate for gas gone up then afib and into tachycardia when too hot. Scary

[Iamfuzzyduck]

i believe my main trigger is an electrolyte imbalance which causes a migraine/vomiting then afib. I live in Houston so I have to keep well hydrated and often drink Emergen C…it really helps.

[Peacefulneedshelp in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

You have had such bad weather lately. I am outside Chicago and it's been one storm after another. That said yes heat and humidity are tough on older people who don't have AF. Emergency C has electrolytes which is great! We have upper 80s one day and 60 the next. it's been crazy.

[Buzby62]

Never had much success deciding between triggers and coincidences except for any kind of virus or infection, covid was definitely a trigger. I would say anything that puts your system off normal (your normal) can contribute to an episode but suspect it’s usually a combination of things and once you suspect something is up the anxiety can be a trigger. We’re all different.

Best wishes

[peachtreepiggy in reply to Buzby62]

Thanks for the sage advice! Due for an ablation on July 16 and already anxiety is rearing its ugly head!

[Ppiman]

If I stopped at every "trigger" I'd be sitting in a chair all day and then still having "triggers". Yes, being hungry and not eating when I am hungry seems to be a "trigger" for me as does bending down low and stretching high.

I suspect in these the stomach is moving more than usual and pushing higher against my diaphragm, with that then touching the heart and setting off ectopic beats. I once saw this on an X-ray and the specialist at the time told me it was an accepted cause of ectopic beats. These can, of course, then trigger AF if we are prone at that moment in time. So much depends on the state of the errant cells in the left atrium as to where and when the AF (rather than an ectopic beat) will happen and I doubt - very much - that any consistent "trigger" for AF exists: rather it is a coincidence of the "trigger" with the atrium at that moment being sensitive.

Certainly the few studies I have read on AF triggers have not turned up much useful at all, despite the anecdotes that are read often on forums such as this and on FB (although some people most certainly do have known triggers). The two posited "kinds" of AF, "adrenergic" and "cholinergic" (or "vagal" / parasympathetic), have shown that some get AF more when active (or emotional) and some more when resting, sleeping or digesting, but I think that's as far as the evidence has led.

Steve

[peachtreepiggy in reply to Ppiman]

Wow! You sure know your a fibs!

[Ppiman in reply to peachtreepiggy]

Thank you. I dearly wish I knew how to stop it and the hard-going palpitations.

Steve

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Ppiman]

I have only ever felt hunger once in my life and that was when I was aged about 4 and my mum was late coming home from an appointment. My stomach ached. Young people need feeding regularly.

Steve, do you really experience true hunger?

Jean

[Ppiman in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Oh yes. I have it now - dinner is a bit late this evening because the WiFi has been wonky and I’ve been fixing it this way and that. It’s what I call “hunger pangs”. The feeling is of emptiness below the ribs. If I don’t eat regularly these days it makes my palpitations worse. I’ve had it for very many years indeed - although not with the palpitation problem.

Steve

[Snowgirl65]

We're having similar weather in Ohio (US) and I too have been gardening in full force. I'm in no position to give advice, may I stress to take frequent breaks inside and drink lots of water. So far (knock on wood) the heat hasn't affected me.

[Peacefulneedshelp]

You mentioned hunger. On top of the PAF I have hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar I don't not have diabetes. I can't get too hungry or do anything too strenuous or my sugar drops and that does set off issues. Someone, awhile ago, asked if any of us had a hiatal hernia and most everyone that answered said yes. The balance becomes an even more of a blanching act. Can't eat too much, can't eat too little and always eating the right foods. However, it is worth it to keep figuring it out.

[Ppiman in reply to Peacefulneedshelp]

I relate to all that. Well said.

Steve

[Fblue]

yes! Heat and humidity are definitely a trigger for me as well. As everyone wrote in their previous comments, stay hydrated and try not to stay outdoors when it’s too hot. Take your walk in the early morning or late in the day when it cools down.

. It sounds like you’re on medication to protect yourself. If you stress when you go into a fibs, you’ll stay in longer so try to just know that you’ll be OK.

It’s a journey and I’m so glad we’re on this together. It really helps to read about others experience and to share ours to help others.

[Ppiman in reply to Fblue]

Well said and you are so right, especially when it's so hard to get to see a specialist in the UK these days.

Steve

[FraserB]

Every doctor and even cardiologist I've seen who knows I have flutter/afib has said, "stay hydrated". And I didn't even ask them about it. And I take diltiazem which the pharmacist mentioned can cause photosensitivity when in the sun (UV light) for too long. Sunscreen helps to counter it.

[Letofeyd]

Yes, before my surgery I definitely found that hunger from not eating regularly set off an episode of AFib. It could also be dehydration, though, because often no food goes with not drinking, and if you are also working in the heat, then that is very probably a cause.

[Hidden]

More likely dehydration. You might not feel dehydrated but the AFib is super senstivie to not being fully hydrated.

[N400033]

Hi peachtreepiggy,Yes i find that. Especially if I perspire a lot and don't replace the fuids asap. Actually, after a certain temperature, i try to stay inside. Lack of food will also do it for me.

Good luck to you.

Jodie

[peachtreepiggy in reply to N400033]

Thank you. I'm trying to find triggers for these afibs but maybe there aren't any. Maybe they just come out of the blue for no reason. It's very frustrating and also scary

[N400033 in reply to peachtreepiggy]

When i had paroxsymal, it was easier for me determine. The worst ones were: dehydration, lack of rest, and skipping meals. Exercise always helped as longcas i replenished fluids lost. Jodie

[Tux18]

Yes, heat and humidity definitely has an effect on me! I have been fortunate for months as I’ve had very little afib. However, heat and humidity makes it difficult for me to work, or even walk, much without getting extremely weak or breathless..