Paf Episodes are more often making me anxious.

[femalegannet]

I’m have Increased episodes of Paroxysmal Afib since episode after vomiting early July. I’ve gone from have 1 every couple of months to 5 out of 7 nights this week ! they always happen at night (occ late pm) so at least I’m not aware of then but my Fitbit alerts me when I wake.

I have been cleaning out my garage and the dust has left me with a cough ? Worsening asthma.

Q. Why mainly at night. Q. Is there anything ( other than lose weight) I can try.

I have other conditions so not able to have any meds to help with rate/rhythm and HR goes up to 100+ if I do anything strenuous (even showering) !

thanks for any info you can offer

[mjames1]

If you haven't already, get a sleep apnea test. However, if you test positive they are also going to tell you to lose weight. There are a whole new class of drugs now for weight loss. Weight loss is the single most important lifestyle intervention you can make in terms of potentially reducing or eliminating atrial fibrillation.

Jim

[BenHall1]

Have you considered, food, the type of food, and when you eat your evening meal may all be triggers for your AF events ?

[Jalia]

May I say that I think you are getting too obsessed with heart rates. Of course they are going to rise when you exert yourself and even more so if you are anxious. Stop looking at your Fitbit so much !

As far as the night time episodes go, eating late at night can certainly be a trigger. Smaller meals eaten earlier in the day should help, if you're not already doing so. I've found that restricting my eating to an 8/10 hour window helps and if you do not overindulge will help a slow weight loss.

[femalegannet]

thanks all for the input, and yes i may be getting a little obsessed. I've been diagnosed less than 12 months ! Losing weight is an ongoing process , 8 kg is all I'd like to lose. At 72 I'd look gaunt if i lost more.

Right, plan is to eat meals earlier in day, i already fast in the am as brekkie doesnt usually happen until 11am. I'm a slow starter due to the arthritis etc. Also increasing my fluids, iIactually made it to 1.5 litres the other day ! That comes from 30 years in a job with no time to pee.

Sleep apnoea I'll put on the back burner for now, trying to limit hospital visits.

thanks all

[108cat]

If your PAF is always at night it could be what my cardio calls 'vagal type' AF. Do you have a low resting heart rate? My cardio explained that at night when the heart rate is low it gives the ectopics more opportunity t interrupt the NSR and cause PAF. See also Dr Guptas videos on you tube on night time / vagal type AF usually between 9pm and 9am.

Or of course it could be sleep apnoea ..

If your resting HR is low and it shoots up to 100 when you shower that doesn't sound right to me. It depends what it is normally.

Good to check it out with your doctor or cardio. Also try deep breathing when you wake with PAF. Deep breath into the belly and long slow breath out .. keep that going for 5 minutes and it could settle your heart. Breathe in to the count of say 5 and out to count of 8 or 10.

One of the main things I've learned with PAF is not to push my body, reduce stress etc. Maybe stop clearing out the garage till things have settle down!

[femalegannet]

thanks. Resting HR is ave 70-75 so not so low. Thanks for info re vagal type, I’ll check out the video you mentioned. Knowledge is power ( or something like that ). Garage is done, off on a break so that should help.

[Joolivia]

it’s not easy is it and lots of us get obsessed with our HR and that’s fine to be aware and worried x

Your not alone xx

[Jetcat in reply to Joolivia]

Definitely not alone.!! Me included 😳

[Sixtychick]

I sold my fitbit. It was making me too anxious. !!!

[Ppiman]

Night time AF seems common as the pressures placed upon the heart are different and this movement of the heart can spark ectopic beats, and these lead to AF.

There's a device from Wellue that can measure overnight and give an AI based summary of its findings. I bought one of those and found it useful to take to my GP and specialist. The Fitbit os only measuring heart rate variability, I believe rather than actual AF (which requires 2 or more different contact points).

Steve

[Crumbling]

My heart rate always goes up when I shower, I think it’s just the hot water and the faff of getting dry afterwards, it easily reaches 95 or more and my resting hr is only 60 . I think as long as it drops down again in a reasonable amount of time I don’t worry about it. Mine shoots up if I go upstairs but it soon settles down again. If I walk up a steep hill it has occasionally topped 120-130 but I think this is a natural body response to the exertion.

I would however be alerted if my watch recorded an actual AFib, I think that should be mentioned to your doctor.