I have PAF but have only had three short (max 2 hours) episodes of AF since cardioversion in Nov 2021. However I get such shortness of breath almost daily now. It’s patchy and might last for 20 mins or two hours. I also feel lots of ectopic beats during this time. And absolutely exhausted. Could the breathlessness be the result of very short (micro) bouts of AF? Has any one got similar symptoms?
I know that I am de-conditioned and overweight, both contributing to breathing but this is more extreme than these factors would account for I feel.
Sometimes my heart feels so unstable, beats all over the place.
But I have two devices to check for AF and don’t get a measurement of AF when I check.
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Never heard of such a thing but it is possible you are having very short bursts of AF however they shouldn’t leave you feeling so breathless so there may be something else going on. Have you had all the blood tests for Diabetes and thyroid? I know it’s not easy but if you can lose weight and exercise more it will help ease the load as will breathing practices. Do you mouth breath? Believe it or not learning how to breathe through your nose and practising it will also help. I found Patrick McKeown very helpful - loads on YouTube and the James Nester’s book Breath a revelation and a daily practice I found very helpful but first a full medical.
Thanks for that. I had bloods done a couple of weeks ago and all clear on diabetes and thyroid. I try hard to exercise and loose weight but little progress with the weight loss. I have recently been doing a range of breathing exercises and hope these will help. I’ll have a look at the resources you suggested.
It sounds like clusters of ectopics or AF flutter. Do you have digestive issues because the esophagus can go into spasm, which feels like ectopics. Is the breathlessness anxiety? I hold my breath when anxious. Do you take any medication that is causing you to have side effects? Side effects can happen even if you have been on a drug long term. I would go and see your GP and get checked if you are worried.
Thanks you. I don’t think I have digestive issues other than silent reflux which I am treating. GP doesn’t think it’s medicine related. I do get stress and distressed when the shortness of breath is happening which I am sure makes it worse but don’t think it is what causes it in the first place. Eating a big breakfast is a trigger I know but generally avoid this successfully.
What does your GP think it is? I am surprised he hasn’t referred you for a chest X-ray. Small meals and often puts less strain on the heart. I would go back to my GP.
My GP referred me to the cardiologist who I am seeing on Tuesday. He is never very friendly and always seems quite dismissive and short, which is why I’m trying to gather my thoughts in advance. Appreciate your help. I do have asthma and am having a lot of investigations there but this shortness of breath is not asthma - it feels completely different. My respiratory consultant agreed it was not asthma as well.
I’ve had one of those! You do need to be well prepared, good idea. I’m wondering about flutter which would not show up on a device - which have you got?
Best to show a recording or two taken at the time you feel unwell if possible and leave him to diagnose. I see you are taking Flecainide which is known for causing fast arrhythmias, otherwise I’m thinking bronchospasm which I get as well as asthma.
When I first read your post I figured I couldn't comment. Then I read all the other replies. Then I re- read your post and have decided to comment. I'm doing so because I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in January 2010, nearly 15 years ago now (aged 65 ) . The original diagnosis also included the brief statement that I could be in AF and not know it, i.e. no symptoms or sensations, namely, asymptomatic.
So my thoughts are running along the same lines as yours - can breathlessness be a manifestation of AF doing its dirty deeds WITHOUT any heart symptoms occurring ??
I ask this because I am not aware of any heart issues kicking off, or even trying to. My Spo2 and HR is always around 96/72. My BP is constantly around 132/78 with HR of 71 (am on medication). I have recently had bloods done and here is my summary ....
FBC = OK; eGFRcreat = Normal, no action: Serum electrolytes= OK: Liver= Normal, no action: NT-PRO BNP= Normal, no action: Thyroid= Normal no action: Chest X-Ray= Normal, no action.
So, now on 19th December I'm off to Plymouth for a Spirometery and Reversibility Lung Function test ??????
My pAF has been highly controlled by medication alone. I have always rejected the notion of ablation. Since 2015 my AF events that I can feel have been every 4 years or so. However, this year my breathlessness has gradually progressed and mostly it wipes me out. I just can't believe how I feel .... just like a clapped out old git ....... to which one of my kidz reminded me ... I am !! ( No Santa visit for that boy).
Currently, my GP is working on the Asthma or COPD angle and has prescribed me a 'puffer' - an Easyhaler Salbutamol sulfate (dry powder inhaler) which is giving quite a bit of relief.
So thats where I am on my journey and I hope it is of interest all round.
One thing that I'm curious about is in my Bloods ........ why differentiate between just OK and Normal, no action ?? anybody ?? Oh yeah! I forgot, that in the last week I've noticed what I think to be a very real increase in palpitations/ectopics. Particularly the last 2 days ... feel wiped out.
I'll comment further when I have the results back from Plymouth.
If its a daily occurrence, you need a Holter Monitor for 2-3 days. See if the Cardiologist will sort you one. It could be a few things? This should give you a definite answer if all other test are negative.Best of luck
Yes, I am sure you can as I can get bursts of seconds, minutes or hours. I don't get particularly symptomatic, just feeling the need to breathe in more deeply - a kind of air hunger" someone else here called it once. And, yes, too, my chest feels weird and wobbly with bumps and thumps.
If you are overweight by much, that would be a concern as the heart increases its own bulk to match the body weight, and it does so without adding extra cells, I have red. A larger heart is likely to be more arrhythmic, so it makes sense to slim down as much as you can. Also, daily exercise, walking a distance with some uphill, is said to be ideal to help condition the heart.
this sounds exactly like what I get and I keep been sent oft ECG but doesn’t pick it up as it’s so sporadic k get same shallots but I feel feint and I look grey. Then it just goes. My Apple Watch says I’m in AF weekly at low level 2% but no one is interested in this and also the same lots of skipped beats which are awful. I know how you feel. It’s catching it on a proper ECG when it’s happening that’s the issue. I have had bloods for every thing and all ok apart from I do have a phospahte issue but this isn’t related to this: I feel need the implanted heart monitor to catch it but they won’t do it. Even though I was meant to prior to Covid and got it got cancelled because back then I had paradoxal SVT keep happening this seems to be ok now it’s just the weird rythm feeling I’ll whilst it’s doing it and skipped beats and also som days my heart rate won’t get above 50 beats per second and I’m so so tired. Good luck hope you get someone to listen.
If your applewatch is saying 2% AF, that could in fact mean zero AF….applewatch will never say 0% AF. Apple will also verify this in the blurb that goes with the watch. Your skipped beats sound possibly like ectopics.
For example, gluten causes digestive problems, which very well can affect your heart. I gave up gluten COMPLETELY and immediately felt better and quickly began losing weight. I have lost about 30 percent of my original weight from the time when I went to the emergency room with the first known instance of Afib. I no longer have Afib, although I also take Flecainide and Metoprol and eliminated sugar wherever possible.
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