Excercise

[alfrae13]

If yo have paroxysmal afib ans a HR of 70 +/- could you exercise such as running, cycling while in afib

[OzJames]

So I have AF but paroxysmal so only now and then… at the moment around once a year I get AF and I when not in AF I exercise daily brisk 4-5km walks a bike ride once a week on indoor bike about average 15km and reformer Pilates twice a week. I do this all with alerts set on my watch so I get an alert at 145bpm. Are you paroxysmal or in permanent AF approx what age are you, sorry for the questions…there no detail in yr Bio

[Buffafly]

According to the BHF it is better not to exercise while having an episode of paroxysmal AF.

[CDreamer]

Not a great idea to exercise whilst in AF. I would echo OzJames comments.

[En85]

The general suggestion is to keep exercising and stay fit. When I was diagnosed I didn't receive any info or support for months, I suggest to call BHF nurse(there is a number on their website), they will explain how much is safe to exercise and you can also explain your specific situation.

[ozziebob in reply to En85]

Good idea, but Poster lives in USA.

[javo123j]

I have permanent afib and I still exercise. I suppose I have no choice if I want to exercise. I run around 6k 2 or 3 times a week but I don't push it too hard although my pulse rate often hits 180 and averages around 140 during a run. It's normally around 64. Doctor says it's okay and exercise is good.

[Blearyeyed]

If you have intermittent AF or Paroxysmal AFib it's not really advised to exercise during an active episode, especially not cardio activities like running or cycling.Basically, because it's more than likely to make the AFib symptoms worse and to cause the active AFib to last longer.

Much better to get the AFib event under control, actually give yourself some restful days afterwards , then build up to cardio exercises slowly during the following weeks in order to reduce the risk that you trigger another AFib event whilst your body is still returning to a stable state.

Exercise rules are different for people with Permanent AFib, although even then those people need to listen to their body and assess their symptoms and resting heart rate to make the decision as to whether they do cardio or lower intensity exercise activities each day.

[wilsond]

No

[AFCyclist]

I regularly use a brisk cycle on my bike to stop my AF. Normaly works after about 30 mins. Yesterday it took 5mins and a week before took 5hrs. My specialist knows what I do and has not said no. It may depend on how AF affects you. I am on the list for an ablation.

[emv54 in reply to AFCyclist]

I do this with running and swimming! Sometimes only takes 5 mins to get back to NSR; sometimes a fair bit longer, and occasionally it doesn't do the job. But averaged out, it works more often than not.

Also works with walking evenly and as quickly as possible up a steepish hill!

I keep an eye on my HR, how I feel, and what's normal for me. I'm 15+ years into my afib journey, still paroxysmal, still no medical interventions.

[Camelia23]

Sometimes I have walked myself out of afib if I've felt reasonable, ie that I have the energy to walk. If I'm lucky I walk with husband ,returning home when I've had enough while he carries on to do the shopping. The last few weeks I haven't walked far as I've had a bad cough then we've had slippery pavements . Conscious of my age, 80, and despite keeping fit I don't want to end up in A+E whether it's for 50 hours or one. This past year two GPs have said I may just have had an irregular heartbeat so can walk out of it. Occasionally I've had ecg at surgery which shows afib. Yesterday it was minus 5 outside I felt tired, had slept badly, heartbeat was up at 110 and knew it was afib, diagnosed 2019 as Paroxysmal. Given Apixaban, bisoprolol and flecainide as PIP. Saw cardiologist end of October. Said I wanted to stop flecainide because of side effects. He said I am to have an echocardiagram but I forgot to ask how long away. Why it can't be done at local practice I'm not sure.

The whole point of this post is to say that sometimes I can walk out of afib and others I jus have to rest/do yoga and deep breathing.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

I have rapid persistent AF.

My cardiologist specifically asked me what exertion exercise I do.

I said walk up the road and it's harder getting back with groceries.

He stated "good your heart is a muscle so needs exercise daily".

In the days of Metapolol even a little exertion lead to excessive sweating and collapsing into bed for a sleep. 186 H/R day plus breathless, and monitor proved pauses at night.

Yes, Yes.

Walking and your heart wil tell you when it needs to stop especially on elevation. Just stop and pause to allow the blood circulating to catch up. Never over do it. But your H/R should at rest settle at 100 or lower. 70s is great.

Cheri JOY

[Speed]

Have Paroxysmal AF. I run regularly and before my last ablation, if HR went over 140 it would usually trigger an episode - 215 whilst running, dropping to 115 once stopped. I’d then take Flec and be back in NSR by the morning. I once did an 10k event where I went into AF during the start. As went from one castle to another, and not returning to the start, decided to run/walk to the finish slowly. 1 mile from the end it went back into NSR of own accord during exercise. I’ve heard many other instances of exercise actually triggering return to NSR. Not my preferred answer to AF but shows it can be very fickle and individual to each person.

[Ppiman]

You would know if you can't, I was told. If the rate goes unnaturally high owing to the AF, the the pumping efficiency drops and you'll feel light-headed and will not be able to carry on exercising until it calms. Perhaps your doctor would suggest an extra does of bisoprolol or similar before an exercise session?

Steve

[beach_bum]

my experience; 70 year old male, on Diltiazem 360mg slow release once daily + xeralto.

Always been fit, and I hike daily from 3-5km daily…I could do 8-10 but I’m down to 1 lab, and she is getting older, so she is slowing down on course, we all do lol.

I am also a rabid cyclist, and do a mix of gravel and back roads 3-4 times weekly, about 25-40km per ride.

I’ve never had an issue, and my episodes seem to be triggered by diet, not exercise. Heavy evening meals were a trigger for me. But no always. The other night I got up to pee at 03:30, and just getting out of bed sent me into afib for 8 hrs lol.

But no, excercise never triggers afib for me…ironically, it’s what usually puts me back into NSR lol… brisk walk or pushups etc.

My resting rate is 60-65 bpm, and during exercise, I keep it in the 105-135 range…hard to go over that on 360mg of Diltiazem lol.

[sdweller in reply to beach_bum]

Curious… have you tried Flexainide?

[beach_bum in reply to sdweller]

No, I doubt it would do anything different than Diltiazem, and I only need to take it once daily. I have no side effects with it other than it prevents my impulsive 70 year old arse from doing stupid stuff. Having said that, I did just get back from the tropics where I played beach volleyball and beach footie without any ill effects, so I’m content with my calcium channel blocker. I initially was prescribed a beta blocker, and it did not go well…shortness of breath, exhaustion, muscle pain…not a good fit for me.

[Gilli54 in reply to beach_bum]

Hi

How does the calcium channel blocker differ from a beta blocker for you? Presumably it still slows your rate to protect you from going into fast AFib. How did it suit you better? Did you get none of those pesky symptoms when you switched over? Would be interested to know. Thank you. Gillian 😊

[beach_bum in reply to Gilli54]

The beta blocker…Metoprolol, mad me feel weak, breathless with any exertion, and I had zero symptoms once switched to the calcium channel blocker Diltiazem .

Everybody is different.

[alfrae13 in reply to Gilli54]

I am already on a beta blocker. that i why my bpm ae normal. But this does not preclude gwtting afib

[sdweller in reply to beach_bum]

FYI...Flec is a sodium channel blocker, not a beta blocker... substantial difference in the way it works. Flecainide has been a life-changer for so many, it is so much more effective than almost any other drug for afib. So just maybe keep it in mind as an alternative. For many like me it also has no side effects. You may or may not be a candidate for it, but if you are, keep all this above in mind! Good luck!

[Robv1954]

I had paroxysmal AF for many years. Take Flecanide. No problems

100 mg TID

Note: only 2 episodes

[sdweller]

As long as it is ok with your Electrophysiologist or cardiologist then yes!

[CatsHaveStaff]

I have paroxysmal AF, and since this has been under drug control, only happens a couple of times a year. However, if it does start I will go for a brisk walk or cycle and about 75% of the time I will go back into sinus rhythm during the exercise. My cardiologist was happy with this as an approach and did not discourage it

[alfrae13 in reply to CatsHaveStaff]

my problem is that when I go into afib I become lightheaded and weak and just wnt to go to bed

[Desertflowerchild]

Based on my Garmin, I thought my heart rate was only reaching a max of 120-130 while exercising in afib and that seemed perfectly acceptable for being 70 years old. Then, my cardiologist had me wear a heart rate monitor for one month last summer and I learned my Garmin was not catching my true ventricular contractions which were shooting up to 180. Just something to be aware of. I would wear a chest strap now if I were going to exercise while in afib.

[Jasod]

Whilst in a fib it is safe to exercise, whether or not you can exercise is another question entirely. If you want to run you’ll find yourself doing more of a shuffle, for probably 5 to 10 minutes before you feel like collapsing. I wouldn’t recommend it, try walking briskly instead. If you want to cycle outdoors pick a flat course and don’t push yourself otherwise you’ll be done at about the 10 minute mark. Remember when you’re in afib your heart is still working but working very inefficiently, making strenuous exercise only for the foolish or masochistic. Leave anything strenuous to when you’re not in afib and good luck 👍