I had an a-fib episode on January 10th that lasted 6 hrs. 45 min. I knew the trigger immediately, i.e. ongoing anxiety over recent winter-related events here in Ohio and my subsequent snack-binging because of it. Ask how the episode terminated, why don't you... Well I walked down to the road to retrieve my mail with temperature at 19f (-7c), came inside, sneezed a couple times, and it reverted me back into NSR!
Add this to list of how to end an a-f... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Add this to list of how to end an a-fib episode.
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Snowgirl65
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WOW! Get the pepper out!!!!
I'll definitely stock up! 😀
That's great news. Must try it!
You made me laugh.
So now it looks like a sneeze can stop AF.
We need a new quote now, how about:
Coughs and sneezes, AF it eases.
Jean
Content changed 9.56am 13/01/2025
You're a poet and don't know it! Bravo!
Your funny Jean!
That’s good Jean😂👍
❤️
I know you are always well- meaning Jean, but as a first aid instructor I make a point of telling my learners that the 'cough CPR' idea for suspected heart attack victims is a myth and ask them to debunk it if they see it online or hear it in the pub.
That's interesting because I've often read that's the thing to do. I'll go and Google it.
Well I've quickly Googled it and it looks like you're right. Bother, I thought I could save myself from a heart attack.
There are a lot of myths out there and some are very believable! For example 'heart attack' and 'cardiac arrest' are largely believed to be the same thing.
And my pet hate; the idea that giving someone first aid can lead to being sued if it 'goes wrong', which is not only rubbish but dangerous rubbish!
I wouldn't want anyone reading this to be discouraged from coughing in an attempt to halt arrythmia though - that's quite different and is something I do myself.
Thanks for highlighting the difference between ‘heart attack' and 'cardiac arrest' a lot of people seem to think they are the same.
I'll chat GPT it
No, that is a myth. Coughing will not stop a heart attack. The idea of "cough CPR," which suggests that coughing forcefully during a heart attack can help, has been widely circulated but is not supported by medical evidence.
Our bitter cold winter weather can be a good jolt to the system for sure! And a good giant sneeze will do it too,
Yes indeed -- this cold snap has been relentless!
Have you had the crazy winds as well?
My wife and I did last Thursday. It was the rice dish I made the night before with lots of onions and beans in it.
They're starting up around now again. We're in for another deep Arctic front!
Ughh… winter….
So you have to stand in front of the open freezer for 10 minutes, then sniff pepper.....?
😂 good plan! Lol!
You, people, are making fun of it, but sneezing does have significant influence on the heart. I recall a story of an old lady, who sneezed and ended in Sudden Cardiac Arrest. She died instantly. Never thought of it until now, where you reported your case...
Here is a previous post about sneezing. It can stop as well as bring on AF, all to do with the vagal system. healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
I can't venture out in the freezing weather as it exacerbates my asthma, but perhaps the sneezing will do it? I'll have to give it a try!
No wonder I do not have many episodes - I have allergies and sneeze all the time !
Nice one. We have had similarly low temperatures this last week alongside AF that has been much more frequent than usual. This morning it's been flipping in and out randomly for the past hour. I am putting it down to a flare up of my diverticular problems and pain which has brought a mild fever in its train.
Steve
I sure hope you feel better soon.
I've just started on a course of antibiotics so I hope they work soon. I am guessing that the bloating from the bowel issues is causing upwards pressure on my heart and that is what is setting off the AF. I have read that it can. The last four days have been the worst ever for AF frequency but it's not at such a high rate, thankfully, so the discomfort is not too bad.
Steve
What you say sounds likely. Probably when the antibiotics work, your bloating will stop and hopefully so will the a-fib. Good luck to you.
Yes I have read that here before and I think it worked for me once. Now that I get a mixed but less disturbing AF/Flutter/pauses/other arrhythmia on a daily basis and usually can stop it by humming/deeper breathing/singing.
I'll have to try the humming/singing/deep breathing because I think I'm having another mild episode -- maybe I'll bring out the pepper too. Thanks for your comments.
I remember someone else mentioned this before too. It is so strange isn't it these triggers and solutions.
Yes, and everyone's different in that regard; what works for some won't for others.
When I cough hard or sneeze it definitely has put me into Afib. the same has worked in reverse so yes! it's a thing.
Breathing in cold air put me into afib once!
That may very well be one of the factors that triggered mine -- I was in and out of the house (in 20f temps) filling birdfeeders and such.
I just added a “like” but it went to “unlike”! So your “likes” should be at least one more! A very original way which I couldn’t do as with chronic fatigue,I can’t walk far and our mail is delivered to the post box at the end of our drive which I can manage to get to. Since I’ve been taking Flecainide regularly, the only episode I’ve had started before I’d taken my first pill of the day and taking 100mg stopped it in an hour!
Well that's certainly good news! Thanks for the "like" -- in spirit only!
I love it!! So in the summer go find a walk in fridge and spend some time sitting in there and come out look at the sun. Pray for a few sneezes and Bobs your uncle!! Well done snowgirl!! 👍
Ha ha -- very funny!
I have gone back into rhythm three times because I was laughing - really belly laughs, not a polite giggle though.
That happened to me too. I live alone, and when I go into a-fib, my protocol is to call my brother who lives 8 minutes away. Twice -- I called him when in a-fib, he made me laugh, and I was instantly in NSR!
That's amazing. Exactly a week ago I woke up early with signs of afib. Little sleep overnight,same food as previous Monday, lingering cough from onset 12th December and slight anxiety about driving to local supermarket and a few arguments with husband which basically I should ignore and laugh off. Problem is I've inherited a tendency to have to have the last word. At the age of 80 one would think I'd have learned to be a bit more laid back. Since taking bisoprolol 1.25 am and 2.50 pm I've become calmer but stress is definitely a trigger plus infection and recently lack of exercise. My routine of walking every day has been interrupted by horrible cough and slippery pavements. That walking often helped me get back NSR. My yoga done at home is a good replacement. Not sure why I'm rambling on. It's probably because woke at 5 instead of 6.30. It would be useful know of other ways of getting back to NSR other than flecainide which seems to have more side effects for me.
Currently waiting for echocardiagram. Slight indigestion, gnawing discomfort under left lower ribs but now and again. Youngest daughter sent me an excerpt from book/radio: don't always adopt the crash position, spend some time looking out of window and enjoying the view.
I think a lot of us have more heart symptoms during the winter months. The cold here in Ohio is brutal right now and I worry about 3 feral cats I feed, I feed birds and worry about them (they've managed just fine for millions of years without my intervention!) and of course I can't get out in the garden -- I'm an avid gardener, and you can't do so when it's 9f (-12c) and everything covered in snow!
Point of that was to say I've woken to af almost exactly to the day. Last Tuesday husband did most of supermarket stuff while I did shorter trips to other places. Stopped for coffee and walked a bit. Back to normal in afternoon
Seems we're on the same pace at the moment with our a-fib.
Wow! The way I sneeze, 10+ times one after the other, I should never have Afb in the first place.
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