We hear much about what triggers or worsens episodes of AFib or similar.
What do you folks find might ease the episode/lessen the chance of it happening/reduce the anxiety. I don't mean medicine, supplements or surgery.
For example - distraction, gentle exercise. music, gardening, resting, activity, or???
(and what would be a better word than alleviate?)
I do a video boxing exercise most mornings that relieves my morning af.After 10-12 minutes the af has calmed considerably.Walking also helps . but less so than the boxing exercise which seems to be more directly cardiac related.
Get on with life and enjoy what you are doing.
Get a cat or small dog. Having a pet keeps you going and they reduce stress, also they can sense when something is wrong and tend to be more sympathetic than humans……
Have tried convincing my wife that more sex would probably help, but I have not been able to prove this hypothesis so far.
Lol
Hi
MISS OUT... GO PASS ME ...
Relax no anxiety look forward to something nice.
Music is A1. I have music going all day. Dance if you feel energetic.
I take things in my stride, no stress.
cherio JOY. 76. (NZ)
regular walks by the sea, deep breathing and eating a good med diet and yes having lots of fun and putting ecg's etc... in a draw
What alleviates AF depends to some degree on whether it is caused by a particular issue.
I use all of these: humming, deep breathing, less gluten & sugar, prayer & keeping occupied in interesting voluntary work.
Hello, AF can impact individuals so differently, whereby triggers can vary as can finding various ways to manage it, I am certain you will receive a great deal of support from the Members of the Forum based upon their own experiences.
I would also like to highlight our 'Living with... AF' available to register and watch online. You have the opportunity to learn tips and advice about AF from the medical experts: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Alternatively, if you prefer, please contact our Patient Services Team via our dedicated Patient Helpline; +44(0)1789 867502 or via email: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
The team are always here to help.
Kind regards
TracyAdmin
Hello Tracy
I followed your link in order to watch the video and was asked to register - I was then asked a compulsory question to select a charity. There was no explanation as to why this question was being asked.
At this stage I backed out as I didn’t understand what was going on.
Hello Vernasca
Thank you for your message, I will contact you via the Chat function shortly.
Kind regards
TracyAdmin
Everyone is different but this is what has worked for me.
1. Knowing my triggers and studiously avoiding them.
2. Drinking 2-2.5 litres of water a day, this includes berry tea which doesn’t contain caffeine.
3. Regular steady state exercise. I do 10K power walking 3-4 times a week.
4. Tracking my health regularly over time. This isn’t for everyone but I find it reassuring to track my continued weight loss and blood pressure weekly. I’m down 3 stone and now have bp of 102/67. Other factors such as sleep quality, blood oxygen etc feed into a dashboard from my Apple Watch Series 8.
5. Meditation - I have really focused on this. I use the Calm app daily, breathing exercises and mantra based meditation. I also regularly use a Shakti acupressure mat. When it comes to your health you have to be selfish and to carve out time for yourself.
6. Walking away from stress - I don’t even engage with it. Not at work and not at home. I have massively dialled it back at work……and no one has even noticed! I still get thanked for doing a great job and still get the same pay rise and bonus #GoFigure 🙄
7. Healthy diet whilst still allowing occasional treat. I’ve cut out almost all ultra processed foods and also sauces in a jar because they are loaded with sugar and salt. Lots of salad, veg and chicken and fish. I have oily fish at least twice a week.
Hope this helps
Jigsaw puzzles. Takes your mind off an afib episode. I find it works about as well as any drugs I have tried for restoring sinus.
Anything that reduces anxiety and stress. I usually play my guitar or go to the casino and play cards.
If my a-fib episode isn't a bad one, I'll go outside and do light gardening if weather permits. If indoors, I start cleaning and organizing. I don't know if it's the physical activity or taking my mind off my a-fib, but it's gotten me back to sinus rhythm a number of times. A couple others are laughing (if you can find a reason to do so!) and sneezing.
If you feel safe to do so, then continuing as usual. Nothing can happen to the heart. Nothing will shorten the episode in most cases, I suspect.
Steve
10 minutes of mild aerobic exercise often works. Also all the diet and calming things others mentioned.
Meditation & Visualisation. Rest and Relaxation, calming breathing techniques to destress, hydration, Electrolyte drink, pleasurable distraction - favourite is Audiobook.
For me any activity, even mild, raises HR to unacceptable levels and my BP drops through the floor so I become pre-syncope.
Answers to this thread just goes to show how we all react so very differently.
I stopped having caffeine for about a year and my attacks dropped dramatically. I now have 2 cups of coffee in the morning, then the rest of the day decaffinated tea, lots of water or squash. I also avoid stress and am mindful of escalating anxiety as much as possible.
During an episode, I find mindfulness of breathing meditation or reading/listening to a book and relaxing with my eyes closed helps.
Also helps when I have a vertigo episode (BPPV- inner ear) which can last for days.
I'm buddhist so I actually meditate regularly a couple of times a day for up to an hour anyway which helps both the anxiety and the AFib.
AF triggers
triggers????
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