Interesting piece of research showing the benefits of brisk walking in prevention of heart arrhythmia: theguardian.com/society/202...
This was posted only briefly on the Guardian website and difficult to find again hence I’ve posted the direct link.
Interestingly, a brisk walk for 20 minutes a day is exactly what was recommended by my EP.
That is interesting. My average is 3.9km/hr. Maybe I should try to increase it although it won’t specifically help me I don’t think given my arrhythmias are genetic but it certainly can’t hurt.
Use the BORG scale to ensure that you don't overdo it .
What is the BORG scale?
It's a exertion scale, google it on NHS website as I can't attach a copy in this app.😁
As part of my Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme, I was given a walking exercise which consists of 15 minutes warm up at slow building to medium pace walking, followed by 30 minutes of fast walking for the Cardio part, followed by 10 minutes cool down at slowly reducing pace to bring heart rate back down to normal. To ensure that I don't overdo it I was given a copy of the BORG scale .
Very interesting.I would be inetrested to know what was the target heart rate while you were 'fast walking'? Many thanks
Due to my Age and the fact that I am on a Beta Blocker my target heart rate whilst walking fast is over 92 bpm and under 118 bpm. My resting heart rate is usually between 55 & 60 bpm.
Many thanks
The outcomes of the study were also available somewhere else: Not sure whether it was the BBC or the Times. I read it with a wry smile: I've been a "brisk walker" all my life, but am now a 'brisk walker' with PAF 
I hear ya. I’ve always been very active. Bike or hike, walk every day. Sadly both my labs are gone now, so my walks and hikes are sans pooches, but the result is the same.
But like you, it hasn’t disappeared my PAF, but my Dr tells me that perhaps I protest too much given the frequency and duration of my episodes…4 the last year, the longest being 25 hrs, 1 electrocardioversion, and the rest less than 8 hrs and NSR by themselves. But perhaps it would be more frequent or even permanent if I didn’t walk or ride?
The irony could be, that perhaps my overly athletic youth, could have been what started it in the first place? I’m 70 now, so I have toned it down, but still enjoy a brisk walk. 🙂. I do believe it’s unanimous amongst the medical community that walking period will improve overall health.
My main form of exercise is walking the dog twice a day. Sometimes it has its brisk moments, but mostly it's from one blade of grass to another.
thanks for sharing. Now It would be even a better study on PAF people and review the incidence of AF between those that walked over 4mph and those that were below
Yes done this for 20yrs ever since I had a DVT in my leg. I am sure it helped keep AF away for 11 yrs as well as other issues and so far no leg ulcers despite my GP not diagnosing the clot (in my leg not him 😆) until all the valves were incompetent.
Others may like to note that I use Nordic poles which make it easier to be brisk, improve the health benefits and take a bit of pressure off the knees and hips. Also I am lucky enough to have a Nature trail nearby, which helps reduce my level of anxiety at the start of each day.
what happens if you can’t walk after stroke,! But have solution for massive RLS. Iron tabs, magnesium tabs, and drink tonic water/bitter lemon ( quinine).Gillymar.
Very interesting- thank you for posting
I also saw the article, great advice, and drug free, unfortunately my arthritic knees do not permit brisk walking, only wish they did so have to keep taking the tablets!😣
Been brisk walking since my teens, now 64, i be lucky now if i can do 10-15 minutes without it kicking of my afib.
After my last ablation I wanted something to bridge the gap between walking and running (ie slow shuffle jogging). I did some Nordic walking with poles and just about managed four mph. It was really hard, I was glad to start running as, for me, it felt more intuitive and natural. It's a really fast walk!!!!
cardio exercise at the gym seems to really help as well..you can always modify what they are doing in class...no jumping jacks, etc. I can only seem to get up to 2.6mph walking but it does seem to help. Good article in Guardian. Glad to see this post. Exercise seems to be the answer for many health related woes.
Thank you for sharing!
I’ve made lots of lifestyle changes including losing 18% of body weight, controlling bp and cholesterol, cutting out ultra processed foods, 2-2.5 litres of water daily etc. But I’ve also been really focused on regular exercise.
I used to love my high intensity rowing on my Concept2 rower but since SVT I’ve sadly given it up and embraced steady state power walking. I do 3-4 sessions a week of 10-12K at a fast marching pace of circa 8:30 per km. So each session is 1h 25m to 1h 45m. Lucky to have a Blueway alongside the canal where I live so there are no cars and it’s on the level.
I have always had bradycardia and my resting heart rate is now circa 42 courtesy of dronedarone and bisoprolol. It feels great to move it up to 90-95 for a sustained period. Before the meds that would have been a band of 115-125……but that’s beta blockers for you!
The trick is definitely vigorous pace to raise the heart rate, bit of a sweat but still able to talk to a companion.
Not had SVT in over a year, ectopics are now very rare, health and exercise metrics massively improved, concentration improved and at night I sleep 8 hours of good quality.
EDIT - 8:30s per km is 4.4 mph and 9 min per kph is 4.14 mph which fits the definition of brisk walking in the study
Best wishes
Jezza
Hi, I agree with the idea of brisk walking, problem which there seems little acknowledgement of is what happens if like me you have chronic arthritis in legs and back, now walking even with a stick is hard, so everything becomes slow and an effort.
Sorry! but excericse question 
'Walking off' an AF episode
Walking through treacle!
I took the Needs Assessment 
