Heart rate

[Rachelanx50]

Hi , I'm hoping someone can help. I've been having palpatations all morning with some ectopics. Heart rate has been jumping from averages of 69 to 98bpm constantly took 2.5mg bisoprolol arond 10.30am don't really know what to do if anything oh and I was taken off flecanide 3 days ago as they weren't suiting me

[Palpman]

I'm sorry to hear you are having ectopic beats and are concerned about them. Speak to your GP about addressing your anxiety issues you have and you may feel that the ectopics diminish or you may feel less anxious when they happen.

[Rachelanx50 in reply to Palpman]

Thanks palpman I'm going to see if i can speak to him tomorrow the constant jumping around in my chest is really hard to ignore

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Rachel

Rates of 60-100bpm are considered normal. How are you feeling having them going up and down constantly?

The following are some natural remedies for stopping an irregular heart rate that I've collected over the years from the Atrial Fibrillation forum on Health Unlocked:

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I am a therapist in private practice for over 20yrs.One of my therapies is yoga based. Having quite an accurate knowledge of anatomy, neurology and physiology also having PAF I have found this technique helps me immensely when my heart is fluttering like crazy. Make yourself comfortable either on a bed or lying on the floor, position a pillow under you head, Raise your left arm in an extension position as if you are doing the backward crawl. Stretch as much as you can and imagine that it is stretching your heart muscle...I bend my arm and position my hand under my head palm upwards.. Stay in that position for as long as you can or until the fluttering subsides...At the same time I think of something pleasant. It does not matter what you think about as long as it is a pleasant thought for you. This stops my heart jumping about almost instantly....I also place my right hand over my heart area...Don't panic and just keep calm thinking pleasant thoughts....I do hope this helps you. Kind Regards. C

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As someone else who finds yoga breathing and some positions helpful, I would love to try (xxxx) suggestion, but lying down flat tends to make things worse for me. My most helpful position, taught me by a lovely yoga teacher, is based on a yoga forward bend. I sit up with my legs outstretched in front of me and a pillow under my knees, and then bend forward from the hips not the waist, with my arms relaxed but outstretched towards my ankles, and breath deeply and slowly. It's not so good on a full stomach and is more comfortable with your knees slightly apart, and I guess you have to be a bit flexible to find it comfortable, but it has proved to be a great help.

I agree with (xxxx) that staying calm and focusing on something pleasant is a must, and I've even fallen asleep like this as most of my episodes occur at night. All the best Liz

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Finally, like AV nodal re-entry, some people have recurrent rapid rhythms that are infrequent and easy to self-control by using various methods to increase neural slowing to the AV node (so-called, "vagal manoeuvrers"). Using these manoeuvres, one can sometimes stop the arrhythmia. These manoeuvres include:

Bearing down forcefully like you're having a bowel movement for 5-10 seconds, then slowly exhaling in the neck while lying down for approximately 5 seconds

Placing very cold (soaked in ICE water) cloth on the face abruptly.

Coughing forcefully

Rubbing the carotid artery (only one side at a time, never both)

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There's a yoga breathing exercise that has worked for me before. Lie on your back, bend your knees up so they are above your hips and your lower legs are at 90 degrees. Take a breath in for a count of 4 then breathe out for a count of at least 8. As you breathe out, bring your knees into your chest so you curl into a ball. When you think you've got all the air out of your lungs, try and breathe out more! Breathe in again for 4 and release your legs out to the starting position. Repeat several times. It helps to reset the diaphragm and focus should be on a good long out-breath.

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So, after discovering that making myself sneeze stops Afib. I have discovered another novel way to stop an attack. It involves drinking a litre bottle of water while holding my nose. It's especially effective if I experience almost panic as I can't get a breath. I don't always finish the bottle but find that's not always necessary to gain the desired effect. Works especially well if I catch an attack early. Kenny

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Please let me know if any of these procedures work.

Jean

[Rachelanx50 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean i feel dizzy and weak but have done for around 3 weeks i thought it was flecanide side affects so was taken off them four days ago it's made no difference thanks for the yoga alternatives i will give it a go

[jeanjeannie50]

How are you now Rachel,any relief from your heart rate jumping around?

[Rachelanx50 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hiya Jean, it seems to have settled down abit it's definitely not as bad as it was earlier I'm just on pins all the time I think a call to my gp tomorrow would be a good idea for my anxiety thanks for asking xx

[jeanjeannie50]

That's good to hear that your heart rhythm has calmed down a bit. I guess you know that anxiety feeds AF? The sooner you can take your mind off of what your heart is doing, the better. I've had AF for 18 years and it took me a long time to realise that I was making my attacks far worse by being scared silly by them. It isn't easy not to fret when you're fairly new to AF, but the more you can take your mind off of it the better you will be. This is why a lot of people revert back to normal sinus rhythm within minutes/hours of getting to A&E, they feel safe and looked after there.

Yes, definitely a good idea to talk to your GP about your feeling dizzy. That certainly isn't right. What are you measuring your heart rate with. Once when using an arm BP machine my heart rate looked fairly normal, but I felt so dreadful and had to fight to keep conscious, so dialled 999. They came and again at my wrist my heart rate looked normal but an ECG showed it at 3 times my normal rate. The paramedics who came had never seen that before, but the consultant I saw in hospital had.

I will never trust a machine again now, only my stethoscope. It's no wonder that doctors walk around with them around their neck.

Let me know how you get on with your GP please.

Jean

[Rachelanx50 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean I use a Kardia mobile it always shows normal sinus rythem i havnt been in AF as far as I know for almost a year i reverted back myself after been in AF for 7 months straight iv got a cardiology appointment on 12 June so I'm writing everything down to ask not expecting much from my hospital though they are without a cardiologist as both of them have left but definitely will speak to my gp tomorrow i will let you know how I get on xx

[Singwell]

Rachel, this is my breathing exercise for ectopics. The goal is to slow your breathing rate down to 6 breaths a minute. Sit or lie comfortably so that your tummy can move easily when you breathe in. If you're lying down, this is easier on your left side.

2. Take a breath in.slowly through your nose. I usually count a slow 2. Let your tummy relax when you do this so it moves out gently.

3. There is a natural pause for most people after the inbreath

Try to tune into it but don't force it.

4. Let the breath out again all in one go - don't worry that you'll be out of breath - there's always air in the lungs right up until our last moments

5. Don't be surprised if you feel like another pause after the outbreath but again - don't force it. Keep tuning in either to the feel of the air moving through your nostrils or the sound.

6. If you need to breathe out through your mouth purse your lips slightly as it helps to feel the breath and know we're in charge of it.

6. Repeat.

Typically your breathing rate will calm and slow down. You may even feel like you're about to drop off to sleep.

This technique is one of many used by breath practitioners to help calm our systems and regulate breathing. I have often got my HR down by 15-20 BPM using this technique and sometimes seen my AF off. Also helps me if I cannot go to sleep