Atrial Fibrilation & Exercise

[JamboJaiket1]

Hello! I just wanted to share my story here. I'm in my mid-40s and have had paroxysmal Atrial Fibrilation since early 30s. When I get AF, it never goes away on it's own. The only thing I know which gets it back to sinus rhythm is strenuous exercise. Either a run, jog, or brisk hillwalking- something which gets you pouring with sweat! This has worked for me since day 1, even though the Cardiologist I saw seemed puzzled at this. Recently though, doing such activities has frequently made me feel extremely panicky, faint, light-headed and have an impending sense of doom. Sometimes quite frightening, and I can only assume this related to my condition. This has been a real game-changer for me. I am told my heart is structurally normal. I go for tests, get referred, and it's always the same story - everything looks ok. Just be careful what your doing, don't overdo it, etc. etc. I've been on Bisoprolol and Aspirin for 15 years. There's no monitoring of my condition or anything, just keep taking the pills forever. Put me on Flecanide tablets once but that did nothing. Does any of this sound familiar / normal? I would really like to know more about my condition and what is going on. It's very depressing, especially as I am otherwise an active outdoors person, but I feel that being increasingly under threat.

[Malayabalaya]

Hiya Has your Cardiologist ever recommended an ablation for your AF? Not everyone is suitable but it’s usually a permanent solution. All best

[JamboJaiket1 in reply to Malayabalaya]

Hi! No-one I've seen has ever recommended any kind of procedure. I get the feeling they're reluctant and it's something that might have to come from me. Thanks - it's something I can always ask more about anyway.

[jeanjeannie50]

This is just my personal opinion but I believe that strenuous exercise when in a high rate of AF will either kill or cure. Gentle exercise probably ok.

Just out of interest what does your heart rate go up to when in AF?

Jean

[JamboJaiket1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean

It's certainly been more on the 'cure' side, at least until now. But I get the feeling I might need to keep a careful eye on this and watch what I'm doing. My heart used to race before I was diagnosed and put on Bisoprolol - that was the first symptom I had before irregular beats ever started. Since being on the Beta Blockers it doesn't go up any more, just the irregular beats.

[Ppiman]

As your heart is otherwise sound, this sounds as if your blood pressure is falling more than it used to in response to the arrhythmia, and possibly in response to the high rate it induces. This can precipitate what seems like a panic response, hence those weird feelings. I think a talk with your GP is called for, but I don't think it will prove to be of any concern although I imagine you might well be told to exercise differently.

In my own case, I wasn't diagnosed with atrial arrhythmias until my mid 60s in 2019, but I have had quite a few of what were labelled "panic attacks" since my mid 30s. In fact, the first time I knew that I had atrial flutter, the symptoms were of a panic attack and exactly those you describe. Until 2019, these had all been put down to anxiety, and I am quite sure that played its part, but I never could really understand it. Now, the cardiologist I see has said the panic attacks were much more likely undiagnosed paroxysmal atrial arrhythmia. That makes such sense now given how and when those attacks used to come on, often when there was no apparent anxiety at all leading up to the "panic".

Steve

[JamboJaiket1 in reply to Ppiman]

Hi Steve, that's very interesting, thanks! I guess no two cases are the same. Like I see those adverts for Kardia Mobile to check for AF - it's always puzzled me because I'm always acutely aware when I'm in AF, the feeling and fluttering is unmistakeable, even though I didn't know the correct terminology to begin with. When I first saw someone about it though, they were unsure as well, and also put it down to some kind of panic attack.

[Ppiman in reply to JamboJaiket1]

I shall never know now whether my "panic" was arrhythmia. I suspect strongly that it was. I am a gadget-minded chap, so I use my Kardia equivalents daily, alongside my Apple Watch. It's amazing how much of what feels like "AF" isn't that but another arrhythmia or multiple ectopic beats. The AF itself tends to be at a higher rate than any of these, though, but even that has slowed over the last year - very thankfully and fingers crossed.

Steve.

[Rainfern]

Hi Jambo, it sounds like you’ve been managing the Afib really well. However, I think a noticeable change in what works or not for you does warrant a good long chat with an Electrocardiologist (EP). You will only get a good long chat with all your questions answered if you go for a private consultation unfortunately. Cost £200 - £300. An EP can give you a full update on all the treatment options available to you and tailor treatment according to your condition and lifestyle. If your quality of life is being affected, which it clearly is, then you can also be put on a NHS waiting list for an appropriate procedure. It sounds like the AF has entered a new phase and it’s always good to have second opinions. Good luck!

[JamboJaiket1 in reply to Rainfern]

Thank you. Yes I do have private healthcare through my work, and did see a Cardiologist through that some years ago. I think it might be time to try and go back. Cheers!

[Martgai]

Hi, I have been on Bisoprolol for many years. I had been diagnosed with AF and 2 years ago I had a successful ablation. I was taking warfarin as an anticoagulant (I was told never to take aspirine). After the ablation I was put on Edoxaban 30 mg instead. At that time I was also taking Flecanide which helped with the AF episodes but I was told to stop taking it when I had the ablation. Now I only get some ectopics but nothing drastic, just for a minute or two and they say that ectopics are nothing to worry about. I'm still on Bisoprolol 5 mg. Sometimes I feel lightheaded and because I have read that this might be a side effect of the drug I have stopped taking it for 2 or 3 days but then my blood pressure goes up, so I start taking it again. So I can't really say anything bad about Bisoprolol, it's just a pain that I will probably have to be kept on it for the rest of my life. Ablations do not work for everyone, some people have to have it done more than once. I have been lucky, it worked for me. You might like to ask your cardiologist about an ablation, it might work for you too. All the best.

[JamboJaiket1 in reply to Martgai]

Thanks, definitely sounds like something to ask about!