lifestyle and AF

Hi john I'm 52, ex smoker after bad af in August, don't drink hard working now back in sinus rhythm cardiologists said could have been my injections for my arthritus it takes my immune system out apparently that's interfered with my ticker beat so if any more af attacks then it's further investigations for me, I was pretty fit before August good thing out of all that happened was I stopped smoking, ps the wife was right it is a stinky habit

I don't have any other medical conditions — just lone paroxysmal afib, which has been getting gradually more intrusive. It started about five years ago, but I only had it "officially" diagnosed in the summer, having been told up until then that there was nothing wrong. I now have episodes several times a week, and I almost always awake to them rather than have them come on during the day. They thankfully last for hours at a time, rather than days. 

I'm of normal weight and I've been running for 30+ years (may be the original source — who knows?) and compete in running and triathlon events. For this reason, I have declined to take any anti-afib medications and I always revert to NSR without intervention. I very rarely take any OTC meds — painkillers, &c.

I eat humungous amounts of veg, fruit, nuts and pulses, &c, no meat, a bit of fish and dairy, drink very little alcohol (it's now a trigger at tiny amounts, sadly), don't drink coffee, don't smoke and manage stress with mindfulness and meditation. I'm taking magnesium and Vit D supplements at the moment as there's evidence to suggest deficiencies may contribute to afib.

I'm on the waiting list for an ablation at the Royal Brompton in London but still undecided about whether to go ahead as it does seem one procedure is rarely enough and surgery anyway does not address the source of the condition, only mediates against its consequences.

I'd love to hear from other amateur athletes about their afib experiences and whether they've gone the ablation route and if so how that's worked out.

Thanks for starting the thread, John. 

Hi John, i agree and so have on other posts, and it has shaped some peoples replies... I have Arrhythmia that may come about as a result of being an elite, in terms of fitness, level athlete  (prof Pearsons work) along with ME and have prinzmetal angina micro and macro vasospasm. lifestyle was very active, non smoker and little amount drinker... just to update on your discussion and as a seconder...

and then computer crashed... now on signing back in i note the later arrival of my reply... sorry all ... so i will 9th it now...

Hi viber.  In 1983 I got seriously back into endurance training and recreational triathlons.  I continued this lifestyle until 1996 when I collapsed from hepatitis C.  I was diagnosed with afib in 2011.   I had suffered from it before but a lot of people thought it was my hep that was making me tired.  I have minimal liver damage. I have followed a triathletes diet for about 30 years or more.  I eat mostly organic, and whole grains, and don't add salt or sugar and don't eat margarine or lard .. I don't have fried foods or Fast Foods.

There is a known association between endurance training and afib!!!  Hu nu!!!  My BP is really low (100/60) and my resting pulse 50.   I had an angiogram and they found a little bit of buildup and I'm on 5mg of Crestor daily.  One side of my family had heart attacks, and the other side had heart failure.  Go figure.!!!   Anyways, I've made it to 65!!  and they say I've got a lot of years ahead.  I want to cure my HCV but many of the medicines trigger afib and so, I was pulled off a clinical trial for my hep because of this... and I was almost cured.  I am too tired to run anymore.. But I do walk when I can and hike when I can.. but I have to take it easy.   CD in Victoria BC

Hi viber, I'm 45, female and newly diagnosed with paroxysmal AF. Looking back this started around 2008 but I was always told there was nothing wrong and I was having panic attacks.  I was having a stressful time back then and confess to binge drinking.  These days the AF has become progressively worse.  I do believe lifestyle is a big factor as does female hormones, I'm at 'that age' and my symptoms are much worse at the same time each month.  Coffee, alcohol and lack of exercise do make me worse sadly.  I try and follow a healthy diet and have noticed on lapsed days I feel terrible.  I have also noticed if I eat fast or eat a large meal I can bring AF on so I try and eat small amounts regularly.  If I do not get a good amount of rest or sleep this too will make my symptoms worse, as a nurse this isn't always easy.  I confess I do smoke but I am awaiting my prescription for patches which worry me as nicotine direct into skin I have heard can make palpitations worse? But I guess this is still better than cigarettes.  I am currently on diltiazem and awaiting referral for pulmonary vein abalation. 

I'm 43 and ever since I had my first son when I was 20 I had irregular heartbeats. In April it will be a year since I had the cath. Heart Ablation and now its getting bad again and I almost wish I didn't have the ablation. It has taken my lifestyle away and made me more depressed and with so much anxiety. I keep telling my EP Dr. its getting bad and he brushes it off as anxiety. I'm going to see a different EP next month. I get up from my desk and go to copy room and my heart races or in the middle of the night it wakes me and then Im miserable the next day. Right before the surgery I went into Tachycardia and they had to restart my heart twice and it was terrible! I'm on so many meds and don't want to live my life like this. I feel bad for anyone who deals with this and how so many Dr.'s try to make you think its stress related...no I get stressed when my heart goes crazy. Good luck to everyone. I have lost so much weight.

Also I might add Im on Vitamin D and magnesium plus anxiety meds. Terrible way to live. Zantac for acid reflux as well. I eat very healthy and excercise.