Hi all, I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience to me ....... For the past year I have been having increased palpitations, some days as low as 20 or 30 and some days 300 plus, plenty of thuds and thumps. I've experienced these for quite a few years, they were much reduced by a cryoablation in September 2018 but recently started to become a problem again.Then about 6 weeks ago I bought a exercise bike, started gradually and now doing 10 klm every other day which takes about 25mins, not going mad just a steady pace my pulse getting to about 100bpm. For the past three weeks my heart had been like a swiss watch, never missed a beat! It's never as long as I can remember been so peaceful in my chest, silent.
I don't quite know what's happening to be honest, of course I'm pleased but I would imagine it won't last forever as my ticker has been a problem for 30 years but I'm just enjoying the current good fortune.
I thought I would ask has anyone else found cardio exercise to have a positive effect for irregular heartbeat at all? I've always stayed healthy walking and watching my diet but this is the first time in many years I've done specific cardio exercise. Thanks Dave.
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djbgatekeeper
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Yes, I think the heart responds well to moderate regular exercise.
I have done a brisk mile walk with nordic poles every morning for 20 years and am pretty sure it has helped to keep AF at bay.
After 11 yrs AF free since diagnosis, I am currently having to re-assess all activities (but the walking stays) as now getting what I think is Flutter.
I may be wrong as haven't researched it from members replies on the topic here yet. Can only say in the past I found AF stopped me in my tracks, whereas now I can keep going albeit with an unpleasant 'butterflies' type experience.
Are the flutters constant or do they subside when you have a rest? … If this is the case I think it might be ectopics. Really think about breathing through your nose only when you walk and out of nose if possible. Controlled and slower no need to do huge breaths, just gentle deep breaths. Since reading James Nestor’s book I have a more controlled HR through exercise. Mind you could be the drugs too 😆
Exercise is absolutely one of the best 'treatments' if not a cure. Though it means tailoring it to your condition and capability.
I found walking a hundred or so metres more each day after an AF caused stroke was the only thing that began to result in my return to health and now some years later, and with permanent or persistent AF, I have recently been able to adopt episodes of bursts of walking as quickly as I possibly can for around 60 paces on my daily 45 minute walk of a couple of kilometres.
This seems to be working in giving me an increase in my aerobic reserves and stamina, and I am amazed and delighted I can do it after years of finding completing the walk very much a struggle.
Whatever kind of exercise works for you, and that you can do without it making your condition worse, then do it! It's the way our bodies are made to work and look after themselves.
funnily enough I’ve not been to my netball session for a few weeks due to knee problems. The last week I’ve been feeling very jittery with HR up and down. I was in two minds whether I should go last Thursday but thought I’ll just see how I go. My HR immediately shot to 130 during warm up but I carried on and during the session rose to 167. I stopped early as I didn’t want it to go higher. After I felt much better and seemed to have stopped the palpitations. I wondered if there was a connection
Yes there's definitely an effect from the exercise, it's just working out what suits you best. For the first time in years I feel normal, I'm just hoping it lasts 🤞 Good luck with the netball, it sounds like you are benefitting from that too 👍
yes Dave exercise but not over strenuous in my case helps as well and I’ve not had too many ectopics since I got my indoor bike about 18 months ago. Like you 2 or 3 times a week around 10km’s and at same time I have a screen and get to your the world on my rides! I also do reformer Pilates once or twice a week. At the end of the day I see it as a combo of good diet, not overeating, focusing on nasal breathing only and better sleep also helps. Mind you when I get slack or busy I tend to forget the bike and that’s when I can get a few bumps of the heart.
I’m a fit 71 year old with a heart in good shape apart from the AF. My 30-45 minute PAF bouts (at 200 bpm - or 175 bpm after starting Bisoprolol) were triggered when I relaxed after sprinting too strenuously on the rowing machine. Biking for warm up usually raises my heart rate to 125bpm. After discussion with cardiologist I stopped Bisoprolol altogether and am currently rowing steadily for 4 x 90 second reps with 90 second rests, which raises peak heart rate at the end of the final rep to max 150bpm (exercising twice a week at the gym) rather than forcing it any higher. Thus far feeling much better off the beta blocker and no PAF episodes (touch wood!). My takeaway is that it’s good to keep exercising regularly at moderate rates, tailoring it to your particular circumstances.
I agree. I do interval training nearly every day, and various lesser exercise things, and my ectopics and pAF are not a problem anymore. (I also changed my diet, reduced medicines etc, but if you're already in good health, that wouldn't matter).
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