Controlling Atrial Fibrillation is a challenge that you want to take!

I’m Sherry, I talk a lot about Atrial Fibrillation and stress factors, but I haven’t covered the causes. Age factors into a high risk of stroke, and that can cause stress worrying about a stroke. Sleep deprivation can be another factor in stress related A-Fib. You hear a lot of people and doctors say that you can manage A-Fib with diet and exercise, yes that helps and it’s a win, win, but the truth of it is, it’s our lifestyle. Stress is everywhere! Stress is enormously inflammatory to the body, and most chronic illness arises from long term chronic inflammation.

A few things I’d like to share with you is, I know first-hand how stress is one of the triggers of A-Fib. I’ve had A-Fib the majority of my life and the heart does get tired after all of those years of beating hard and fast. My heart just gave out after 2 ablations failed. I had no other direction or choice but to get a pacemaker implant, so I am grateful for Boston Scientific for making my pacemaker, it will last me 13 years. I’ll let you in on new techniques that will teach you how to control A-Fib.

Controlling A-Fib is definitely a challenge you want to take on. I still have to find ways to manage my stress level when I’m having an A-Fib episode. The new techniques that teach you how to control A-Fib are as simple as breathing, slow, deep long breathes and exhaling slower than you breathed in. You want to get your rhythm down to a slow and relaxed pace.

Just Breathe

When I get stressed out, the first thing I do is start deep breathing and exhaling. I lay down until my heart rate is back to normal. That is one of my triggers. (As an Amazon associate, I earn commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you) Since I bought my #Ad Hydrow rower, it’s been my de-stressor, it’s fun and easy to work out now. All I can come up with is, being thankful for this life I was given, and all the beautiful people in it. I’m thankful every day that I don’t have an episode. Also, thankful to have a pacemaker, I wouldn’t be here without it. Cherish life because we’re on borrowed time with this Affliction. Over 600 people that have A-Fib die each month, A-Fib is the underlying cause of death. Below are some tips for destressing.

Here are ways to manage your stress

There are findings that being happy can hold A-Fib at bay, Negativity triggers it. If you keep a daily log or journal on how you are feeling on that day, what made you happy, or made you mad, sad or had anxiety, then you can pin down the source of your triggers and know how to destress when you’re having an episode. Pardon the pun but please take this to heart.

Bearing down, tightening your heart and stomach muscles while exhaling and holding for 60 seconds (30 seconds if you’re like me and out of breath a lot). can bring your heart back into rhythm. By far the best advice in my opinion is take a vacation!

Experts say…You should take time for yourself, practice meditation, go on vacation, if you have a high stress job, find one that isn’t or learn ways to destress.

• Yoga (Lowers high blood pressure and heart rate)
  

  

• Relaxation techniques (Soothe your mind)
• Eating healthy (What you eat can affect how you feel, never get dehydrated)
• Exercise regularly (Helps with lowering cholesterol)
• Keep a positive attitude (Kick negativity to the curb)
• Deep breathing and exhaling techniques (Could be beneficial to those with A-Fib)
• Find anything that makes you relax (Get a massage)

Stress can make the abnormal electrical activity in your heart more likely to occur

• symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation.
• Heart palpitations
• feeling of the heart racing or beating irregularly
  

  

• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Tiredness
• Reduced ability to be physically active
• Lightheadedness
• dizziness
• Confusion Chest pain

Train your mind to control your body’s responses to internal and external triggers.

Meditation can improve a person’s control of their autonomic nervous system functions, which can stabilize the heart’s rhythm. Yoga teaches calming of the mind, body and soul, be present and be in now. Acupuncture (Alternative medicine), a traditional Chinese medicine approach, may help those with A-fib control their heart rates. Acupuncture involves applying small needles to specific points on the body to promote energy flow.
It really comes down to a personal choice and what each individual feels comfortable doing to reach your goal to knock out stress, or at least some of it.

Practice mindfulness through meditation

Taking time to practice acts of self-care. Prioritize your sleep schedule and reduce your workload if possible. Try low impact exercises like yoga, walking, or tai chi. Cook nutritious meals. Reducing stress in the fast-paced workplace is detrimental to your mental and physical health, but I’m sure you know that already, you’re living it.

High levels of stress can lead to worse health outcomes and increased risk for more severe A-Fib episodes and is essential for finding more natural and holistic ways to approach the management of atrial fibrillation.

Insight

When I get stressed out or any anger or resentment pops up (which is rare, but it happens to everyone), the first thing I do is start deep breathing and exhaling. I lie down until my heart rate is back to normal. That is one of my triggers. But this disease is so gloomy, I’ve been trying to find an upside to its madness.

All I can come up with is, being thankful for this life I was given, and all the beautiful people in it. I’m thankful every day I don’t have an episode. Also, thankful to have a pacemaker, I wouldn’t be here without it. I cherish life every day as we all should. I found a couple of support groups for A Fibbers! I’m going to start my own group in the near future, and you’re all welcome to join! Be very careful on what you drink and eat with this disease.

Magnesium and Atrial Fibrillation

Magnesium deficiency is common, as many people in the United States do not eat enough magnesium in their daily diet. Magnesium is an important mineral that is involved in the coordination of a natural heartbeat and is a key component of the energy molecules needed to keep your heart beating strong. About 99% of total body magnesium is located in bone, muscles and non-muscular soft tissue, whereas only a small amount (1%) is located in your bloodstream at any time. However, when being tested for a magnesium deficiency, the blood concentration is what is commonly tested.

Does magnesium deficiency lead to A-Fib?

The long-term answer is still being studied, but there has been some research that suggests the two may be related. Some people have said it stops their symptoms and I’ve tried it as well. It worked for me the few times I tried it, but my cardiologist has told me not to take magnesium supplements. I should be getting enough nutrition in my daily vitamins. I’ve heard from other doctors that my daily meds take certain vitamins out of your system, so I do take one only when I can’t get my heart back to its normal rhythm, and it works for me.

Like any over the counter supplement, they aren’t as strictly monitored by the FDA and there is no clear clinical trial data that shows any particular supplement or brand of supplement reduces the amount of A-Fib a person has.

I’m going to leave it right here and hope that you know how special you are. Thank you for stopping by my website. If you’d like to leave a comment or have a question, please feel free to leave it below

Wishing you all the best, Sherry.