A-fib and exercise: Health benefits and risks

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat caused by faulty electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart. In people with atrial fibrillation, the heart beats irregularly and often too quickly.

Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) can result in the heart not pumping enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body, which may cause symptoms like heart fluttering, weakness, and dizziness. It may eventually lead to serious complications including stroke and new or worsening heart failure.

Is it safe to exercise with A-fib?

A-fib may reduce a person's ability to exercise. It is generally recommended that people with A-fib do some exercise. However, people with A-fib should consult with their doctor and take proper precautions before starting any exercise program.

In some cases, a heart specialist may not want a person to start or increase an exercise program before treatment for A-fib starts. In other cases, moderate exercise and increases in current routines may be encouraged.

Some general tips for exercising with A-fib include the following:

Increasing exercise slowly

Sudden, drastic increases in exercising can lead to injury. For people who have A-fib, exercise can trigger new heart symptoms or make existing symptoms worse. Instead of starting with high-intensity or long workouts, people with A-fib should start with shorter, lower-intensity workouts. These include walking or riding a bike for 5 to 10 minutes. The key is to build up gradually.

Wearing a heart monitor

Heart monitors have become increasingly popular among fitness professionals and other people who exercise regularly, so they can reach target specific heart rates. For people with A-fib, monitoring their pulse during exercise can be essential to help reduce the risk of flares caused by exercise. People with A-fib should talk to their doctor who can recommend the best heart rate for them when exercising.

Staying vigilant

People with A-fib should remain aware of their symptoms while exercising. If symptoms start to flare, they should stop their workout. Pain, extreme fatigue, and an inability to catch one's breath are all reasons to cut a workout short.

Safety tips and recommendations
Exercising with A-fib can be a very important lifestyle change. However, because A-fib is related to the heart, it is important to take safety tips very seriously.
The best exercise routine involves moderate exercise. This type of exercise is one at a level where people are able to talk during the activity but not able to sing.

Some safety tips include:

·         warming up properly

·         staying hydrated during exercise

·         stopping exercise due to pain, extreme fatigue, or other signs of an A-fib flare up

·         easing into exercise

·         keeping exercise moderate to light

·         not exercising too much

·         keeping weights lighter when lifting and avoiding grunting through or holding breath while lifting

·         considering interval training consisting of periods of moderate exercise, followed by rest

·         stretching and cooling down

·         wearing safety equipment during exercises that warrant it

Safety equipment is particularly important for people taking blood-thinning medication who may get injured and bleed more heavily.

It's crucial for people with A-fib to set realistic exercise goals to help them stay safe and achieve a healthful lifestyle within the parameters of the condition. A doctor can help set realistic exercise goals and make more specific recommendations for people with A-fib who want to exercise.
Exercising with A-fib does carry some degree of risk. However, the benefits of exercise generally outweigh the risk.
People with A-fib who do exercise may experience a flare of symptoms. Typically, symptoms might flare with more intense exercise. These symptoms can include:

·         racing heart

·         dizziness

·         faintness

·         extreme fatigue

In some cases, people with A-fib may experience pain when exercising. If this occurs, the person should stop exercise immediately and seek medical attention.

For people using blood thinners, the results of an injury are potentially more severe. A cut, scrape, or fall could result in more excessive, uncontrolled bleeding.

 Source: Medical News Today