Controlling AFIB and hot weather

Posted by welder1 @welder1, 4 days ago

I have had AFIB for five years. It is not persistent. Heat is a major trigger for me. I can't ignore it. This is about how I manage AFIB in hot weather while continuing to do outside activity. I hope this can help someone else live a better life while managing AFIB.

When the original event happened, I was mowing a pasture all day with a tractor and bush hog. It was mid 80's and humid. The attack began later that evening and was serious enough to go to the emergency room. After several days of tests, no specific reason was found and no heart damage was observed.

I am an outside person. Working outside and sweating is enjoyable. Since AFIB, that has had to be modified. At first I attempted to find the limits for ways to work in hot temperatures. Too many episodes. Next I limited myself to a heat index of 85F in the sun and 95F in the shade or shop. That was better but still too many events. Now I pay attention to what my body tells me. When my body says it is time to quit, I quit. Looking for a better pattern to follow, I noted that when my body tells me that it is getting too hot, it pretty well follows the wet bulb 75F temperature scale. The wet bulb seems to work because the higher the humidity, the less cooling from evaporation of perspiration.

I find this allows me to work outside for several hours every day before the temperature and humidity force me to go inside where it is cool. I look forward to the fall and winter months when high daytime temperatures are below 75F.

There are various charts which give various wet bulb scales. This is what I follow. This works for me and hopefully will be helpful for someone else.

Temperature (F°) and Humidity
for approx 75° Wet Bulb.

(°F) (%Humidity)
75 99
76 95
78 87
80 80
82 72
84 65
86 59
88 52

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

nursemary25 | @nursemary25 | 1 day ago

I am now living with AF. Five years ago I had an episode triggerred by pain from a post op total knee replacement. I got under control from this with in hospital treatment with esmolol. I got sent home in NSR and have been controlled ever since with diltiazem and metoprolol and xarelto , with no problems , until three days ago. I had a good gym workout,(PLANET FITNESS) recumbent stationary bike, and upper body weight routine. I walked out of the gym and was so short of breath, I didn't know if I would make it back to my car. so scary. I'm now wearing a holter monitor until Monday, taking an extra dose of diltiazem 30 mg tablets three times a day. I wonder now, if I can or should go back to gym to workout. What do most of you all do?

basgal | @basgal | 14 hours ago

In reply to @sjm46 "I found your comments very informative; I do think that there are "triggers" for A-fib and..." + (show)

@sjm46

I found your comments very informative; I do think that there are "triggers" for A-fib and I have blamed some of them on the list of lifestyle changes that can be made. I gave up caffeine, avoided alcohol, limited chocolate, made certain that I didn't get over-heated or dehydrated and, like you, tried to tone down the stress and anxiety, exercised regularly and took my meds! Well, I had three episodes of A-fib in May about a week apart; one was so distressing I went to the ER where I cardioverted on my own for some unknown reason. I was hooked up to the monitor and the doctor watched as I "flat-lined" for 3.2 seconds and then went back to NSR. Fast forward: I made an appointment with an electrophysiologist to beg for an ablation, but I had a trip to France scheduled before then, so I decided I'd just have to risk it. My husband was injured while on vacation; he broke 3 ribs and had a pneumothorax. After the chest drainage tube was removed, we were forbidden to fly home for at least 2 weeks! We speak no French, we were no longer with our tour group, we had no place to stay and we lost our airfare home--no refunds! The good news is that we had travel insurance and they took very good care of us, covering medical expenses and lodging, plus tickets to home. Now the point of this story: I had to drink regular coffee (no decaf available), I drank an occasional wine, my exercise was walking everywhere in very warm weather to the grocery store, the pharmacy, the hospital and the laundramat, had sleepless nights! I had stress up the whazoo from all the worries about him, where to stay, transportation, medical bills and what was going on at home. And you know what? I never missed a beat! My A-fib was non-existent for the whole 30 days we were there in France. Now I don't know what a "trigger" for me really is?! I met with the electrophysiologist and he suggested I try an anti-arrhythmic first before I have an ablation, which I tend to agree with. He says the triggers are a crapshoot and that there is no predictable way to tell what sets someone off. I find these group chats extremely helpful and I hope my story will give someone else hope and helpful information.

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Thank You! This information gives me hope. As I continue to problem solve my own Afib it seems my "control freak" attitude isn't my friend. I am currently experiencing Afib events for the past three days. Making journal entries on what i am doing, eating, stress triggers, etc. Your trip to France and experiences were another lesson for me. Thank You for sharing your story. Heart Hugs

drherm | @drherm | 12 hours ago

In reply to @suerte "My one and only (at least to my knowledge) episode of Afib was in December. I..." + (show)

Could you tell us more about your fence? So relevant that

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