Controlling AFIB and hot weather

Posted by welder1 @welder1, 6 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 | 3 days 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 | 2 days 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.

Jump to this post

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 | 2 days 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

sjm46 | @sjm46 | 1 day ago

In reply to @nursemary25 "I am now living with AF. Five years ago I had an episode triggerred by pain..." + (show)

I wouldn't presume to tell you what you should do, but I went to the gym almost every day that I was in A-fib after I was diagnosed. It seemed to make me feel better but my pulse was rarely over 110, so working out just made it feel "right" somehow. I found the elliptical machine too exhausting on some days but the treadmill was always tolerable. I think everyone is different in this A-fib condition. My advise, consult your cardiologist; mine never told me I couldn't exercise. Good luck!

gdonoghue | @gdonoghue | 1 day ago

I am new to this community chat and to heart issues and I found this discussion of afíb helpful in so many ways. Thank you all.

gloaming | @gloaming | 1 day ago

In reply to @nursemary25 "I am now living with AF. Five years ago I had an episode triggerred by pain..." + (show)

When I was getting AF, my wife knew it right away because I would start belching and I'd have to get up and walk up and down our hallway while she watched TV. So, moving around usually offers enough distraction that you won't feel quite so symptomatic.
AF is not lethal. It CAN lead to other complications but that takes time and in a LOT OF AF, several hours each day. As long as you self-correct, then it means you're paroxysmal, and that's the easiest stage to manage...usually. We all vary. However, before your AF progresses to persistent and long-standing persistent, the next two stages, you should consult an electrophysiologist about an ablation. Contrary to what some might feel, or think, or read, or hear....ablation is now considered to be the 'gold standard' of care for AF. If successful, it can keep your heart from remodeling itself and from developing the later problems, often for many years. Not only that, no AF = no symptoms, and that's what tends to make our lives so miserable. So, my advice is to read a lot, watch videos about ablation and AF in general, and consult an EP as soon as you can.

nursemary25 | @nursemary25 | 1 day ago

In reply to @sjm46 "I wouldn't presume to tell you what you should do, but I went to the gym..." + (show)

Thank you for listening. . I haven’t seen my cardiologist, only have a holter monitor on for three days. The cardiologist gave me this when I complained of severe shortness of breath that I get normal in a few minutes when I sit down. The office sends it away and they let me know what the results are. I have stationary biked and lifted medium weight for years. This 76 yr old girl needs to keep moving. I have an appointment in a month with cardiology ( a PA). Thanks for reading.

sjm46 | @sjm46 | 1 day ago

In reply to @nursemary25 "Thank you for listening. . I haven’t seen my cardiologist, only have a holter monitor on..." + (show)

Well, this 79 year old "girl" hears you loud and clear. We have to keep moving and living our lives to the best of our abilities. Any exercise is worthy! And I was worried that at my age if I needed an ablation, they would say that I am too old for the procedure. However, my appointment with an electrophysiologist was very reassuring. He told me that age was not a factor and if I needed one, he would certainly approve it! So don't get discouraged. I had an arrhythmia for four weeks on blood thinner until I got cardioverted and I am doing pretty well so far. Lifestyle changes may help but they are also not the complete answer. Just take care of yourself and don't let age define your quality of life!

nursemary25 | @nursemary25 | 1 day ago

In reply to @sjm46 "Well, this 79 year old "girl" hears you loud and clear. We have to keep moving..." + (show)

Thank you. Same back for you. We will.

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