← Return to Afib Triggers: Mine is my neck or body position, yours?

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@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @akbooks45. I'd like to bring fellow members @dyannne @dsisko @success101 @loli @ryman @jimana @martishka and @predictable into this discussion to see if they notice any particular circumstances that trigger a-Fib.

Akbooks, how long have you had a-fib? What lifestyle choices or changes help you prevent a-fib?

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Replies to "Welcome to Connect, @akbooks45. I'd like to bring fellow members @dyannne @dsisko @success101 @loli @ryman @jimana..."

Any liquor at all and caffeine are particular triggers. I could drink one glass of wine and my pulse would shoot up to 180 and I’d go into afib. Same with caffeine. Stress would be a trigger as well but I could also go into afib simply when watching TV.
I don’t drink at all now and I limit caffeine to an occasional piece of chocolate. I had an ablation in August and all is well, no afib at all. But I still am careful with triggers and don’t drink, watch stress, and limit caffeine.

I really don't know what triggers my a-fib. I wish I could figure that out. I just do the things recommended such as no caffeine, no alcohol, no cough medicines. I keep my weight down. I exercise regularly, go to the gym and work out three times a week, including lifting weights and treadmill, about 1.25 hours a day. I try to live a conscious life avoiding as much drama as I can. I do a lot of art, painting and drawing. I think it's kind of meditative. I can get lost in it. I take my meds religiously.

I have had this for about 7 years now. The only thing I have done is to pay attention to my sleeping and sitting positions.
Postscript
When I took Armour Thyroid replacement, If I missed 1 pill, which I took before bed, my Afib would trigger at about 5am. I consulted a cardiologist about the connection between the thyroid function and Afib but he said "Duh, I don't know nuthin' about the thyroid." I suggested he Google it. When I switched to Synthroid, it is no longer an issue, even if I miss a couple days.

I have chronic a-fib and have noticed that when in sinus rhythm (after 2 ablations and 5 cardioversions) they have all occurred at night and when awakened by the onset, I'm usually on my back. I use my CPAP religiously and the Sleep Center cannot see anything unusual in the output readings from my machine. Conversations with my EP have centered on doing another sleep study and "working" to have me sleep on my back to see if another episode (or the beginning of) can be observed. Have also discussed the lung and heart association with the vagus nerve and how these are so interconnected as being a possible cause.