Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: How do you monitor?

I didn't think about exercise putting one in AFib..

I just had my first episode of AFib that sent me to the ER. During the 4hrs there I realized that I didn’t have symptoms once my hr got down to the 130’s-140’s. It makes me realize that the fleeting flutters I’ve had in the past were probably more than I realized at the time.
I converted to sinus rhythm after a bag of lactated ringers so I didn’t get any meds. Today I have a slight headache and some brain fog and fatigue.

@blanche123 it might be the other way around: when your afib stops, your heart rate might go down!

Have you worn a monitor or do you have a Kardia or Smart Watch? It will be good for you to find out if the "flutters" are related to afib.

You said they did not give you any meds, so I assume they did not suggest a blood thinner after the one episode, right?

@janetg -- Good morning, J.

Very surprised you don't detect an HR of 120 to 154. I'd guess nearly everyone would sense that fast a rhythm... whether in AFib or in sinus. Many might at least describe it as a jitteriness, an "anxious-ness," a "nervous feeling," or even feel their chest pulsing -- some folks feel their heart beat in their ear when they lay on the left side.

Anyway, if you don't feel it, then you might wanna check several times during the day, and then take the beta blocker, or whatever your doc has suggested for you.

Sustained rates over 100 bpm (and certainly around 154 bpm) when you're not exercising, physically working, "happily excited," etc. may eventually lead to heart failure. If these rates start to occur on a routine or daily basis, which your EP can periodically check via a Holter monitor, he / she may wish to script a regular, daily dose for you.

All the best!

/LarryG

Mine happens an hour or more after exercise when I’m back home in the recliner. It’s like my heart gets confused when I’m not exercising or something

I’ve also noticed that my max heart rate is about the same going for a walk as it is during moderate cardio exercise.

I never feel that I am in A-fib, but the tests confirm it. I am on a Blood thinner and Dofetilide, 2 a day of each.

I love to swing dance and have found it to be a good all around exercise besides lots of fun. I do know enough to stop and take breaks when my heart tells me to..I recently met with my cardiologist who had planned to do a stress test. When he asked what I had been doing, I told him about the swing dancing. He said, “That’s your stress test.”

I have read advice saying (among other things) that exercise
can be a good way to handle Afib. Seems to help!

(Other ways are drinking a glass of ice water fast and learning to take deep abdominal breaths to trigger a "vagal response".)

Supposedly, the vagus nerve is key in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system which is operative in triggering and turning off an Afib response.

New to the group.. when you speak of 4 or 5 hour-episode of Afib, does that mean a continuous fast heart rate? I joined this group to understand the difference between Afib and PVCs/PACs. I've read that the treatment is not the same.
I appreciate your thoughts.

Hi mb28,
Here is a link explaining the different types of arrhythmias.
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia

I have experienced most of them over the past three years - some with symptoms and some without. My AFib episodes are typically fast and can be a short burst during an exercise session or longer (heart rate 100- 170) The Apple Watch flags them as Afib. A Cardiologist or Cardiac Electrophysiologist (EP) interprets the rhythm abnormality on an ECG, Holter or Event Monitor. I see an EP doc. Uncontrolled rhythm disturbances over time can cause heart failure. My heart failure is mild and I continue to work on lifestyle changes by following the guidelines in the book “AFib Cure”. I am getting better and I recently decreased my Flecainide dose. I hope to go back to “pill in the pocket” med dosing.