Atrial fibrillation and cycling

[ColinJ]

I've had the occasional flutter over the last twenty years; maybe ten times per year. Cutting out coffee and alcohol helped and reducing my salt intake has made a big difference and now I can go months with no symptoms.

I had forgotten that alcohol used to sometimes give me the flutters. I haven't drunk any for 10 years so that has helped.

I drink 2 mugs of coffee most afternoons. I don't know if giving those up would help with the occasional flutters that I still get. I don't get enough flutters to be able to notice a reduction immediately so I would have to have a couple of flutter-free months before I was sure. Maybe I will try. The thing is... I like drinking the coffee!

 

[All uphill]

I had forgotten that alcohol used to sometimes give me the flutters. I haven't drunk any for 10 years so that has helped.

I drink 2 mugs of coffee most afternoons. I don't know if giving those up would help with the occasional flutters that I still get. I don't get enough flutters to be able to notice a reduction immediately so I would have to have a couple of flutter-free months before I was sure. Maybe I will try. The thing is... I like drinking the coffee!

Me too! I miss the coffee; dark chocolate and cocoa are my replacement addictions

 

[presta]

I take a 350 mg aspirin daily.

My GP put me on aspirin when I was diagnosed, and cardiology quickly took me off it again.
A read of the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation will show you why:

"Aspirin monotherapy was ineffective for stroke prevention compared with no antithrombotic treatment and was associated with a higher risk of ischaemic stroke in elderly patients. Overall, antiplatelet monotherapy is ineffective for stroke prevention and is potentially harmful, (especially amongst elderly AF patients), whereas DAPT is associated with a bleeding risk similar to OAC therapy. Hence, antiplatelet therapy should not be used for stroke prevention in AF patients."

 

[Jameshow]

I had forgotten that alcohol used to sometimes give me the flutters. I haven't drunk any for 10 years so that has helped.

I drink 2 mugs of coffee most afternoons. I don't know if giving those up would help with the occasional flutters that I still get. I don't get enough flutters to be able to notice a reduction immediately so I would have to have a couple of flutter-free months before I was sure. Maybe I will try. The thing is... I like drinking the coffee!

Last week I had no coffee for a day due to deli belly, I was goosed by 9.30pm!!

 

[presta]

I drink 2 mugs of coffee most afternoons. I don't know if giving those up would help

"In this large, prospective, population-based community cohort study of more than 300 000 participants, each additional daily cup of coffee was associated with a 3% reduced risk of developing an arrhythmia; these associations were not significantly modified by genetic variants that affect caffeine metabolism. A mendelian randomization study leveraging a polygenic score to capture inherited caffeine metabolism patterns did not reveal evidence that caffeine consumption increases the risk of incident arrhythmias."

"Many clinicians continue to counsel patients with atrial or VAs to avoid all caffeinated beverages, particularly coffee, despite an absence of evidence to support this approach. If, in individual cases where a clear temporal association between arrhythmia episodes and caffeine intake is apparent, then avoidance is sensible. Large-scale population-based studies and randomized controlled trials suggest coffee and tea are safe and may even reduce the incidence of arrhythmia."

 

[ColinJ]

Yay... The coffees are on me!

 

[12boy]

I saw this thread pop up and had some new info ....in March I had a "Watchman" procedure. Apparently on the upper left chamber of the heart there is a little structure that fills with blood but due to the AFIB doesn't empty properly and is the source of virtually stroke causing clots. The Watchman inserts a tiny umbrella like device into the structure, preventing blood from entering it. After 3-4 months the heart muscle grows over it. After a successful procedure the likelyhood of a stroke is about the same as when taking Xarelto or Plavix which are a couple of warfarin alternatives, which I was taking after age 72. I now only take one 81 mg aspirin daily and don't have to worry about bruising, bleeding from injuries, and brain bleeds anymore. I really did not like being on blood thinners and am glad I don't have to anymore.

 

[Rickgas]

I’ve had occasional palpitations for years, usually by the time I put my finger on artery it’s gone. In January lasted 7 hrs( irregularly irregular). Got ECG, A fib. Electrophysiology Doc put me on Eliquis. I told him I ride a lot and do biking vacations. He told me just stop Eliquis for a couple days before ride. I bought ECG monitor. Admittedly not monitoring 24/7. Usually monitor while on Spin bike or just randomly an hour or 3 per day. M
Have not see any A fib since that initial episode. Still it could occur(asymptomatic) and not have symptoms. Had ECHO and Stress test , both normal. Had Coronary Stent in 2012, no issues since. On ASA and Amlodipine and Crestor. Supposed to take daily Eliquis.
Risk with Eliquis is bleeding, esp. occult bleed with falls. Intracranial could be devastating, joints could be unfortunate also.
Risk of not taking Eliquis in face of AFib is Stroke(devastating). How long should one have continuous Heart Rhythm monitoring( Holter, Loop recorder) before determination made on need for Eliquis?
How much AFib present to indicate need for Eliquis?