Activity trackers are fantastic. They give us the ability to track our distance, pace, heart rate, calories and so much more. All of this helps us understand how our bodies respond to exercise and can lead us down a path to better health. When deciding which type of tracker to purchase there are many factors to consider. Recently, I made the decision to add a chest-based HR monitor to my workouts in addition to my Apple Watch. I’ll explain why. 

First let me say I love my Apple Watch. It tracks my steps, overall movement & activity, provides me with deep insights and motivation. However there are some instances where the device falls short – in particular when I’m exercising. Like many people, my typical exercise routine consists primarily of running and weight training. When I run I always bring along my faithful four-legged running companion. Most of us who have dogs walk/run with leash in their left hand, which also happens to be the side that most of us wear our watches. The act of  gripping  the leash greatly interferes  with my heart rate signal, and often when I return from my runs and review my data my heart rate numbers are blank. This is often the case when holding any item while running: water bottles, gel packs, jogging strollers etc.  The lack of quality heart rate  readings can be problematic especially when I’m trying to train in a specific heart rate zone. 

So what’s the solution? You can pair a chest based HR monitor to your watch and  have the monitor collect your heart rate data as opposed to your watch. When I started doing this my heart rate data came in perfectly clear, and it allowed me to analyze it  to determine whether or not I’m training in the correct zone. 

Now let’s talk about weight training. Surprisingly enough I typically get a better heart rate reading from my Apple Watch when I weight train, however there’s a different issue I encounter with my watch during those workouts. My watch just seems to get in the way during many lifts. The buttons accidentally get pushed which either stops my workout, shuts off the watch and on one occasion even dialed emergency services! I still want to measure my heart rate and get a sense of my calorie burn during my weight training sessions though. So my solution is to ditch the  watch and put on a chest based heart rate strap. The chest based monitor records my heart rate without issue, gives me an estimation of calories burned and best of all the data is collected in my Apple activity app so I can track all of my workouts in one place. Having a reliable monitor for weight training also lets me gauge if I’m giving myself enough recovery time between sets and exercises – something that is vital for weight lifting. 

So in summary, I love having my Apple Watch for monitoring my activity throughout the day,  but during my workouts I need a non-wrist worn device to give me reliable data. For me the best decision was to add a chest-based HR monitor to my workouts. All the data is still collected in my activity app and in Health Kit, and I get the heart rate readings I need to make smart decisions about my training program. If you’re looking for a robust and reliable heart rate solution check out the Frontier X2. Not only does monitor your heart rate, it also measures your breathing rate and provides you with a continuous ECG. 

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Mental Stress | Heart Attack Symptoms | Heart Palpitations Causes | Increased Heart rate | Heart Health | Stress Test for Heart | Heart Palpitations | Running Heart Rate Zones | Low Heart Rate | Best ECG Monitor

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

If you run regularly and like to stay fit and active, understanding your ideal heart rate during the running can be very important. Your heart rate refers to the number of times your heart beats per minute (bpm). According to Medicinet (ref. link), bpm can be calculated by observing the carotid pulse under the jaw for 15 seconds. Multiply this count by 4 and you will get your heart rate. Alternatively, a stethoscope can also be used to measure the heart rate.

Normally, the resting heart rate for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. The heart rate tends to increase substantially when a person is running or engaging in any other cardiovascular exercises. This is what leads to talk about running heart rate. Often while running, or doing any kind of physical exercise, you might find yourself panting and your heart racing. This is indicative that the bpm has increased in order to provide enough oxygen to the body at a faster pace. It is important to have knowledge about the ideal running heart rate in order to boost performance and train at optimal levels. Over exerting the heart can cause an elevated running heart rate and can lead to problems in the future.

Research shows that the normal resting heart rate is much lower in the case of athletes as the heart need not work as hard to pump blood around the body owing to much healthier muscles. As per studies (ref. link), a lower resting heart rate is indicative of a healthier and longer life with very few issues. Thus, by understanding the ideal heart rate while working out, you can know just how much you can push your body to reap the maximum benefits from your runs. 

Why Is It Important to Run at Ideal Heart Rate?

Running is said to be one of the most ideal forms of exercise that helps in maintaining weight, improving mood, and in developing a healthier life (ref. link). By knowing the safe limits and your ideal heart rate you can train to the best of your abilities, thereby improving your performance. If your heart rate is too high during the training, it indicates that your body is straining and you need to slow down. On the contrary, if your heart rate is too low it could mean that you should push yourself a little harder. 

How to Calculate the Maximum Heart Rate and What is the Ideal Heart While Running? 

As per this medical news article (ref. link), the ideal heart rate of a person during running and other forms of exercise depends on their age, the level of the activity, overall fitness of the person and other underlying medical conditions. In order to understand the ideal heart rate one can reach while running, it is key to know about the maximum heart rate. 

Maximum Heart Rate refers to the maximum number of times the heart can beat in a minute during the most strenuous exercise. There are several ways of calculating the maximum heart rate. The easiest measure of maximum heart rate is to subtract your age from 220. It is advised that one must aim to reach between 50%- 80% of their maximum heart rate during exercise. 

Studies (ref. link) have accumulated this data to understand the Maximum Heart Rate on the basis of age:

How Much is Too Much? What If the Heart Rate While Running is Too High? 

Studies (ref. link) have proven that going overboard and higher than the ideal heart rate while running can be dangerous to health in the long run. This can become especially problematic if you are new to exercise or the workout regime. Research (ref. link) suggests that when starting out one should aim at a lower range of the ideal heart rate zone and then increase the pace gradually to attain the ideal heart rate while running. A study  proves that those who continuously exceed the maximum and ideal heart rates while running have a slower post-exercise recovery. They are also at high risk for cardiac events such as arrhythmias, chest pain and discomfort.  

It is always better to keep a track of your heart activities using an ECG fitness tracker, so you can maintain a healthy heart and understand situations and activities that improve or worsen your heart health. The Frontier X2 is the best ECG fitness tracker on the market, and you can find out more its revolutionary technology here.

Frequently Ask Questions on Running Heart Rate:

Does Maximum Heart Rate increase with fitness? Is it good to have a high max heart rate? 

Maximum heart rates mainly depend on factors such as age. It does not indicate the fitness levels of a person nor does having a high maximum heart rate indicate that the person is healthy. With continuous exercise and a good fitness regime, you might be able to maintain the maximum heart rate for a longer time. 

What is a dangerously high heart rate while running? 

Going beyond the maximum heart rate while exercising is not a good sign. If your heart rate exceeds the heart target zone then you must seek medical attention immediately. Look for physical signs of exertion such as palpitations, shortness of breath or chest pains.  

How do I Keep My Heart Rates Low While Running? 

While there are many physical and physiological factors in play when talking about heart rates during exercise, there are some measures that can be taken to reduce the heart rate while running. 

• Run without music or other distractions: this will help you listen to your body with your undivided attention 
• Workout in repetitions and sets: it is important to familiarise the body with the workout so that the heart can adapt to the running. 
• Longer workouts: instead of focusing on doing intense workouts, practise longer but slower runs. 
• Regular Breaths: oxygen is essential. Make sure you have enough time during the running to take proper breaths. 

Why Does My Heart Beat Faster When I am Running? 

For regular runners and people who are generally healthy, the heart rate tends to be on the lower side. However, if you are new to running or have shifted your workout regime from low to high intensity, you might face a faster heart rate due to the fact that the heart is pumping more blood to generate enough oxygen in the body. However, if the high heart rate is combined with other physical symptoms such as chest pains or breathlessness, you must seek medical attention. 

Is It Important to Monitor Heart Rate While Running? 

As a general notion, the heart rate tends to increase while engaging in any kind of physical activity. You should aim at keeping your target heart rate between 50-70% of the maximum heart rate. This practice is essential to ensure a productive workout and for the overall fitness of the body. 

Why is my heart rate high on easy runs?

Atrial Fibrillation Triggers | Low Carb Diet | Heart Palpitations After Eating | Mental Stress | Heart Attack Symptoms | Heart Palpitations Causes | Increased Heart Rate | Healthy Heart Tips | Arrhythmia Symptoms | ECG Monitors

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib) is generally followed by a range of emotions and questions. You may start wondering about the severity of your condition and prognosis. You may even experience emotional stress, including uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. However, the good part is that although AFib is a long-term condition, you can continue to lead a long and healthy life if it’s managed correctly. There are several steps you can take to manage AFib, lower your risk of stroke, and relieve any worries you may have.

4 Things To Avoid In the Case of AFib

Life with atrial fibrillation has its own challenges. But with the right care and lifestyle changes, you can stay active and energetic. Here are a few things you can avoid to protect your heart and help you feel your best.

1. Foods and Drinks to Avoid

Avoiding food and drink that can directly trigger symptoms and raise the risk of AFib is one of the best ways to manage it.

• Alcohol

Even small to moderate amounts of alcohol can trigger atrial fibrillation, so alcohol should be completely avoided in patients with AFib. Swap alcoholic beverages for low-calorie options. In addition, people with AFib are more likely to experience increased vagal activity after alcohol consumption, which can eventually lead to transient atrial fibrillation episodes. Vagal tone is the level of activity of the vagus nerve, a long nerve running from the brain stem through the neck and below, and it affects various organs, including the heart.

• Salt

High salt intake can trigger episodes of AFib. It is believed that high salt intake increases water retention and causing excessive atrial stretching that leads to AFib. Salt intake should be limited to 1500-2000 mg/day. Switching to salt alternatives and cooking fresh food is a good way of avoiding excessive salt intake.

• Excess Caffeine

Limiting your daily intake of caffeine is typically advisable in the case of AFib. Limit coffee intake to 1-2 cups (up to 300 mg) a day. Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea can cause irregular heartbeats (ref. link). However, there is not much evidence that caffeine can trigger episodes of AFib. If a person thinks caffeine could be a personal trigger, avoiding caffeinated foods and drinks should be a good idea. 

• Red Meat

Red meats – such as beef and lamb – contain more saturated fats than white meat. Saturated fats can raise cholesterol levels, leading to AFib. Substitute red meat for white meat or plant-based protein to lower cholesterol levels.

• Sugar

Avoid food and drinks that contain large amounts of sugar as they are likely to trigger AFib episodes. Excessive sugar increases the risk of heart diseases.

• Gluten

Gluten is a structural protein found in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. Eating food rich in gluten (such as bread, pasta, condiments, and many packaged foods) can increase inflammation of arteries (ref. link), subsequently leading to an increase in AFib episodes. 

• Tyramine

Aged cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, and gorgonzola, as well as pepperoni, salami, soybean, and snow peas, are found to contain tyramine. Tyramine is capable of raising blood pressure and eventually triggering AFib.

• Processed foods

Processed foods, such as ready-to-eat meals or sausages, tend to contain large quantities of salt and preservatives. It is advised to limit the intake to avoid episodes of Afib (ref. link).

2. Quit Smoking

• Quit smoking to boost your odds of living a healthier and more active life with AFib. Smoking increases your risk of stroke.
• Carbon Monoxide, found in cigarette smoke, is known to cause cardiac arrhythmias (or irregular heartbeat).
• Cigarette smoking can induce coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which also might lead to arrhythmia independently.
• According to research conducted in 2018, it was found that smoking was associated with a 15 percent increased risk of AFib.
• Another study (ref. link) found that cigarette smoking was linked to 40 percent increased odds of AFib development in women.

3. Exercises To Avoid with AFib

Mild- or moderate-intensity exercise is typically protective; however, intense exercise typically carries a higher risk of atrial fibrillation.

• If you have not exercised in a while, you do not want to start with intense, high-impact exercise. Ease your way into an exercise routine and gradually increase the length and intensity of your workouts.
• Try to avoid exercises associated with a higher risk of injury, such as skiing or outdoor biking. Many blood thinner medications advised in AFib treatment may make you bleed more heavily when you are injured.
• If you plan to lift weights, consult your doctor about how much weight is safe for you to lift. Lifting too much weight can put a lot of strain on your heart.
• To progressively build strength and endurance, try swimming, walking, cycling, and yoga.
• Build up to about 30 minutes of physical activity at least five days a week, or about 2.5 hours of mild to moderate exercise each week.
• It is a good idea to keep track of your pulse rate while exercising. Consult your doctor about the acceptable heart rate range.

4. Avoid Stress

Stress can be a major contributor to heart rhythm disorders (ref. link), including atrial fibrillation. Stress and anxiety can worsen your atrial fibrillation symptoms. Some of the stress management ideas are:

• Meditation
• Yoga
• A healthy diet
• Support from family and friends
• Relaxation techniques
• Regular physical activity
• Adopting a positive attitude

Bottom Line

AFib is a long-term medical condition, the severity of which changes over time. But there are a few things you can do to manage this condition effectively. Diet can help lower the risk factors that cause AFib and, in some cases, reduce its symptoms. 

Switching to a Mediterranean diet (ref. link) or a plant-based diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and unsaturated fats may benefit overall heart health and reduce the risk of a heart stroke. Other changes that may help improve AFib includes doing moderate exercise, getting adequate sleep, quitting smoking, and prioritising time to relax and reduce stress.

If you have already been diagnosed with AFib, awareness of your health and of the situations that may potentially trigger an episode plays an essential role in controlling the symptoms.

Finally, the best way to ensure your heart stays healthy is by monitoring it. You can keep tabs your heart health using our revolutionary Frontier X2 heart monitoring device.

Frequently Asked Questions :

What activities can trigger AFib?

The most common Afib triggering activities are:

• Poor quality sleep
• Intake of Alcohol
• Excessive Caffeine
• Extreme exercise
• Dehydration
• Anxiety

Can you do normal activities with AFib?

You can exercise as long as your heart rate is under control, you are stable on your treatment, and are feeling well.

Does laying down make AFib worse?

Sleeping is a known trigger for atrial fibrillation (AF) and is believed to be driven by high vagal nervous movements and obstructive sleep apnea.

Does AFib make you tired and weak?

Apart from primary symptoms, other symptoms you may experience if you have atrial fibrillation are tiredness and being less able to exercise.

What can worsen atrial fibrillation?

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, excessive intake of caffeine, and being overweight may each worsen AFib

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

AFib Triggers | Low Carb Diet | AFib Risk Factors | Mental Stress | Heart Attack Causes | Acid Reflux |  Increased Heart Rate | Heart Rate Monitor | Arrhythmia Causes | Heart Palpitations

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a type of cardiac arrhythmia caused by the abnormal functioning of the impulse conduction system of the heart. Essentially, arrhythmias are an irregular heartbeat that occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the cardiac cycle are disrupted. Atrial fibrillation belongs to a class called supraventricular arrhythmias, which refers to one that originates from the upper ventricular area. It is the most common cause of cardiac stroke.

In patients with atrial fibrillation, both abnormal functioning of the sinoatrial node and signal transmission to atrial cardiac muscles can lead to pulse rates higher than 100 beats per minute. The condition is called tachyarrhythmia. It results in a turbulent blood flow and increased chances of blood clot formation.

Types of Atrial Fibrillation

Based on the development pattern, AFib is of four types:

1. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

This type terminates within seven days from the onset, either on its own or with the help of intervention.

2. Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Arrhythmic episodes that persist for more than seven days are called persistent AF. It needs pharmacological or electrical cardiac interventions.

3. Long-standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

This type persists for more than 12 months due to failure to initiate medical intervention and is often associated with structural heart damage. This type of AFib is hard to treat as it doesn’t respond to medication and requires more invasive procedures.

4. Permanent Atrial Fibrillation

Permanent AFib occurs when medication and medical therapy do not restore your heart rate or rhythm to the norm. In this case doctors decide to end treatment and the patient lives with an impaired heart.

Facts about AFib Symptoms

• 10 to 40% of patients with AFib do not present any physical manifestations. Due to the lack of symptoms people often do not seek medical attention, making AFib pose a higher risk to your overall cardiac health.
• Symptom perception depends on the mechanism that causes AF. Drawing a correlation between arrhythmia episodes is difficult because of the common concurrent involvement of other cardiovascular conditions, such as disrupted hemodynamic stability.
• Gender-based epidemiological studies suggest that women are more likely to experience the symptoms with greater severity than men.
• All this being said, common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain, discomfort in the thoracic area, and dizziness. AFib disrupts the patient’s quality of life, and a resultant intolerance to exercise renders the patients crippled in the face of simple physical activities such as moving around and even standing up.
• Individuals with psychological distress are vulnerable to unpredictable emotional burdens. The symptoms of AFib, such as chest discomfort, worsen with increased anxiety and depression.

Diagnosis and Its Importance

If primary care consultations indicate cardiac involvement when analysing symptoms, referral to a cardiology or cardiac electrophysiology clinic is appropriate. Cardiovascular risk assessment helps long-term management of AF.

Based on the physical history and the results of the primary diagnosis, specialists suggest additional testing. They include exercise testing, heart monitoring, transoesophageal echocardiogram, and electrophysiological examination.

Differential diagnosis of AFib saves the patient from profound consequences, such as ischemic stroke. The diagnosis and evaluation setup is decided based on the combination of symptoms, severity, and frequency/nature of the symptoms.

Having a Heart Rate Monitor is one way to always keep tabs on your cardiac health.

How Does Atrial Fibrillation Affect You?

Any cardiac ailment has a significant impact on life. Similarly, AFib disrupts overall health, increasing the risks of life-threatening complications. The knowledge of possible complications has negative psychological implications like increased stress, anxiety, and depression. These burdens, in turn, impact the prognosis of the underlying disease. This also increases the morbidity rate in patients with AFib.

Restricted Physical Activity

As the condition persists, patients develop exercise intolerance as patients experience increased pain and discomfort. The blood pumping issues, coupled with AFib, weaken the muscles during episodes, and the effects carry on due to associated psychological factors. They have difficulty moving briskly and take more time to perform complex activities. More than the physical outcomes, psychological distress takes over their vigilance. Consequently, they lose the ability to take care of themselves.

Moreover, patients diagnosed with moderate to high-risk AFib require anticoagulant agents, which increases the risk of bleeding. People with AFib may need regular clinic visits to assess the risk and revise the doses to optimise their AFib treatment. This may disrupt daily activities and drain energy by altering work schedules.

Toll On Family

The disease extends its impact on the life of their caregivers, disrupting their daily life schedules. A balance between their personal life and attention toward the patient is a burden. It leads to inadequate patient support, physical and emotional stress, caregiver burnout, and suboptimal patient outcomes. Especially elderly patients are emotionally sensitive and complicated to manage.

Lowered Emotional Quotient

Fatigue and palpitations can trigger mental breakdowns. However, patients with persistent AFib may also develop stronger willpower. It depends on the environment they live in and their interactions with the people around them. However, a positive and friendly atmosphere always helps patients to get through the episodes. Patients often report unpredictable, arrhythmia-related distress.

Side Effects of Treatment

Antiarrhythmic drugs, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers are the most common medications to control heart rate. However, they can cause an abnormal heartbeat, which is difficult to distinguish between arrhythmia episodes except for the intensity. The perplexing side effect contributes to patients’ anxiety.

Risks of Complications

Patients with AFib are at high risk of other cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, stroke, and heart attack. In addition, it also increases the risk of cognitive dysfunction and, vascular dementia, eventually death. The neurological complications, which arise from cardiovascular events, cripple their ability to learn, remember, and other faculties, such as decision-making.

Summing Up

Cardiac ailments, including atrial fibrillation, are detrimental for all age groups. Regular physical exercise and a balanced diet are crucial for the long-term good health of the heart. It is always better to seek medical attention for the appearance of suspicious symptoms related to cardiac health. When anyone shows signs of arrhythmia, the person must understand their body and avoid habits that elicit the underlying heart condition.

Finally, pair your newfound information on AFib with the revolutionary Frontier X2 heart monitoring device to stay on top of your heart health at all times!

Frequently Asked Questions on Atrial Fibrillation :

Can Atrial Fibrillation lead to death?

Atrial fibrillation isn’t usually life-threatening or considered serious in otherwise healthy people. Yet, atrial fibrillation can be risky for those having diabetes, high blood pressure, or other heart-related diseases.

What are the warning signs of AFib?

Warning signs of AFib include fluttering, pounding, racing, or skipping beats. You may or may not experience tiredness, lightheaded, or shortness of breath.

What happens during atrial fibrillation?

During AFib, the normal beating in the upper chambers of the heart (the two atria) fluctuates, and blood doesn’t flow as it should from the atria to the lower chambers of the heart (the two ventricles).

What foods should be avoided with atrial fibrillation?

Below are some that should be avoided if you have Atrial Fibrillation :
Alcohol
Caffeine
Grapefruit
Cranberry Juice
Asparagus
Leafy Green Vegetables
Processed Foods
Salty Foods
Gluten & more

Is AFib a heart disease?

Atrial fibrillation is a progressive disease related to heart.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Mental Stress | Heart Attack Symptoms | Heart Palpitations Causes | Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation | Heart Health | Cardiac Arrhythmia | Heart Palpitations After Eating | Running Heart Rate Zones | Low Heart Rate | Heart Rate Monitor

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

The most common type of heart arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) is called Atrial Fibrillation. It is also known as “AFib,” and results in an irregular, and frequently fast, heartbeat. This irregular impulse, or signal, starts in the chambers of the heart when someone has atrial fibrillation, affecting the blood flow to the body and the heart muscle. This may result in blood clots that cause a stroke.

How Does AFib Happen? 

The heart’s top chambers (the atria), which normally have an orderly electrical stimulus by sinus node activity, switch to a chaotic, unstructured rhythm during atrial fibrillation, which causes the ventricles to beat erratically.

Atrial fibrillation impairs the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively and frequently results in irregular chest palpitations. Weakness, weariness, vertigo, or shortness of breath could arise from this. Some patients with atrial fibrillation, however, are utterly oblivious to it and exhibit no symptoms at all.

7 Common AFib Triggers 

Despite the fact that AFib raises the chances of heart-related death as well as stroke, many people do not understand its potentially dangerous repercussions. Usually, those who have one or more of the following lifestyle habits (ref. link)are at higher risk for AFib. 

• Sleep issues

Atrial fibrillation episodes can be brought on by insufficient sleep, which is frequently brought on by the disease known as sleep apnea. Individuals with insomnia are up to 40%  more likely to develop atrial fibrillation, and even minor sleep disruptions in a person’s sleep pattern can increase the risk of the condition by as much as 18% (ref. link). 

• Liquor

Alcohol use, especially binge drinking, can weaken the heart muscle and make it more challenging for the heart to circulate blood throughout the body. The heart is therefore more vulnerable to AFib events. Dehydration, another typical AFib trigger, can be a result of alcohol consumption. 

• Caffeine

Caffeine happens to be a plausible cause of AFib in some people. However, numerous clinical studies show that coffee has little to no effect on most people with AFib. Normal caffeine consumption won’t affect or cause any atrial fibrillation episode in patients.

• Excessive exercise

Exercise causes the heart to beat more quickly; therefore, for certain AFib sufferers, a brief period of exercise may start an episode. In general, intense exercise or exercising when dehydrated increase the risk of AFib episodes. 

• Dehydration

Dehydration is a frequent cause of atrial fibrillation, resulting from drinking too much alcohol, caffeine, or not getting enough water. Because caffeine and alcohol are possible diuretics, they can cause dehydration, which can trigger bouts of atrial fibrillation if a person doesn’t consume enough water to replenish.

• Stress

Atrioventricular fibrillation events can result from any kind of psychological or physiological stress. Additionally, people who are stressed out may have trouble sleeping, drink more coffee or alcohol, or both. These behaviours can combine to cause an AFib event.

• Large meals

Some people may experience digestive issues after a large meal. The vagus nerve, which connects the gut, brain, and heart, can be stimulated. An AFib event may be triggered by a vagus nerve spike brought on by a substantial meal. According to research, gastrointestinal problems usually go away when an episode of AFib occurs.

No matter what causes the illness, a patient’s preferred course of action will determine how their atrial fibrillation is treated. 

Avoiding AFib Triggers 

People must be attentive to their symptoms because AFib triggers can be subtle and they are instrumental in determining what causes the atrial fibrillation. Additionally, wearable technologies like wristbands, smartwatches, and patches have trigger monitoring features. This aids patients in identifying the precise reason for a recent cardiac rhythm problem. 

Because of the numerous factors that could trigger an AFib episode people are recommended to consistently follow a heart-healthy lifestyle. This includes moderate alcohol use, not smoking, eating a balanced diet, and controlling your blood pressure and weight. 

Atrial Fibrillation Types and Complications 

When your heart rhythm reverts to the regular within seven days and Atrial Fibrillation is resolved likely on its own or without any form of AFib treatment, it is known as Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. Arrhythmic episodes that persist for more than seven days are called Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. Long Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation tends to occur when no medical action is taken for over 12 months, and there is possible structural heart damage present. Lastly, Permanent Atrial Fibrillation is a condition where medication and other remedies cannot bring the heart rate and rhythm back to a healthy level. 

With regard to the complications, blood clots have the propensity to form in some patients with atrial fibrillation because of the slow blood flow through the atria. Patients might suffer stroke and other complications which is why some people with atrial fibrillation require blood-thinning drugs like aspirin or warfarin. 

Can AFib be remedied without treatment? 

In the early stages of atrial fibrillation, episodes of the condition may come and go and end on their own. That being said, if it persists, Atrial fibrillation won’t go away on its own if nothing is done to treat it. Numerous AFib treatments, including drugs, surgeries, and lifestyle changes, can significantly reduce atrial fibrillation. 

Medical researchers (ref. link) estimate that over the next few years, there will be a major increase in the number of instances of AFib due to the fact that people are living longer and the probability of developing AFib increases with age. 

How To Reverse Atrial Fibrillation Naturally?

The long-term management of atrial fibrillation must include changes in lifestyle and the reduction of inflammation. Targeted lifestyle changes (ref. link) lifestyle changes can lessen %your symptoms, lessen your dependency on drugs or procedures, and potentially increase the likelihood that a catheter ablation operation for AFib will be successful long term. However, most patients do not receive guidance or advice on how to implement these crucial lifestyle adjustments in a way that is specific to AFib. 

Final Words

Each person will have a distinct experience with atrial fibrillation triggers. It all boils down to your medical background. If you’ve already been diagnosed with a particular type of AFib, managing your symptoms largely depends on being conscious of your health and of the circumstances that could potentially set off an episode. Do not put off seeing a doctor if you think you could have AFib. Do it as soon as you can since the earlier you take action to obtain relief, the better.

Finally, pair your newfound knowledge on AFib with the revolutionary Frontier X2 heart monitoring device to stay on top of your heart health at all times!

Frequently Asked Questions on Atrial Fibrillation :

What can trigger atrial fibrillation?

Some triggers of AFib are excessive alcohol intake, being overweight, drinking lots of caffeine, such as tea, coffee, or energy drinks, and also taking drugs.

What should you avoid if you have atrial fibrillation?

Try to avoid foods like Alcohol, Caffeine, Food with Fat, Salt, Sugar, Vitamin K, Gluten, and more.

How can I calm my atrial fibrillation naturally?

Natural Treatments for AFib include:

• Remain hydrated
• Cut out gluten.
• Exercise and stress relief
• Bypass stimulants
• Add nutrients

What is the best sleep position for AFib?

There is no precise sleep position that is useful for atrial fibrillation.

What is the most serious type of fibrillation?

Ventricular fibrillation is the most deadly type of fibrillation as it can cause sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Aquatic Exercise for Heart Health | Mental Stress | Heart Attack Symptoms | Heart Palpitations Causes | Increased Heart rate | Healthy Heart Tips | Arrhythmia Causes | Running Heart Rate | Best ECG Monitors | Heart Palpitations After Eating

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Irregular or abnormal beating of the heart is known as arrhythmia. The most prevalent type of arrhythmia in adults, also known as AFib, develops when the electrical system that regulates your heartbeat fails, impairing blood flow to the atria and the heart’s upper chambers. In a healthy heart, the muscles in the upper and lower ventricles of the four chambers contract in unison to move blood from the atria to the ventricles, where it is circulated throughout the body.

Due to abnormal electrical impulses occurring within the heart, the atria, or top chambers of the heart, quiver or fibrillate when an individual has AFib (beating very fast).

Common Warning Signs of AFib

Many AFib symptoms may resemble other cardiac conditions, such as a heart attack. Inform your doctor right away once if you get AFib warning signs:

• The heart may feel as though it is racing, fluttering, pounding, thumping, or beating erratically when you have palpitations.
• Chest pressure, discomfort, or pain as well as unsteadiness, faintness, or dizziness
• Breathing difficulty
• Fatigue or little energy (in general or while exercising)
• Weakness
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Confusion

Periodically, atrial fibrillation can occur with symptoms that either come and go, persist for a few minutes to hours, and then go away on their own. The arrhythmia is perpetual in atrial fibrillation that is chronic.

Warning Signs of Stroke

AFib raises your chance of getting a stroke. AFib patients have a five-fold increased risk (ref. link) of stroke compared to individuals without AFib.  Hence, it’s critical to detect the stroke warning signals if you have AFib because it raises your risk of stroke :

• Stroke warning signals commonly manifest abruptly, are more noticeable on just one side of the body, and may include:
• Due to weakening, one side of the face may droop or get numb.
• Walking may be challenging if one arm or leg is weak or numb; if raised, the arm may drift downward.
• Speech difficulties include slurred or difficult-to-understand speech, the inability to repeat simple sentences, and trouble understanding other people’s speech.
• Confusion
• Vertigo, imbalance issues, or poor coordination
• Having vision issues in one or both eyes

AFib is extremely dangerous, even if it occurs occasionally. Blood clots brought on by untreated or misdiagnosed AFib can swiftly develop into a stroke. AFib can also weaken the heart’s muscles, resulting in heart failure. It is better to have it examined, be identified, and begin a course of medication that can control AFib. Medication can frequently be used to control AFib.

Older Adults are More Prone to AFib

As adults age, atrial fibrillation becomes increasingly prevalent. The prevalence of this arrhythmia in patients over 80 years old is about 11% (ref. link). Atrial fibrillation patients frequently show no symptoms. After an older adult’s first stroke, atrial fibrillation is frequently found to be the root cause.

AFib diagnosis increases the risk of stroke, especially when combined with conditions like heart valve disease, heart failure, diabetes, and hypertension. The atria may develop blood clots as a result of atrial fibrillation. A stroke might happen if the blood clot leaves the heart and moves to the brain.

Teenagers With Atrial Fibrillation

Teenagers may also experience atrial fibrillation symptoms, despite their rarity. If subsequent occurrences are frequent, it may be a symptom of an underlying problem or a single, isolated incident.

It is highly uncommon to receive a diagnosis on a regular evaluation, unlike patients who are adults. Before a major occurrence like a heart arrest, paediatric children virtually invariably exhibit palpitations as a symptom. Younger individuals with healthy hearts who briefly experience the symptoms of atrial fibrillation are less likely to have the risk factors for stroke.

The use of drugs or alcohol and physical activity can cause an isolated episode of AFib in a heart that is otherwise healthy. Teens frequently experience chest pain, abdominal pain, or a feeling of the heart pumping quickly.

How Much Time Does AFib Last?

According to how long your symptoms last, doctors categorise AFib. Some varieties’ fluttering lasts longer than others:

• Paroxysmal fibrillation- last seven days or fewer
• Persistent AFib- more than seven days long
• Permanent AFib- Never

Diagnosis and Treatment for AFib

Treatment for AFib depends on how long you had the condition, your symptoms, and the underlying cause. Some AFib patients exhibit no symptoms and are completely unaware of their illness. It might be identified using a stethoscope to listen to the heart or with a cardiac test like an electrocardiogram, echocardiography, stress test, or Holter monitor. 

Others may have symptoms, although they might not know they are connected to AFib. The symptoms could show up regularly or infrequently. They might also flit in and out.

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), one of the additional tests, is the most accurate way to identify and confirm the presence of AFib.

Your doctor could advise you to wear a monitor or recorder to catch AFib if it periodically occurs. Wearing a Holter monitor or portable event monitor may be suggested by your doctor so they may study the data gathered over time.

Different types of treatments include medications, therapies, and surgery. You may be prescribed medications to normalise your rapid heartbeats.

Medication is also prescribed to prevent blood clots (ref. link). Common medication includes,

• Beta-blockers to slow the heart rate at rest and during activity.
• Calcium channel blockers control the heart rate. However, this type of medication is not recommended for those who have heart failure or low blood pressure.

Atrial fibrillation is a complex and common heart condition that needs more awareness among people. If you encounter signs of AFib, you must see a doctor. Your doctor can determine if your heartbeat is irregular by feeling your pulse or using a stethoscope to listen to your heart. It’s important to talk with your healthcare provider or physician and learn more about available resources and support communities.

Finally, pair your newfound knowledge on AFib with the revolutionary Frontier X2 heart monitoring device to stay on top of your heart health at all times!

Frequently Asked Questions on AFib :

How do I know if I am experiencing Afib? 

The most obvious sign of Afib is heart palpitations. During Afib a person might feel pounding, flutter or irregular beating of the heart.

What are the symptoms of silent Afib? 

The symptoms of Afib can be subtle and confusing. The symptoms could be fatigue, racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating and pain in the chest. 

How can I test myself for Afib? 

To know if you have Afib it is essential to record your pulse rate. In order to do so, firmly place the index and middle finger of your right hand on the wrist of your left hand. Count the pulse for 30 seconds and double the reading to get the beats per minute. A normal heart rate ranges from 60-100 beats per minute, but during an Afib the count is considerably higher than 100 beats per minute (ref. link).

Can laying on your left side trigger Afib? 

For people with underlying heart conditions and potential risk of Afib, laying on the left side in the lateral position can be a common trigger for Afib. This situation is also associated with being overweight (ref. link). 

How can you get yourself out of Afib? 

There are various ways to stop an Afib episode:

• • Get some exercise 
  • Practice yoga 
  • Put some cold water on your face 
  • Take deep breaths

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Irregular Heartbeat | Living With AFib | Endurance Training | Heart Rate Monitor Device | Heart Health Tips | Yoga for Heart Health | Normal Resting Heart Rate | Low Carb Diet | Cardio Exercise | Wearable ECG Monitor

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Atrial fibrillation is a chronic, usually progressive condition that causes frequent, recurrent episodes in patients throughout their lifetimes. A patient with AFib is more likely to experience potentially fatal consequences such as a stroke, heart attack, or heart failure. 

As per a study (ref. link), up to 47% of AFib patients say their quality of life has decreased, 25% say their daily routines have been disrupted, and 19% say their functional status has been compromised. Caring for individuals with AFib can be demanding because it significantly disrupts carers’ daily lives, causing schedule conflicts and financial strain.

These issues can develop due to passive blood flow and diminished pumping action. While some AFib sufferers show no symptoms, others report various symptoms. AFib raises the chance of developing heart conditions, including stroke. You run an increased chance of developing further cardiac rhythm abnormalities if you have AFib.

Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis

Even though AFib is a chronic illness, you can still live a long and active life with proper management of the disease. You can take several actions to manage your condition, reduce your risk of stroke, and ease any anxieties you might have. These consist of the following:

• Educating yourself on your ailment, Atrial Fibrillation symptoms & signs, causes, and remedies
• Maximising your network of supporters (including those close to you and your healthcare team)
• Hearing from other people who have AF.

Setting Heart Health Objectives

Along with beginning your treatment programme, lifestyle adjustments can help you feel better, control your AF, and reduce your risk of consequences like stroke or heart failure. You can achieve the lifestyle changes you wish to make by setting goals. Make sure your objectives are both attainable and realistic. Your chances of success are higher if you:

• Decide on a goal that is very important to you and put it in writing.
• Organise your strategy for achieving the objective.
• Obtain assistance from those around you.
• Think of ways to overcome obstacles and increase your confidence.

What Effects Does AFib Have on Relatives?

3% of geriatric patients (ref. link) and 80% of stroke patients need caregiver support, which can include checking for bleeding symptoms or opening medication packages, among other things.

The daily lives of caregivers of AFib patients undergo significant changes, including schedule disruptions, financial strain, a lack of family support, and health issues. The caregiver stress may result in less effective patient care, psychological and physical exhaustion, and poor patient outcomes. By the third month of recovery, more than 40% of stroke patients receiving treatment require further assistance (ref. link). 

What is the Effect of Stroke on Quality of Life?

One of the worst possible effects of AFib (ref. link) is stroke, which can seriously affect one’s ability to function physically, mentally, and socially. Paralysis, sadness, personality changes, communication issues, anxiety, memory loss, and cognitive impairment are major drawbacks following a stroke.

A second stroke will occur in 30% of people who have had a stroke (ref. link), and the risk is roughly nine times higher than the risk of stroke in the general population. Patients with AFib often experience more severe and debilitating strokes than people without the illness.

Maintaining Healthy Connections

People close to you will probably feel the effects of an AFib diagnosis. It’s typical for family members and close friends to experience fear or anxiety in the wake of your AFib diagnosis. It can be challenging for those around you to comprehend what you’re going through because AFib frequently has no obvious, visible symptoms. This could cause resentment and dissatisfaction. Because of this, it’s crucial to have strong communication with your family.

Having frank and open discussions might help you feel less stressed. No one should be left out of these discussions, not even kids. 

Advice on effective communication

• Select a time when there won’t be any interruptions to discuss your illness with your family.
• Positively express your emotions using “I” statements rather than “you” comments.
• Seek assistance
• Make a list of inquiries.

Intimacy and Sex

Following an AFib diagnosis, people frequently have a lot of anxiety about intimacy and sexual interactions. People with AFib avoid having sex because it may create heart palpitations. The partners of people with AFib frequently worry that having sex would harm their loved one’s health. This may cause people to lose interest in or confidence in engaging in sexual activity, which would be detrimental to their relationship.

In addition, people with atrial fibrillation may suffer from physical conditions like erectile dysfunction occasionally. As per a research report, the overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction among AFib patients is 57% (ref. link). Some drugs used to treat AFib may also lead to issues. 

However, like other forms of exercise, having sex is healthy for your heart and overall health. Hormones like Endorphins that are released during sex can counter depression and anxiety (ref. link), both of which increase the risk of heart disease. If you’re having problems with your sex life, go to your doctor, as they might be able to change your prescription or discover other ways to help.

Atrial Fibrillation and Fitness

Initially diagnosed with AF, you might have been concerned that working out might cause an episode or exacerbate your disease. In actuality, exercise is crucial to your long-term health and welfare. Routine exercise

• Lowers the risk of a stroke
• Minimises AFib symptoms
• Can gradually drop your resting heart rate
• Lowers your risk of developing other heart diseases
• Enables you to control your weight
• Increases your well-being and mood.

Muscular and Skeletal Systems

You could develop fluid retention in your feet, ankles, and legs if you have AFib. Common symptoms include irritation and muscle weakness when performing previously ordinary tasks. The effects of AFib may generally impair your capacity for activity.

Everyone has a unique AFib experience. While some people manage the illness effectively, receiving an AFib diagnosis can be extremely distressing for some people, leaving them with feelings of lack of confidence, worry, and perhaps even melancholy. Following the above-mentioned steps can assist control your AF.

Keep a track of your heart activities using the Frontier X2 ECG fitness tracker, so you can maintain a healthy heart and understand activities that cause fluctuations in your heart rate.

Frequently Asked Questions on Impact of Atrial Fibrillation :

How does arrhythmia affect your daily life? 

Arrhythmia can affect one’s daily life as it can make you feel weak, chest pain, shortness of breath, loss of energy. 

What are the consequences of atrial fibrillation? 

Atrial fibrillation can lead to a reduced blood pressure, lower exercise capacity and cardiovascular conditions that may lead to a heart failure.

Can you live a normal life with atrial fib?

With proper treatment and medical supervision, it is possible for individuals to live a normal and active life (ref. link).

Does AFib make you feel tired? 

If you are suffering from atrial fibrillation you may feel weak, fatigued, light headed and unable to exercise as per normal capacity. 

How does atrial fibrillation make you feel?

Atrial fibrillation can make you tired, dizzy and short of breath. You might also experience heart palpitations, fluttering or irregular heartbeat. 

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Heart Palpitations After Eating | Acid Reflux | | Increased Heart Rate | Healthy Heart Diet | Heart Arrhythmia | Heart Palpitation | Running Heart Rate Zones | Low Heart Rate | Heart Rate Monitors

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Each person experiences and responds to stress differently. Stress can slowly but steadily affect the heart health, resulting in heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, heart failure, or stroke. Nonetheless, a person with heart problems might not even be aware that stress is the root of their problems.

Chronic stress has been connected to many negative health outcomes, from a congested daily commute, an unhappy marriage, or an overbearing boss. Your emotions, sleep, and appetite may also be affected due to stress.

Everyday Stress

Severe, acute stress can harm the cardiovascular system, as observed in the case of broken heart syndrome (ref. link). But what about regular stress factors like rush-hour traffic, marital conflict, and workplace anxiety? 

Although it hasn’t been proven, it has been hypothesised that stress causes inflammation, a known cause of heart disease. However, there may be additional subtle ways in which stress might lead to heart disease. Some people act in ways that enhance their risk for heart disease when they are under stress.

Connection Between Mental Health Disorders And Heart Disease

As per reports (ref. link), people suffer from depression, anxiety, stress, and even Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), over a long period of time may experience certain physiologic effects on the body. These include increased cardiac reactivity (e.g., increased heart rate and blood pressure), reduced blood flow to the heart, and heightened levels of cortisol. These effects over time,  can lead to calcium buildup in the arteries, metabolic disease, and heart disease.

Effects of Stress on the Heart

• Stress can lead to acute ischemic attacks (ref. link). Ischemia is caused by coronary artery spasm (ref. link) (a temporary tightening of muscles in the artery), leading to decreased blood flow to the heart.
• The adrenal glands release catecholamines, or stress chemicals like epinephrine, also called adrenaline.
• Higher heart rate
• Higher blood pressure
• Increased need for oxygen by the body (temporarily higher metabolic rate)
• Lower threshold for irregular cardiac rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia. These irregular cardiac rhythms are more likely to occur when the heart’s electrical system is unstable.

Heart Health and Extreme Stress

Stress can undoubtedly have significant physiological consequences on the body, especially the heart. This is especially true when an abrupt and strong (acute) stressor has occurred. 

Blood sugar levels rise along with the blood’s amount of stress hormones. The blood vessel walls may become inflamed if those sugar levels are higher than what the body requires. Inflammation can cause cholesterol-rich plaque to accumulate in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.

The illness, also referred to as “broken heart syndrome (ref. link),” affects women significantly and more frequently than males, even in people who have never had heart problems. Always keep in mind that stress and anxiety can have subtle impacts on your heart. There are frequently minimal or no symptoms associated with serious illnesses such as high blood pressure, excessive hormone production, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. Yet they may have a significant long-term influence. 

Ways to Control Stress and Protect Your Heart

Your body experiences physical effects from stress. Anxiety is a sign that you’re stressed out. However, taking medication for anxiety issues does not treat chronic stress.

If you want to reduce your stress and have a healthy heart, try these easy suggestions.

• Ways to reduce stress: Read a book, take a bubble bath, or listen to music. If a method works for you, it is effective.
• Meditation- This method of inwardly directed thought and deep breathing lowers heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure. Find a peaceful place to sit, close your eyes, and concentrate on breathing for a few minutes. Yoga and prayer, closely related to meditation, can help the body and mind unwind.
• Unwind- Since stress follows you everywhere, it is impossible to escape it—severe the chord. Avoid disturbing TV news and emails after work hours. Spend some time everyday for yourself, even if it’s just for 10 or 15 minutes.
• Workout- Your body releases mood-enhancing substances called endorphins whenever you engage in physical activity, such as walking or playing tennis. Exercise relieves stress and helps you maintain a healthy weight while strengthening your heart muscle, decreasing your blood pressure, and protecting against heart disease.
• Be positive- Those with heart disease which keep a positive outlook have a lower mortality rate than those who are more pessimistic. Even a nice laugh might be beneficial to your heart. Laughter has been shown to enhance “good” HDL cholesterol, lower stress hormone levels, and reduce artery inflammation. This same network can assist in lowering your risk for heart attack if you already have heart disease. Having at least one person you can count on relieves stress and brings comfort. A solid support network also enables you to take better care of yourself. According to research, the likelihood of practising bad habits like smoking, eating a diet high in fat, and drinking too much alcohol increases when there is a lack of social support.
• Set priority for what is most important to you and strive for a life-work balance to reduce ongoing stress. Make time for friends and family. 
• Reduce stress through exercise- Regular exercise reduces blood pressure and fights against other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Deep breathing and mindful meditation can both help you manage your stress. Do yoga, which blends relaxation, controlled breathing, and movement.
• Get enough sleep- Stress and sleep are related. Lack of sleep can contribute to stress, which in turn can contribute to greater stress. Improved sleep hygiene is essential for stress management and heart health promotion.

Final Takeaway

Your chance of developing heart disease can increase if you work a demanding job that doesn’t provide you with many opportunities to make decisions or pays little. Work stress becomes much more problematic when you lack a solid support network or suffer from chronic anxiety.

Physical and mental pressures are virtually hard-wired into our existence in today’s fast-paced world. Total stress avoidance is not realistic. Find stress-relieving techniques that are effective for you to lessen the negative effects of ongoing tension on the heart, such as exercise, deep breathing, prayer, meditation or mindfulness, yoga, or massage, to name a few.

Finally, you can be assured of your heart health using our Frontier X2 heart monitoring device. Find out more about this revolutionary technology here.

Frequently Asked Questions on Mental Stress :

How do I know if stress is affecting my heart? 

Constant stress can affect the heart adversely by increasing the blood pressure levels and producing excess stress hormones (ref. link).

Can emotional stress make your heart hurt? 

While experiencing stress or anxiety, the body produces adrenaline and cortisol which make the heart rate increase rapidly. This may result in a lot of people experiencing chest pains, sweating or other discomforts. – 

How do I know if it is anxiety or my heart? 

Chest pain is common during both a heart attack and an anxiety attack. However, the basic difference between the two is the kind of pain. During a panic attack or anxiety pain the chest pain feels like stabbing or sharp sting in the centre of the chest while during a heart attack, the pain resembles pressure and squeeze.

How to get rid of heart pain caused by stress? 

There are various ways to ease chest pain caused by stress and anxiety. 

• Exercise- staying active and exercising serves not only as a good distraction but also helps in increasing the serotonin levels in the body.
• Get a good sleep- lack of sleep or sleep deprivation can cause an increase in anxiety issues.
• Limit caffeine, alcohol and smoking.
• Take deep breaths- deep breathing can help you down and bring down the heart rate.

What happens to the heart during anxiety? 

While suffering from anxiety the body is prompted to go into flight or fight response triggering hormones such as adrenaline. This leads to the heart beat faster and the muscle to get tense.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

AFib Symptoms | Persistent Atrial Fibrillation | Acid Reflux | Increased Heart Rate | Healthy Heart Diet | Heart Arrhythmia | Heart Palpitation | Running Heart Rate Zones | Silent heart attack | Best Heart Rate Monitors

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Heart disease continues to be considered a leading cause of death globally (ref. link). Heart attacks usually occur due to blockage in the coronary artery, leading to reduced or no circulation of blood supply to the heart muscles. Chest pain is the most common and recognized heart attack sign, but the symptoms can vary depending on gender and age (ref. link). 

Heart attacks present many other symptoms, apart from the most obvious ones – chest tightness and upper body pain. These symptoms, at times, are easily mistaken for other ailments (like nausea, heartburn, and fatigue). Identifying the early signs of a heart attack and seeking prompt medical attention can make the difference between life and death.

9 Early Signs of Heart Attack

Here are the 9 early heart attack signs to look out for.

1. Uncomfortable Pressure
The very first symptom of a heart attack (ref. link) is an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, feeling of fullness, or pain in the centre or left side of your chest. This discomfort usually lasts for a few minutes, goes away, and comes back again.

2. Pain in Other Parts of the Body
Pain due to a heart attack can occur in places other than the chest also. A blocked coronary (ref. link) can trigger the nerves in your heart to give a signal to the body that something is wrong, and you will start feeling the pain. Considering the fact that the vagus nerve (ref. link) is connected to not only the heart but also the brain, abdomen, chest, and neck, you may feel those pain signals in other parts of the body in addition to the region around the heart. The pain and pressure in the centre of your chest spread up into your throat and jaw.

You may experience pain or discomfort in your: 

• Back
• Neck
• Arms (one or both)
• Jaw
• Stomach

3. Dizziness
Many things can make you dizzy –  not drinking enough water, skipping meals, or standing up too fast. But dizziness or lightheadedness combined with chest pain and shortness of breath can signify a decrease in blood volume and a drop in blood pressure, which means a heart attack could be on its way (ref. link).

4. Fatigue
Feeling exhausted after a sleepless night or a tiring day is normal. But women can feel fatigue as an early sign of a heart attack a month before (ref. link) an actual heart attack. A study found that 95% of women noticed something was not right a month or so before their heart attacks (ref. link). The two most common early warning signs of a heart attack in women were fatigue and disturbed sleep.  

5. Nausea and Indigestion
Gastric symptoms like a groggy stomach, vomiting, or belching occur when the heart and other areas of the body are not receiving sufficient blood supply. People tend to misjudge this as acid reflux or heartburn. So it is important to consult a doctor, especially if you are experiencing heartburn along with other heart attack symptoms such as;

• Fatigue
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Heart Palpitation

6. Sweating
Waking up in a cold sweat, feeling nauseated, and vomiting may look like symptoms of the flu, but they can indicate the occurrence of a silent heart attack. Unless you have just exercised, breaking out into a cold sweat, or perspiring heavily could signal a heart attack. During a heart attack (or pressure situation), your nervous system releases stress hormones. These hormones combine with white blood cells and activate a “fight or flight” response which could lead to sweating.

7. Heart Palpitations
When the heart lacks an adequate blood supply, the heart can begin to get irritable. A reduced supply of nutrient-filled blood leads to the sensation of heart palpitations.

8. Shortness of Breath
If you find it difficult to climb the stairs, and feel frequent shortness of breath, seek immediate medical attention. Even though this does not always mean you are about to have a heart attack, it could be a sign that your heart is in danger. This type of shortness of breath (ref. link), associated with a heart attack, can come with or without any chest pain. Women are found to experience shortness of breath more commonly than men.

9. Swollen Legs, Feet, and Ankles
When the heart does not pump blood fast enough, blood moves back into the veins and causes bloating in various parts of the body, like legs, feet, and ankles (ref. link). Heart failure also makes it harder for the kidneys to remove excess water and sodium from the body, which leads to bloating and swelling.

Early Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack in Men and Women

Signs and symptoms of heart attack differ for men and women. The most obvious and common heart attack symptom known is chest pain (angina) or discomfort. But women are more likely than men (ref. link) to experience some of the other atypical symptoms, especially shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the back or jaw.

Women are found to develop symptoms that are subtler and harder to identify as a heart attack, especially if the physician is only looking for the “usual” signs of a heart attack. While the common symptoms, such as chest pain or discomfort, apply to both men and women, women are more likely to experience less common symptoms, such as indigestion, difficulty in breathing, and back pain, sometimes even in the absence of obvious chest pain.

Catch The Signs Early

Being aware of the early signs of a heart attack is important. Even if you are not sure you have a heart attack, seek immediate medical intervention if you experience any or all the symptoms mentioned above. While these signs do not always mean you have a heart attack, it is better to be cautious and take prompt action. The chances of surviving a heart attack are higher the sooner you get medical treatment.

And remember — the best way to prevent heart attacks in the first place is to get your heart health regularly monitored for risk factors that can lead to a heart attack.

It is always better to keep a track of your heart activities using an ECG fitness tracker, so you can maintain a healthy heart and understand situations and activities that improve or worsen your heart health.

The Frontier X2 is the best ECG fitness tracker on the market, and you can find out more its revolutionary technology here.

Frequently Asked Questions on Early Signs of Heart Attack :

Are there any warning signs days before a heart attack? 

Even though some heart attacks are sudden, there are times when the symptoms can linger for hours, days or even weeks before a heart attack. The prolonged feeling of pressure or constant pain in the chest that does not go away even with rest can be a common symptom of heart attack.

What is usually the first symptom of a heart attack? 

The first symptom of a heart attack is pain, discomfort, feeling of swelling or pressure in the center of the chest.

Are there a set of common symptoms for all heart attacks? 

While most people suffering from heart attacks complain of chest pains, discomfort in the neck or arm, the symptoms can be different in some cases of diabetes and in women. While in these cases chest pain might not be very prominent, there are other symptoms such as shortness of breath and nausea.

What happens just before a heart attack? 

Before the attack, a person may feel discomfort and pain in the chest area along with lightheadedness, pain in the neck, jaw or back and shortness of breath. 

How long does a heart attack last? 

A heart attack can last from a few minutes to a few hours depending on the severity of the case.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Healthy Heart Exercise | Arrhythmia Symptoms | Heart Palpitations After Eating | Heart Rate Zones | Low Heart Rate | Low Carb Diet | Atrial Fibrillation | Cardiovascular Disease | Heart Rate During Exercise | Best ECG Monitor

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Heart palpitations refer to a condition characterised by irregular heartbeats and fluttering or pounding of the heart, which can occur sporadically or frequently. Heart palpitations feel that the heart is beating too fast in comparison to its regular rate. They usually are harmless and often go away on their own. Most of the time, they are caused by stress and anxiety or because of excess caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol intake. 

Some of the possible causes of heart palpitations include:

• Caffeine
• Nicotine
• Stress and anxiety
• Hormonal changes
• Hyperthyroidism
• Exercise
• Fever
• Anaemia
• Dehydration
• Blood loss
• Pregnancy

Apart from above mentioned direct causes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or, the long-term and frequent occurrence of acid reflux, can also be one of the causes. 

Gastroesophageal Disease  

Gastroesophageal disease, or GERD, is a chronic disorder affecting the upper gastrointestinal tract. It occurs when stomach acid or bile seeps into the food pipe and irritates the lining. Acid reflux and heartburn more than twice a week are indicative of GERD. One of the common signs and symptoms is burning pain in the chest that usually occurs after eating and worsens when lying down. 

GERD and acid reflux are not the same things. GERD is a digestive system disease that involves chronic symptoms of acid reflux.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Its Association With Heart Palpitation

GERD and heart palpitations are two conditions that cross paths in various clinical practices. According to a recent study (ref. link), people with GERD possess a high possibility of developing heart-related problems. Although the mechanism is yet unknown, there is some evidence through limited observational studies (ref. link) that report that acid reflux can be one of the heart palpitations causes. Acid reflux causes irritations to the oesophagal mucosa, which leads to inflammation, and plays an essential role in the mechanism pathway that would result in heart palpitations. Acid stimulation of the oesophagus increases vagal afferent traffic and plays a role in the onset of heart palpitations (ref. link), even in the absence of heart disease 

Risk Factors for GERD

GERD can be linked to the following risk factors:

• Alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use
• Obesity
• Diets rich in acidic foods, carbonated beverages, and spicy food

Treating GERD to Avoid Heart Palpitations

Managing your acid reflux symptoms requires a combination of appropriate medication and lifestyle changes. Following a holistic approach can control your GERD and symptoms and prevent the condition from snowballing into heart palpitations.

6 Simple Tips to Treat GERD

• Take smaller meals

By eating smaller meals, your stomach will be partially full and hence, will produce far less stomach acid. This, in turn, reduces gastric pressure. A large meal size combined with a high-calorie intake is tacitly linked to increased oesophagal acid levels and abdominal distention in people with GERD. A very full stomach also puts pressure on the valve between your stomach and the lower oesophagal sphincter (LES) (ref. link).  This allows more gastric acid to flow from the stomach into the oesophagus. Take six small meals rather than the usual three meals a day.

• Slow down the pace of your eating

When you eat, chemical messengers in the stomach (ref. link) signal the brain that food is there. When the stomach is full, the brain responds with sensations of fullness. However, those signals can take a few minutes to reach the brain. By eating quickly, you overeat and overfill the stomach before the messenger signals reach the brain. Eat slowly so that your brain can catch up with your stomach and tell you when it is full.

• Maintain a sufficient gap between your meal and bedtime

Avoid late-night snacking if you have GERD. When you lie flat soon after eating, gravity forces the food inside your stomach closer to the LES (ref. link). If you overeat, the pressure against the LES increases even further. Avoid eating or drinking at least two hours before your bedtime. If you have severe GERD symptoms, stop four hours beforehand.

• Avoid trigger foods

There are foods that can directly impact the lining of the oesophagus, such as spicy foods, citrus fruits, coffee, and juices. Alcohol not only increases the production of stomach acids but also relaxes the LES, allowing acid to seep into the oesophagus (ref. link). 

• Use antacids and proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) wisely

Antacids and proton-pump inhibitors are medications taken to reduce stomach acidity. Antacids counteract the acid in your stomach and relieve acute heartburn. With that said, taking antacids whenever you have the slightest hint of acidity and heartburn can lead to more harm than good. The overuse of antacids (ref. link) can cause constipation, diarrhoea, change in stool colour, and stomach cramps. Certain antacids contain calcium and can cause kidney stones (ref. link).

In addition, antacids can interact with the activity of other drugs (ref. link), including HIV medications, NSAIDs, thyroid hormones, and blood thinners like Coumadin (warfarin). An antacid should be taken two to four hours before or after certain drugs to avoid interactions.

• Relax

Stress does not directly “cause” GERD but can intensify the perception of symptoms. Stress leads to increased release of acid in the stomach, aggravating GERD. Avoid overthinking, take a few deep breaths, and relax, and you can ease the anxiety that often accompanies acute GERD episodes and experience a more rapid easing of symptoms.

At the same time, daily stress management activities like yoga, meditation and walking may serve as a “preventive” therapy by reducing stress levels daily. 

Bottom line

GERD is a common digestive disorder that causes the stomach contents, especially acid, to flow into the oesophagus. It can affect people of all ages and genders and can be rather complicated to treat. Unfortunately, GERD has the potential to trigger heart palpitations. Often, the factors that lead to GERD can contribute to the development of heart palpitations. If you experience fluttering and a racing heartbeat, contact your health provider as soon as possible. 

It is important to take charge of your health by living a healthy lifestyle, practising preventive medicine, following a nutrition plan, and regularly exercising. Understanding your symptoms and signs and being aware of health conditions helps you lead a healthy and happy life. 

One way you can be assured of your heart health is by using a heart monitoring device. Check out the Frontier X2 and its continuous ECG tracking feature which will help you monitor any possible heart palpitations.

Frequently Asked Questions on Acid Reflux :

Can acid reflux cause an irregular heart?

Although palpitations have many direct causes like gastroesophageal reflux disease (ref. link) (GERD), long-term and regular acid reflux is unlikely to be one of them.

Can GERD feel like heart palpitations?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or chronic acid reflux can often exhibit feelings of chest tightness or palpitations (ref. link). At times the burning sense fades and then continues, which can cause pain.

Can Stomach gas cause heart palpitations?

Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can trap air in your oesophagus, which can lead to anxiety, and then a short burst of heart palpitations.

How do you know if it’s heart or acid reflux?

Heartburn generally begins as burning in the top part of the stomach that drives up into the chest while a heart attack usually induces pressure, tightness, or pain in the chest that may proceed to the arms, neck, jaw, or back. 

How are heart palpitations treated?

You can follow some activities like:

1. Add routine activities into your day like yoga, or meditation
2. Deep breathing exercises
3. Dodge activities that cause anxiety

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Increased Heart rate | Heart Rate Monitor | Living with AFib | Atrial Fibrillation Heart Rate | Endurance Training | Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation | How to Improve Heart Health | Resting Heart Rate | Silent heart attack | Running Heart Rate

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK