Atrial Fibrillation: What Are the Activities You Must Avoid With Afib?

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:

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