Hi Dr. Gupta, I'm a 65 yr old male living in North Ontario. I've had afib attacks for years. Very sporadic, maybe once a year, and I still can't reliably identify triggers :( I would characterize my attacks as: - always between 9AM and 9PM - most often at work ( I renovate homes with my daughter) - I feel a strange sensation in my throat, clavicles and upper chest - my pulse at carotid is thin and chaotic - without rhythm - typical duration to resolution - 1 - 5 minutes Self treatment: - immediately find a place to sit down, away from any work zone - with eyes closed I begin to meditate. My focus is split between regaining a rhythm and breathing - I tap my foot to a 60 beat per minute rhythm - my usual resting heart rate. I often rest my hands on my thighs and let one, or both, join my foot - my first few breaths are to a 7 count - 7 in, 7 hold, 7 out. Then I shift to an easier count of 4-4-4 - always filling my lungs to straining That's about it Cheers!
I have sinus tachycardia due to over active parathyroid gland had betablockers . Got off those as hated side effects. I occasionally get a fast heartbeat usually if I have a large meal but find I can stop it if I grab my left side and pinch it in for a few seconds close to the waist. This seems a bit bizarre but it might help others.
Dude.... My dad was having really bad afib and I showed him this video thinking it would calm him down to hear it. We tried the "Modified Valsalva Manuever" and... It worked. I've never seen my dad cry for happiness before. Thank you.
@Ethan Johnson I am very glad for your father. Tell your dad to have cardio ablation procedure ASAP. I have a friend, who suffered with a-fib episodes which was happening at least once a year since he turned age of 18. Doctors was telling him he needs open heart surgery to fix that condition. At age 35 he immigrated to USA and was told, his condition was secondary to WPW syndrome and cardio ablation may fix the problem. It is a minimally invasive procedure, done ambulatory through groin veins, while patient is under X-ray machine. No general anesthesia used and procedure is well tolerated. Specialized scopes, containing electrodes, are inserted into pt heart. Electro-physiologic mapping of the heart performed to find the source of bad impulse that triggering episodes. Finally, doctor make couple scars in the tissue of myocardium to stop spreading of bad signal. Procedure lasts about one hour and well tolerated. My friend has never had more a-fib episodes since that procedure, which was performed almost 30 years ago. That procedure is available in many countries now. God bless America, your father and all good people.
Buy an oximeter yes the finger heart bit detection 👍 If your heart is inflamed go straight on soup 🍲 diet for 5 days you'll see the result From 100 in bed now I'm 62 heart beat per minute Most of the time it's all cased by inflammation of the heart the soup and FASTING will fix you very quickly CUT THE CARBS PEOPLE CUT THE CARBS 👍👍
@Janitor Queen I'm on tablets and under supervision of a super professional doctors The tablets by themselves don't really fix the problems completely but help you for the 60% of the problem A good diet must apply if you like feel your heart very calm that is were the 100% people with Afib fail You must cut the information process and to do so you must cut the carbs at list 85% Please don't school me as I lived with Afib and I find out that medicine help but to keep well and maintain the low medicines doses you need a very clean diet .......yes and also 0 alcohol that for someone is very difficult to do I HEAT ALCOHOL !!! DO YOU ???
@@mastio2007 I have to agree - I had A-flutter due to massive inflamation due to botched dental procedure (first my face swallen then had a-flutter). In ememrgency blood tests were conducted that indicated that a-flutter was caused by toxic shock.
My husband just terminated a 36 hour (9pm) episode by exercise - getting on the rower…. After five minutes or less he said he felt a pop and his rhythm was back to normal. Thank you so much for this video. Very grateful.
It sounds like your husband may have a Hiatus Hernia. The popping is usually the stomach slipping back into its normal place. Something to check anyway. Glad he found a fix 👍
I learned a technique many decades ago. It's simple; cough really deeply then take a deep breath and repeat. This has worked for me time and time again.
I can help you by finding and eliminating the cause. Merely treating symptoms only compounds the problem because it will manifest somewhere else in you body.
Same with me. My only episodes were on the golf course. Three times. I just sat in the cart deep breathing and it stopped in about 5 minutes. Heart rate watch monitor showed it up to 160.
I went to Casualty with SVT of 200+ bpm. They got me to breath into a 50ml syringe (closed airway) and simultaneously dropped the head of the gurney whilst lifting up both my legs. This maneuver switched my heart back to normal sinus rhythm immediately!! Amazing outcome. Wonderful result. Since I started taking Magnesium Glycinate, as recommended in your other videos, I've had zero rate or rhythm abnormalities. Thankyou so much for your channel. 🙏
I was having heart rate 220 bpm. Regular rhythm. Sudden onsets. The shortest event lasted 2 1/2 hours. The longest was 13 hours. Exhausting. Happened 11 times, I think over the course of about 1 year. One time it started while I was sleeping. I started taking Magnesium Citrate and went 6 months w/o a single occurance. I've had 2 occurrences recently in the same weekend (one early morning on Saturday and another the following Sunday)that were very brief, less than 30 minutes. Not sure why they have returned but glad they didn't last for so long. I remember the 1st few times they happened, it was quite painful...each beat hurt. Gradually, they became less traumatic. Magnesium is my friend.
I actually showed my cardiologist that caffeine pulls me out of AFib. This was demonstrated both in the hospital as well as over 30 examples tracked on ECG devices. When I showed this to my doctor he just shrugged and said, "everyone is different, keep doing it". I have been looking for an explanation for this for a while now. Finally someone knows what is going on. Thank you
I so wish you were my doctor. I'm still trying to switch my attack off, but no joy yet, I'm also coping with the migrain aura followed by the headache, I got last evening at 5pm.my PSVT started this morning at 4.45am. 75yr old woman is feeling so sorry for herself just now. Need a hug.
Dr Sanjay, please understand, we all love watching your videos, you are a huge blessing to all human beings! I cannot thank you enough for your information, I am in USA and I send all your videos to my friend in UK, he tells me your in 3 hospitals there!!! Kudos to you sir!!!
I went to my doctor and told him I only have Afib when I sleep on left side, I’m woken up with it, and if I eat a large meal - he told me none of those cause Afib and neither does stress. I felt so taken back and dismissed. This helped a lot.
I have had the EXACT experience. I sleep only in my right side. Donot go to bed soon after karge meal. Remag and Potassium and exercise keep things under control
of experience. I told my doctor about these crazy heart episodes and she blew me off....I ended up in the ER and then a room and I was in big trouble.....fortunately medication and some lifestyle changes and it was all under control....the doctor? I let her have it through the grapevine. I told every doctor and nurse who my doctor and how she told me I was nuts etc......I saw the doctor for one last appointment and let her have my opinion of her and her mismanagement. Do you know she had the nerve to cover her tail and send me a letter telling me that she no longer felt I was a "good patient"....I got the last laugh....I asked a lawyer friend of mine to request a copy of my medical files from this doctor. He got the files. A few days later a lawyer called him about the law suit! We had filed no documents other than requesting a copy of my files....clearly she felt the need to defend herself.....lol...
Such a relief to come on here and find other people are still trying to find a way out of Afib attacks. Sometimes it feels like only you in the world suffers with this damn condition. I've just been hospitalised again overnight with a long episode which self terminated after a deep sleep, and just before they were going to carry out cardioversion on me. Thanks you Dr Gupta, always find your library of videos useful, and reassuring.
8 years ago I had my aortic valve replaced and developed a-fib as an unfortunate side effect. I felt very lonely and scared about this new condition and felt like there was no one else suffering through this. As the years have gone by, I have both learned to control my a-fib (surprisingly well, although the reduction of attacks may have more to do with my heart continuing to heal after surgery, rather than any steps I have consciously taken) and have also learned that there are a LOT of people out there who are also dealing with a-fib. I wish we could all give our support to folks who are new to dealing with the anxiety that a-fib brings out.
@johns3106 hi. Since my post I have had cryo cadrio ablation for my afib. Although it worked partially, I still get episodes that are shorter but still as annoying. So after seeing the cardiology team it's been agreed to try rhe hot radiotherapy version in 2025 under a general anaesthetic. Not something I wanted as my last one was under sedation, but guess I'll have to get on with it. As you said, I think your decline in episodes could well be your hesrt slowly healing and repairing itself. Best wishes.
I just got diagnosed and feel my life has turned upside down. I constantly have episodes and it’s frightening. I’m losing hope here. The only dr in my area that deal with this is 6 months out on apts 🥺
@@nes012003ify I was dx with AFib two years ago. At first it really messed with my state of mind. I absolutely dreaded and feared future episodes of AFib. However, it barely ever really crosses my mind these days. And that's the truth. Look, millions of people have AFib and live full and active lives. It doesn't have to control your life at ALL. There are any number of simple techniques you can learn to self-terminate your AFib. And you can learn to avoid a few things that may trigger yours. At any rate, I do NOT allow AFib to dominate my life these days. I have less and less AFib episodes now, and I think it's probably due to the fact that I no longer Stress about it!😉 Wishing this for you as well!!😊
WOW !! Dr Sanjay Gupta, you are without doubt, one of the highest value youtube authors of all time. Thank you so very much for all of your unselfish sharing of your knowledge and experience. I have subscribed. My cardiologist here in western Oregon USA, shares many of your "patient individual" personality traits and I trust that vs. the "by the book" doctors. Once again, thank you so much. Your editing and very clear enunciation makes it so enjoyable to watch and listen to your videos. Cheers.
Thank you very much. I have just been diagnosed with this and since I already have angina, didn’t really know what Afib symptoms were, and this has helped me.
I learn so much more just listening to your afib video about my new afib condition than all my cardiologists that weighed in with possible life long Rx's, and after extreme reactions to these meds, I was finally referred to other cardiologists who were more concerned with PREVENTING the higher risks of strokes & heart attacks in afib patients. Through your heart videos and my own research, I am learning so much more about afib, basic info and the growing research that is and will be offering more targeted inroads & options to all afib condition levels in the near future. Again, Thank You !!!
bless you! i have ben terminating my afib by inhaling as much air as i possibly can an hold it for about10 or 15 seconds and then exhale. it has ben working most of the time but sometimes not. your videos are a huge help and I do not understand why my doctors do not tell me these things and just want to perscribe medication.
Thank you. I live in New Zealand and have had paroxysmal AFib for many years. As far as can ascertain there is no one or Association that I can discuss with, about this condition . At 83 years old I get the impression from the doctors that at my age there is nothing they can do. But having listen to your post you describe often what happens to me. I wake find myself in AFib and it goes later on in the day. I wish you were here in NZ. Thank you for confirming what I have noticed over a period of time.
You doctor are a treasure……lots of Heart Health info from many good doctors on TH-cam and your delivery and information is Top Caliber Thank You from the AFib Clan
Doctor, it’s such a relief to come across your video. I have not being diagnosed to have afib yet, but I have had 2 episodes of what you described as paroxysmal afib, happened as recent as last night, both times happened between midnight-9am. I will definitely check your other videos. Thank you for sharing your videos.
When I started reading your post I felt like I was reading my own story. I have had 2 episodes but I have yet to be diagnosed. They are fitting me with a Holter monitor tomorrow. I am so scared of getting another one. Both times I wasn’t doing anything strenuous but stressed. I hope you are doing better now. Take care
@@lpsglitterpaws8536 Hope you are doing well. Yes, stress could be a trigger. I’ve learned a lot since I posted this more than a year ago: they couldn’t find the reason why, even after 4 holter separate monitoring events. They did diagnose it when I had an episode and had to go to the ER, so now I’m on Metoprolol. I know my trigger now: GERD (when it’s acting up)-it kind of gives me this knot/pressure feeling on my throat & when I drink anything cold it would trigger a palpitation. When this happens, I would need to be careful not to get too tired. So that’s my second trigger: don’t get physically tired. Now I only get it once in a few months vs once a week like before. I would go to sleep when the afib starts, and once I feel rested, I would try to stretch my whole body while lying down, this would usually stop the afib-it’s the weirdest thing. Hope you’ll learn to control yours as well. Oh, and another thing: I’ve changed profession, from a job that requires a lot of physical/strenuous activities to a desk job, that I think helps too.
Yesterday I had a sudden Afib episode start with bpm 100-112. I did the Valsalva maneuver 3x and within minutes my bpm dropped into the low 70s, then the mid 60s. It was glorious! Thank you! Thank you!
You have a hiatal hernia which is compromising your vagus nerve. When you cough it causes a spasm of your diaphragm which touches your vagus nerve and stomach.
Jack Neals i have a hiatal hernia inwas diagnosed wih three months ago as “minor”. this week ive had two afibs, one that kept me in the hospital and one that i literally just got back from ten minutes ago, which subsided right beofre I got to the ER. I tell them every time that I think the Hiatal Hernia is the cause, and they deny theres any correlation. im very scared. What do i do
@@ericg1100 I strongly believe there is a major correlation between stomach stuff and afib. Or anything that will irritate the vagus nerve. I highly recommend getting alternative doctors opinions until you find one who agrees and follows up. Nobody knows our bodies better than we do and I find it really fuckin annoying how often doctors make us feel crazy
Love guys like this.... They know their stuff, and they're not afraid to share it !! Good on you buddy ! Loved listening to you. I'm an AFib sufferer. Thankyou❤️🥰
He’s a blessing isn’t he? I had an irregular heartbeat for over ten years along with burping at the same time. All of the doctors, nurses and specialists couldn’t tell me why. They said they never heard of both together. I had my answer in 5 minutes from Dr. Gupta. What a relief! God bless this man!
I'm here because the cardiologist who have seen me week after after I had Atrial Flutter recommended ablation as a procedure to prevent future atrial flutters. I learned more from the youtube than from cardiologist (and afterwards electrophysiologist) I've seen.
I’ve always tried self help wherever I can and this is marvellous information. I’m going to try to relieve these terrible symptoms by any means possible. I cannot thank you enough Doctor for making these videos explaining AFIB in such detail. You have put my mind at ease allowing me to be more positive about controlling these symptoms and even reducing their frequency or severity. God bless you.
Fifteen years ago, after diagnosis of AFib in 2005, Dr. Scheurman gave me this advice: take an additional Rhythmol, wait fifteen minutes. If not improved Vagal maneuver. If it does not convert, go immediately to ER .... I have presented in ER with as low as 19 PR, and 200 PR. Only three visits led to admission. I am used to it at this point, but it still gets my attention. Time of day virtually always 8 AM to 9 PM. Best wishes all.
I am so thankful to find this. Thank you for your mist hopeful suggestions. It's 3am & I was feeling desparate. It's given me hope..Will try! Bless you doc. You are so generous & kind.
The biggest mistake of my life was going to the hospital during a (lunchtime) Afib attack (the only one I've ever had) My brother is a cardiologist (across the state) & tried to help me over the phone but my PC refused to do an EKG & sent me to ER. I was quickly restored to a sinus rhythm at the ER but my sympathetic nervous system took over. I could not eat, sleep or breathe for several weeks after this episode. The medication was too strong. Over a year later, I'm still trying to recuperate. The doctors gave me a "rescue drug" in case I had another episode. Have not had one. This is very helpful!!
I use the valsalva maneuver which is mentioned. It works quickly to stop my afib. I read about this a few years ago….. I just woke up with afib a few minutes ago and quickly did the maneuver and got up. It worked…..and got onto YT to see if there were any other ways to do this just in case. Glad that this maneuver is mentioned.
I find that exercise or a slight increase in heart rate works for me. Either a walk up the hill, taking a shower, walking up the stairs etc. Doesn't always work first time and does get me really out of breath. My 3rd ablation coming up in a few weeks, my last was 8 years ago and up until the start of this year I had few episodes. Getting them nightly now. Thanks for these videos, much appreciated. 👍
The one repeatable method for me when I experience A-fib is to take a HUGE deep breath until it strains my lungs. Nine times out of ten, my heart rate drops immediately back to normal. It's almost like flipping a light switch for me. It normally works after the first attempt - if not, I repeat. I stumbled on this when I had a BIG yawn during an A-fib episode and found it worked the next time for me. It's been my go-to method since.
The yawn was probably your body’s instinctive response to deal with the AFib, to move the vagus nerve & generate NO. I’m convinced a lot of it comes from the digestion. & maybe an electrolyte imbalance, likely magnesium or potassium. Since I got my magnesium & potassium up, I no longer get palpitations.
Thank you! I find by listening to a human heartbeat (I have a recording on my phone), my afib resolves usually in 5-10 minutes. Mine always comes on after 9 PM!
It took over 20 years to diagnose my AF. It only happened during & after drinking and smoking. I stopped smoking 10 years ago and hardly drink but even now after just 2 drinks I can feel it coming on. My heart used to shutter so much I could actually feel electrical pulses going through my body. I’ve changed my lifestyle around completely but it had been a nightmare trying to get a diagnosis. Now have mild Mitral Valve issues. I rarely get AF but I have to be super healthy to not trigger it.
Admitted to St Lukes emergency room in Houston at about 11pm with Afil at 175 beats a minute. Put on all the electrical equipment and needles put into rehydrate Cardiac doctors made decision to jump start me with pads! Instructed to take off T Skirt. While doing this difficult movement, I held my breath and squeezed in. 💥 Machinery showed I reset heart to 88👍. Doctors and nurses told me this often happens ! No need to shock now. Released 24 hour later. No problems. What the hell do Doctors learn in medical school and 10 years of medical practice. 🙏
Thank you Dr Gupta. I saw my cardiologist today and he put me on beta blockers and anti coagulants as he says I risk an embolism. I'm not happy with all this medication but I suppose I have no choice. I appreciate your information and will try walking a lot and drinking more water. You are one of life's true angels. Greetings from Switzerland.
I would say you are the best cardiologist I have ever been in consult with Wehl sort of in consult with as far as TH-cam goes that’s what we have today and I think it’s great that you can reach out to all of us who have this issue keep up the great work we really appreciate it
Thanks for this. With the coronavirus going around, I had my second episode of afib just last night. My heart beat quickly went up to 166 bpm. I was just sitting and simply surfing on my laptop. I quickly felt it snuck up upon me. Took out my phone and my Fitbit watch to measure my bpm, and my phone had me at 122 bpm and my watch had me at 166 bpm. I panicked and felt sort of dizzy, but then I got up to walk around for 3 minutes or so, but it still wasnt calming down. So, I took deep breaths, inhale and exhale slowly, then about 10 minutes later, my bpm was dropping back to my normal range 57-100 bpm. I was thankful, but I was really tempted to call an ambulance. I was only hesitant to call because it was 1am in the morning. For the record, I am only 27 years old and weight 130 pounds. My afib hasn't been officially diagnosed yet, because every single time I go to urgent care, or to just get evaluated, the doctors just cant seem to detect anything wrong with my heart, and would always say that I'm young and healthy, and that I'm fine. However, with just my second episode last night, and as I stated above, I truly believe that I have afib. Scary is all I have to say.
I've been dealing with this for a while now. It's kind of bad tonight. I usually get 1 or 2 chest flutters but I usually don't get them at night. I need to go back to the cardiologist to see if this is Afib. I don't have any other symptoms really besides that. I pray that everything works out for you and you get healed. This is really scary.
@@MsLadyBluesWorld Thank you! I will pray for you as well! Since the pandemic, and whenever I worry, I always turn to the Lord for comfort. More then ever before. Though I always go astray constantly whenever things are just alright. Even so and still i go to Him in pieces, so that he could make me whole again. Especially at night because for me, I tend to feel my heart flutter, and my anxiety/stress tends to be worse then as well because everyone is my household would be asleep, so I had to face my "demons" alone, and it scares me all the more. However, I highly recommend to get an official diagnosis, and or to get check ups whenever your gut feeling knows your NOT your usual self. Better safe than sorry. Plus, it will help ease the wondering mind. Normally, I'd go for check ups and docs would constantly say that I'm fine, and that they dont mean to "poop" on me. Like literally they would say things along that line, and in my mind I would say, why not just say shit instead of poop? But whatever. No biggy. But like I said, better safe then sorry! However, I dont have insurance anymore, so I gotta figure some things out in case I get future episodes that are concerning. I pray that you are insured as well because those bills themselves can be another concern. I just finally finished paying a $600 bill just last week. $60 a month. Again, thank you, and I pray that Lord Jesus Christ, and or whoever is God, the creator, Maker, Higher being heals us all, and have mercy on us. There's gotta be a Higher being. We desperately need one in my opinion. Lastly, sorry if my reply was a bit much and long!
I'm 25 and I had afib for 3 days and it converted by itself I was in the ER for 3 days scary af but I'm glad my heart rythem went back to normal and I can see my kids again. It sucks it's scary I was crying like a baby in the ER thinking I was going to die. Thank god for the nurses who were there and the docs because they assured me everything was going to be ok. I'm still suffering from anxiety but with good help and the grace of god I'll live my regular life once again.
same here. Every scan / test / EKG showed all is normal. I was told it's in my head and I just need to relax. That ius until they gave me a holter for 24 hours...and there it was: an episode of AF @170 pulse and I even didn't felt it myself! My advice: get a holter for a couple of days, tests are only a snapshot in that moment
Thank you for posting this doc! Originally my Afib was due to mitral valve prolapse. Eventually had that valve replaced - took 2 surgeries to get it right. That didn’t end the Afib but at least it doesn’t feel like a jack-hammer! I couldn’t believe that my heart tissue could pound that hard and still keep itself together! So... I still have occasional Afib. Mine first starts with my lower neck hurting on the right side above collar bone. This usually lasts for 3 days. Then around 3am I’ll wake up hot - usually from a strange dream -then the heart goes into Afib. A couple of times I’ve been able to stop it... but for the most part, it stops when it decides to stop. But usually it stops when the neck pain goes away completely. If the afib ends but my neck still hurts, then I know The heart isn’t “done” yet. The deep breathing seems to help but again, the neck pain is the indicator. I wonder how many others have the neck pain sign. I know of one other person whose afib starts with the same area neck pain
I've has AF since my late twenties; I'm now 73. Mostly these started when I was asleep; hangover and being cold in bed both seemed to increase the chances of an episode. In the first ten years or so it would usually spontaneously revert after about twenty-fout hours. But I discovered I could self terminate by vigouous exercise. I was very fir in those days and my peak pulse rate was about 200. In retrospect I think what happened was if I exercised hard enough the pulse rate that my body wanted would out run the AF rate and I'd go back into sinus rhythm. This doesn't work any more. A few years ago I did a 100km bike ride with AF at the start and AF at the finish.
of all those years that you experienced afib, did your doctor ever told you to take blood anticoagulants? I am so afraid that whenever there is an afib attack, I might get a stroke.
I had bypass surgey 2 yrs back. Before that i had 4 epsodes of paoxysmal AFB. After that one day i have mild chest compression in the early morning. I had an ecg then and found to have mild non st iferior mi troponin was little and then ununder went angigram and found to have 3 major block. Every time afib reverted by amioderone injection. After surgery 2 yrs i was ok. No afib. Recently in early morning i have 3 attak in last 2 months lasted 2to3 hrs self terminated after good sleep with pill. Ht rate was not so fast. I am on sotalol 40 mg bd. What should be nenxt plan of action. Dr abdur rob sarkar. I you answer i will be very happy. My dm and htn controlled with oral drugs. Now iam taking aspirin rivaroxoban. Thaks for your very helpful lecture. My mail sarkarrob@yahoo.com.
Try interval exercise, start off, then exercise for 15 min, then stop and rest, then start again. Interval exercise brings more success than continuous exercise😮
Deep breathing helps in controlling an A-fib attack for me. Another thing that helps is distracting myself by reading or sitting up and watching TV. Giving attention to something other than what is physically going on with my body also helps. I noticed that each time I distracted myself my body relaxed and eventually my A-fib episode would cease. My attacks usually occur between 9pm and 9am. They do not last more than an hour. I am fortunate that I can control them and they are not long-lasting and do not occur very often.
We call it belching or bringing up wind. Which works for me sometimes but often it just delays or reduces the episode. This ties in nicely with the theoretical interference from the digestive system. I've noticed that bad sleep can also cause a day of heightened afib feelings. I am at present trying various exercises which may help alleviate the problems with the digestion.
I have only a little experience, each time starting at night or after sitting too long. First time I was aware of it, afib continued for 12 hours until I could get in to see my doctor, he sent me to the hospital. The hospital sits on the highest point of town so I biked pretty hard getting there, the afib ended before they did any testing. Next time I went straight to the hospital, riding slow, they diagnosed it, kept me 8 hours without any improvement, sent me home, the biking it seems fixed it quite quickly. Seeing a pattern, third time I biked and it stopped.
As a cyclist ( road racing over 30 years) I can tell you that bike racing “cure” won’t last forever. a.fib. is a progressive disease. I still cycle occasionally, but my racing days are long over as ablations & beta blockers limit one’s heart rate and therefor cardiac output.
Thank you so much for this latest info. On holiday last week I had an episode lasting 48 hours, I felt really unwell and was about to give up on my favourite val salver manoeuvre when finally I felt the change. It left me feeling very fragile. I haven't tried raising my legs after, but next time shall. God bless you, you are such a beautiful soul. X
I was recently diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in my mid-20's. Through a few months, I learned that my afib seemed to be triggered by consuming very cold food and drink, like ice-cold water and popsicles. Some months after an ablation, I was sick with flu-like symptoms with a fever (wasn't COVID, fortunately) and went into afib after drinking milk. My doctor told me to go to the hospital. I bent over to tie my shoes and, like a switch, my afib was gone.
Rest and digest afibs respond to change of posture and drinking a cup of hot water (add sodium bicarb if this persists)....get rid of any air in the stomach...if it happens lying on left side ...lay opposite side.Some foods trigger this...loss of body salts. Are you losing essential minerals magnesium?...low potassium? Just a few thoughts.
AFib from food can be from overload or sensitivity to Lectins, Salicylates, or Histamines also. Mine is also related to my gerd/fumes hitting my bronchial nerves and triggering an asthma attack, which instantly triggers AFib. I can prevent this chain reaction by pressing in on top of my breastbone notch where the bronchial nerves start, until the gerd flare passes, or I change position. After the fact is more difficult--if from food, it's iffy to stop. If from bronchial irritation, I use my NeoRhythm headband to help stabilize my vagas nerve while also doing vagal maneuvers. Top it off with some color therapy--blue/green (perfect teal) for the eyes or tracing the vagas nerve. Imagine breathing it into each cell to calm. Different techniques work at different events. And...sometimes nothing works. My BEST defense for preventing AFib? DETOXING! Sweating, taking specific detox supplements, drinking lots of very pure water not in plastic...the daily toxins we produce, plus consumw and inhale are overpowering our systems, causing internal pollution that spills into our body systems. Detoxing and cleaning the LYMPH system is the real key.
My AF happens at night mostly. I terminate it 95% of the time by holding my breath for as long as possible. I always have a regular heart beat if I feel my pulse, but I can hear the flutter if my ear is pressed closed against my pillow.
Sure that is not something else? I had that once and I was afraid it was AF too. But I mesured my pulse in my neck and it was completely normal. I figured it was just something muscular in my face (muscle twitching) or something causing it. It went away.
Thank you. I had a cardioversion two years ago and was put on Multaq, Eliquis and Metoprolol. All worked like a charm for two years, but now I find that I am getting the odd A-fib episode again. I was told and read that the Multaq loses its efficacy over time, hence I imagine the returned episodes. Something tells me that I am on my way to an ablation and which speaking to friends I know who have had one, say worked for them brilliantly! My A-fib puzzles my Cardiologist as my blood pressure is wonderful. I had an echo and apparently aside from slight regurge and a murmer the physical construct of my heart is in tip top condition. Cholesterol 147, passed my stress test with flying colours, so all good aside from the A-fib. It's very frustrating. It's also terrifying when you get an episode, so thank you Dr. Gupta. (Any relation to the Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN fame?) :)
I’ve had a fib twice in 1 1/2 years. Went to the ER both times. Meds brought it down the first time cardio version the second. Three months later I woke up with a heart rate of 163 instead of going to the hospital I did the breathing exercises and self chest compression bringing it back to sinus rhythm in ten minutes. I’ve noticed a large meal at night or carbonated drinks tend to increase my heart rate. I’ve changed eating and drinking habits, smaller meals no carbonated drinks very limited alcohol intake increased exercise. Feeling a lot better with no a fib events in a couple of months. At least through Dr Sanjay’s videos I now have tools to help control these events.
I just did the modified Valsalva technique (with elevated legs) for the first time, and it worked! My episode had gone on for 9 hours, so I looked up this video, said let me give it a shot, and to my surprise, it worked immediately. Thank you so much for the tip!
This is fascinating!! My episodes have occurred during night when sleeping on my L side. And when I’ve gone through a stressful situation. Huge deep breaths help.
Mine starts when it feels like it , I can't understand why i feel these huge miss beats followed by almost a fluttering effect , my chest i can see it jumping and the same time i start to have a panic attack only to be told its normal, over thirty five years this has control me. Glad I've found this site.
exactly....when it feels like it: petting my dog, taking my meds (ironic there), reaching for a book off the table...anywhere, anytime...from 72 to 140 in a heartbeat
Patrick Swann my episodes also start when I'm doing a lot of reaching. Also when I do a lot of loud talking. Seems to be when doing activity above the diagpham. When I did the treadmill stress test, I did fine. Wonder if upper body stress test would be more appropriate for us.
Very interesting Video. Thank you. I was Diagnosed with episodes of AF. I have suffered from occasional bouts of Sinus aR for 20 years. Structurally normal and functional heart. My AF normally begins when I am sedentary and heart rate low. Particularly if I nap through the day, I will awake with Af. If I immediately take a rapid walk I can sometimes stop the episode. Thank you for your most helpful videos for someone beginning the journey 🙏
Thank you for posting this. Very interesting solutions. Whenever I have an episode, I ride my bike(indoors and outdoors) raise my heart rate from resting to 135. I hold it there for a few minutes and let it drop down for a few minutes. I repeat this process for 15 to 30 mins. I can feel it reset and the afib is gone. This works for me every time. Cheers, J
stomu toyota I do exactly the same thing! In my case, I bring my heart rate to 150 on my indoor bike, and after a few cycles of pedalling and stopping, my heart resets.
This is great, I have made a similiar experience. It works very well. Nutrition change might be also helpful to easier reset the heart while doing this interval training.
Michelle N - I’m 58 years young and ride 30k 7days a week now. No afib symptoms for the entire month of June! This is the first time since being diagnosed January 2019.
Thank you stomu toyota. Your advice helped me revert a 7 day afib event. I am so very grateful for your advice. I'm very paroxysmal and get into afib once every six months or so. Anyway 15 minutes into my workout my pulse suddenly dropped from 130ish to 85ish. I'm 57 and feel really fatigued when in afib, so ithe feeling of coming out of it was just wonderful. Such relief and I've been back in sinus rhythm for 6 weeks now, so I'm glad I found your comment again. Thankyou thankyou thankyou.
After my first few episodes, I kept track of the duration and frequency of all my afib events for 4 years until my ablation last April. One of the things that kept me from having my ablation was it seemed as if my duration was gradually getting less month by month, although the frequency was increasing. I think one of the most important things to help me reduce the duration was over time I was much more relaxed. in the beginning, I was terrified and was certain I might die, but over time I got used to the events and they diminished in time. Most of mine were under 12 hours and near the end, they were averaging about 2 hours. I knew when it was a real event that would last a long time, more than 10 or 20 minutes when I had to urinate a lot. Once my heat stopped tachycardia and was just out of rhythm often walking around the apartment or even a slow walk with the dog would help it go back in, also sometimes I would have success by sitting in a crouched position and blowing through my lips trying to build up pressure.. I also tried ice on my back and neck and twice it went back in rhythm while in the shower. oddly, on two occasions when it had gone on much longer than 12 hours and I was convincing myself to call the hospital as I got out of bed and sat at my desk ready to make the phone call it went back in rhythm just as I was beginning to dial the hospital. Also, 3 times it went out of rhythm while making lunch in the kitchen. I actually bought an EMF meter to check to see if I had any background radiation that might be causing me to have afib in the kitchen. I eventually realized what may have been happening as before I was in the kitchen each time I had been lying down and as I got up suddenly and walked in the kitchen my system was not steady. After 4 years my events started to increase I length to over 12 hours plus I began having fast tachycardia without afib and slight pain in my chest while walking outside which terrified me and made me become sedentary and weak so I went ahead with the ablation. I think I tried about 14 different things. The only thing I think helped was to be calm, take vitamin B12 and liquid magnesium and to have the ablation.
I really appreciate being able to read your comment. It was informative and helpful to me. Thank you and so hope you will feel better. Greetings from Denmark.
@@mr.fatbasstard_--_ Thanks to God I have been wonderful. I had some throat issues for a month or two after. I had a few days where I noticed a pausing or skipping for a few minutes but no afib. In august I started an exercise program I am still on it. Also, I examined everything to see what caused my afib to help keep it from coming back and I think it was stress. I had a lot of issues before I got my afib, I was helping my mom who had alzheimers for 4 years and I became a big worrier over the years. I have since made it my priority to reprogram my mind to become a different person regarding stress. It sounds crazy, but before my exercise program every morning I bounce lightly on a mini trampoline for 20 minutes and speak out affirmations and things I want to happen in my health and life that are positive and joyful and life affirnming. I brainwash myself. I feel better and have been making better choices day by day, it is a process. It took me a lifetime to become stressed out person so i do not expect my transformation to happen immediately, but I like the direction I am going. Statistically, my afib has a high chance of coming back, I think 40% of people do not make it a year without it reoccuring , but I would not change anything i am doing. I will worry about that if it happens. My goal is to live to be at least 104 in health and happiness and I work on it every day.
Very good stuff doctor. Paroxysmal Afib patient since late 2019. Activity and drinking cold water seems to make mine go away. I typically get it at rest or sleeping. Used to only be associated with modest amounts of alcohol and now I get short episodes even with no alcohol. Just got ablation done and maintaining NSR and hoping for the best.
Mine always happens at night. Like 10:30pm. I try drinking salt water. Breathing techniques. Nothing works. Then when I get up at 6am and have a big drink of water mixed with apple cider vinegar, green powder, creatine, nutritional yeast, l-citrulline, and 20 minutes later it stops. I feel fine all day and exercise. Some nights I sleep fine but other nights I’m up all night with afib. Ugh! This sucks.
5 weeks post ablation now and have been NSR Afib free. Exercise endurance is good but not back to baseline. Resting HR still above normal by about 10 bpm but improving slowly. Heart rate variablity still 1/2 what it was preablation but getting better. My body is having trouble relaxing and getting high quality sleep as noted in my Hrv being low but is improving. Hope I remain Afib free.
The biggest thing that works for me is making sure to drink enough water. If I'm at all dehydrated I'll start getting AF. When I start having it, I drink a lot of water and it goes away fairly soon after.
Thank you. Very interesting. I have Afib and realised I was diagnosed with hiatus hernia a number of years ago so connected. Afib nearly always at night. . My afib was getting worse, 3 times a day and waiting for ablation. On meds too. However I lost 2 stone and afib much improved to only once a week or less. In addition I now try not to eat after 8pm. However I really wish my cardiologist and his team would stress the importance of lifestyle, in particular weight. I was and still am overweight (improving though). Don’t pussyfoot around if it can make a significant improvement.
DR.GUPTA. I APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION ON AFIB. YOUR ENGLISH IS VERY ELEGANT AND A SIGN OF YOUR FINE EDUCATION, WHICH IMPRESSES ME. THE SPOKEN WORD IS THE PRIME MARK OF A PERSON. I ALSO ADVISE PEOPLE TO AVOID CAFFEIN, WHITE RICE, FLOUR AND SUGAR, ALCOHOL.
Thanks very much for the informative video - as a mixed afibber, I have found the most success with the pill in the pocket treatment of ativan and inderal (which has historically terminated attacks within 30 minutes) and have also had some immediate results with ice and cold water applications on my face
My husband had a very strange episode about five years ago. He spent nine days in the hospital with every type of ablation cardioversion and all sorts of other tests finding out he was still in a fib and out of $80,000. I am going to show my husband this video as he has a fib once again. Five years later let’s see if we can avoid going back to the hospital. I will keep you updated
$80,000 and still not healed... that is daylight robbery. I had an afid recently and was hospitalized for 3 days, and it costs me only USD$5.50. That is the difference between US healthcare and South East Asian healthcare services. With $80,000 I can buy a house here. I had two stents in my heart arteries (done twice) and the cost? US$35+US$35. Something is not right in US.
$80,000.00!!! The best argument for a National Health plan. Americans spend more on average for health than Europeans but get less care and many loose everything they have worked and saved for after a simple stay in the hospital.
When the doctor told me that I had to have a fib procedure he said three words and that made up my mind he told me the three words were it could be risky that’s all I had to hear I am 84 years old and I’m not gonna have it I had it years ago when I was younger I’m breathing good I get around good I drive I do my thing. I’m sorry for your story about your husband.
I enjoy listening to you. I had to go to a GI doc last Monday because my urologist kept me on daily antibiotic and I think it’s killing my gut! The doc ordered a med to take as needed return in 2 months ordered blood work BUT never examined me at all. Just asked questions and typed rude too. I hate US docs
Thanks, I suffered from a tachycardia attack on regular occasions 50 years ago,it was wrongly diagnosed eventually as Wolf Parkinson, and later diagnosed as not Wolf Parkinson. I developed my own strategy 50 years ago before I had ever heard of the Valsalva manoevre , I would kneel down,put my head on the floor and breathe in deeply and hold my breath, and I would flip back into normal rhythm. Usually worked very easily, but sometimes needed an hour or two rest before it would work. Eventually this stopped working and I had an ablation which has cured the problem.
I'm patient who had a very first cardiovascular event diagnosed by the Emergency Room doctor as Atrial Flutter two and half weeks ago on 6/30/3021. Week later cardiologist in Saddleback Cardiology Center recommended ablation. I thought it was a very radical procedure to recommend for someone who had just first (and only) atrial flutter. This cardiologist told me that doing ablation "will prevent atrial flutters from happening in the future". Listening to your lectures I realized that ablation does not prevent future atrial flutter. Thank you for your lectures. Can you do lecture about ablation and Atrial Flutter for "the beginners". How likely is that Atrial flutter will repeat? BTW - youtube has become my goto education center as far as my cardiovascular event. Thank you again.
Same thing happened to me. Except my sister had been talked into having a ablation and I refused. Then I found on Mayo Clinic that that is not the accepted treatment. The cardiologist I saw immediately "paused" my heart. The second time I sent in with afib another cardiologist watched me. He had tests done and waited to see what was happening. I had been diagnosed with 1)panic attack, 2) Superventrical tacycardia, and finally afib. York Cardiology has taught me more than most doctors I've gone to. Thank God I have Medicare and Blue Cross.
@@judyrobertson9479 I refused, and knowledge i found on youtube was the reason for that. Today - it is 6.5 months after my atrial flutter that was traced to dental procedure that basically put my body into toxic shock. I did not have any atrial flutter after that time. I believe cardiologist and electrophysiologist were talking me into the ablation, because Medicare pays better for ablation. As it were I decided not to take blood thinners and not to do ablation. Looking at my echocardiogram, I did not see the reason for that. The overall assessment was "not remarkable". I wonder how much Medicare pays for ablation and how many unnecessary ablations are being performed just to bring income to the doctors, who after all have to pay off their medical student loans.
After having AFib for a while, although minor Oh, I thought I would just check on ablation. The doctor quickly try to talk me into the ablation, even though my 2 week heart monitor had not been read. I told him no. The next thing I know people are calling me trying to schedule an MRI, CAT scan, excetera for an ablation that I did not agree to I of course canceled it, and after a different technician read my Holter monitor report, she said it was not needed. I seem to think it was all about the money. He wanted to do the ablation for days before the reading of the Holter monitor. I would have gotten an ablation that I absolutely did not need.
@@jerituttle9092 That sounds awfully similar to my case. I was being talked into ablation, BEFORE doctor even read report from monitoring my heart for three days (in my case) and before I had ultrasound of my heart done. Ultrasound indicated that my heart overall is "not remarkable". I had atrial flutter traced explicitly to botched dental procedure, and still medical doctors cardiologist and electrophysiologist all that they were talking to me about was ablation. Did they plan to gain some experience on unsuspecting Medicare patient, or is Medicare paying quite well for ablations. Clearly state of my heath did not indicate that ablation has to be done. BTW - I did not agree to have ablation, and I did not use blood thinners, and yet, I did not have another a-flutter or a-fib now for close to 7 months. And I feel fine.
I and others have been able to stop an afib attack by simply drinking an electrolyte drink. I find this incredible! I've had paroxysmal afib for nearly four years and it has slowly progressed. I was beginning to get serious about ablation and happened upon a Reddit string where this was mentioned. I've been taking an electrolyte supplement daily and no afib in over two months. Does anyone else know about this? Nuun is the one I've been taking but I don't think there's anything special about it specifically, more just increasing my electrolyte levels.
I have A-fib, Angina, Heart failure, and have not had such a discussion; possibly because I have a sensory processing disorder as a part of my Autism, and find it hard to relate to the descriptions. I get exhausted, breathless, and dizzy, I also develop a breathing problem where I have a kind of hiccup with every breath, which is quite distressing after a while. The last time I had this hiccup issue, I'd just about had enough; it's easy to lose patience sometimes with Autism, even for someone higher functioning like me. I was getting thoughts of my heart packing up for good, and as others will know, those thoughts of doom are not nice, and so I decided, "if now is my time, I'm at least going to go out stoned and in a better mood for it". I don't smoke cigarettes but like a little weed in a pipe, so I took one little puff, and to my surprise, contrary to all the advice, the hiccupping stopped immediately and my heart went back to normal again. It gave me plenty of time to make an appointment with my GP a few days later and get checked out. Cannabis may well have saved my life that day......
I self-treated my paroxysmal afib attack 7 months ago using a Propafenone based pill called rythmonorm (2 x 150mg tabs and 1 x 150 after one hour), as my doctor suggested. It worked fine. He offered me also as an alternative a Flecainide based pill. Thank you for your posts Dr Gupta, I hope that the above might help.
Propafenone is only effective 30% of the time. I tried it and I was not one of the 30% that it helped. It was prescribed to me by my doctor as a last resort before ablation.
Oh perfect!!!! Thats me described to a 'T' thats brilliant because I have been waiting 5 months for a referral to a cardiologist and its exasperating and worrying that im not getting any help. Seek and ye shall find... heheh and here you are for me. 🎉 Now I have something else to try, and i can better describe my type of afib now when/if i ever get to see someone other than my GP, tho i have to say she HAS helped enormously by advising i stop all caffeine, smoking and alcohol, so now instead of daily and nightly episodes and palpitations and ectopic beats, i am now 'rest and digest' triggered and mostly at night, and no more palpitations, fluttering or stops. Thank you Doctor for adding further advice so i can help myself even more while i wait for a cardiologist! Im taking nattokinase too after seeing your video, im sure thats also helping greatly x
Good vid SJ's a great presenter: - the auto-transcript made me LOL - no diss intended - see below 39 people out of the hundred said that it was possible for them to terminate their own egg featherbed they're a fib by themselves! regardless of whether the afib started with a vehicle trigger it seemed that vagal maneuvers seemed to do seem to be effective at self termination
I seem to fall somewhat into both groups you mentioned. Often an attack will start when I'm hungryand start eating. Certain foods can cause overall anxiety and distress, sometimes as an allergic response or for other reasons, causing higher heart rate, and this can lead to tachycardia. I can have SVT with or without afib. The SVT has been more frequent. Over many years, I've found that habitual alcohol consumption makes the problem much worse-but it's a delayed effect, building up over weeks or even months. The immediate effects of alcohol seem to reduce the likelihood (as long as problem foods aren't aggravating things.) I've also found that exercise has a benefit that builds up over time-not an immediate help, but one where I can look back over months and see a reduction in problems. Techniques to stop an attack-what I heard about was breathing IN against a closed airway. Haven't tried it, but whatever it does, I'm sure it will do it really fast!
Brilliant Doctor! I have a great cardiologist and I've had a couple of catheter ablations with some good results. However, in the NHS there is very little time for face to face consultations and more often than not, I find I have lots of questions afterwards, but then I have another 4-6 month until my next appointment. This guy for me fills in the gaps in my knowledge and has really helped me to understand my condition better and ideas on how to deal with it. One of the most useful/effective was his recommendation to take a magnesium supplement which seems to have eradicated my AF attacks over the last couple of months (normally I would have them daily), hopefully it continues to be effective! Regardless I'll be coming back to his videos because they are a gold mine of information and support.
I hope this comment finds you in good health. I just wanted to comment about taking magnesium and staying well hydrated with electrolyte water has stopped my Afib attacks as soon as 15-20 minutes. If I’m lazy and don’t get up and take magnesium and electrolytes my attacks can last hours. It was something I figured out on my own. I’m to have ablation surgery with my hypertrophic cardiomyopathy complication soon. Still scares me but nothing more scary than getting random attacks. Hope this helps someone until they can get to a cardiologist. 🙏
@@GigiNKD I am in good health thanks, I haven't had a single episode of AF (that I'm aware of) since I started taking magnesium over 3 years ago. It sounds like it's helping you as well which is great. Don't be afraid of the ablation procedure, I've had two of them myself and they are pretty straight-forward.
@@keithdoran728 thank you for replying!! It’s almost 4 am and I’ve been binging on Afib videos lol So, your comment is like a message from my prayers. Thank you more than you know for your comforting comment. I’m so happy 3 years later you are doing great! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
The first time I experienced AF, I thought I had had a heart attack. I went to the local A&E and they hooked me up to various machines. It was after midnight when I got there. One doctor saw me briefly. The next day, they moved me to a ward. After a while, I felt fine but they kept me there, with one visit from a doctor, the whole of the next day. It was Friday so if they didn't sign me out, I would be stuck there for the weekend since no senior doctors work at the weekend in the NHS and there would be nobody to sign me out. Thankfully, after constantly asking every member of staff numerous times to let me go someone did. It happened again a few times over the next few years, and each time I went to hospital because my heart rate was extremely high. The fourth time it happened, again late at night, I waited a couple of hours for it to go away. It didn't, so off I went to A&E. When I got there, my heart was racing at 146bpm. My usual heart rate is about 50bpm, which is slow, I know. A nurse immediately took me from the waiting room into the A&E area. I said I needed the toilet, so I went and sat down and strained to defecate. At once, I could feel my heart slow down. It was like a miracle. When I came out, I told the nurse that I thought the AF had stopped while I was straining. She said "Oh yeah, that's one way it can be treated". I thought "Why did nobody tell me this the first time it happened? Why didn't they tell me to go to the toilet that first time and strain to have a crap?" My heart rate was down to 70 after straining which is still high for me but it felt normal. It seems that most doctors are much happier to give people drugs, rather than provide them with simple means of control over their health. Doctors rarely advocate exercise a good diet and vitamin supplements when there are pills to be prescribed.
You are the first person I’ve read a comment from who has the same thing that I do which is I can have the eighth it go on for two or three or four hours but when I finally have a bowel movement it immediately stops within seconds. I do not understand this but that is the pattern.
So true, I've had several hospital stays after being admitted with AF....been told that I need pacemaker or cardioversion and given beta blocker. Now beta blockers did make things a lot worse, they made me pass out in the night in bed. Now years later I have learnt to relax and breathe! I am on anticoagulants and try to avoid gluten I.e. bread, pasta, cakes etc. And alcohol too...I think sometimes I'm just sensitive and rather than having things done to my heart a walk in the woods is much better and healing. Meditation helps too and don't let them scare you! Dr. Gupta you are Ace! Thank you for your very helpful talks!
I have paroxysmal Afib with RVR. I have tried vagal maneuvers with no success. I terminated a really bad episode by simply lying done once but that usually doesn’t work. Usually I go to the ER, they eventually give me Diltiazem IV and within a couple of hours it stops (though sometimes it has taken longer, up to 10 hours). Now my Cardiologist has given me Diltiazem pills to try at home for next time.
I had an episode of Afib last night and self terminated by firmly pressing down on my upper stomach. I think it may be a hiatal hernia. I will try all the suggestions from the Dr and the comments. Thank Dr, and thanks everyone!
I've had paroxysmal AF for many years. For me it's 60/40 between vagal and sympathetic. I don't notice that one is more likely to last longer than the other. Often vagal maneuvers such as MVM do help. Aterial massage and dunking can also work for me. I used to wait as much as 8-12 hours for the attack to self-terminate, but the guidance from my EP is not not wait more than two hours before going to hospital and getting cardioversion. One reason might be that my AF is usually AF with RVR, so waiting many hours is quite distressing. Still, everyong with paroxysmal AF should learn vagal maneuvers. There's a good chance it will help.
I just got over an Afib episode. Mine happen during sleep . My apnea began right after gall bladder surgery. More recently Afib began. I had fast heartbeat episodes for years. I would get out of bed, and try to calm down, then I would urinate, and often at that time I felt the urge to defecate, and the bearing down, stopped the fast pulse. Tonight I had to bite a Toprol in half, as the fast pulse didn't slow as quickly. Love your videos, and wish your office were closer to Ohio. Your gentle approach to issues is awesome. I rarely see my Cardiologist, and he wanted me to have a stress test because of a slight shorter line or something on my EKG. I told him I didn't think it was whatever he thought, but did the test anyway. I refused to do the chemical that raises the heart rate. I don't know why that scares me. I figure if I had an issue, I could always jump off the treadmill. LOL As I figured, everything was fine, and I did the treadmill fine. I am 77, and have commented on your site before. You are awesome, and I am SO glad you're here. My husband, who is 80, recently went through colon cancer surgery, and 13 years ago he went through an Esophagectomy. This time it is more stressful for me because, his weight got so low, and his memory is really bad. I have to do the billing, and my work, plus making decisions, and finding my corn starch in the the food container cupboard, and other things come up missing. I think my God is testing me. I keep trying to pass the test. Have a great week, And God bless you for what you do!!
Hi Dr. Gupta,
I'm a 65 yr old male living in North Ontario.
I've had afib attacks for years. Very sporadic, maybe once a year, and I still can't reliably identify triggers :(
I would characterize my attacks as:
- always between 9AM and 9PM
- most often at work ( I renovate homes with my daughter)
- I feel a strange sensation in my throat, clavicles and upper chest
- my pulse at carotid is thin and chaotic - without rhythm
- typical duration to resolution - 1 - 5 minutes
Self treatment:
- immediately find a place to sit down, away from any work zone
- with eyes closed I begin to meditate. My focus is split between regaining a rhythm and breathing
- I tap my foot to a 60 beat per minute rhythm - my usual resting heart rate. I often rest my hands on my thighs and let one, or both, join my foot
- my first few breaths are to a 7 count - 7 in, 7 hold, 7 out.
Then I shift to an easier count of 4-4-4 - always filling my lungs to straining
That's about it
Cheers!
Thanks for this info!
I have sinus tachycardia due to over active parathyroid gland had betablockers . Got off those as hated side effects. I occasionally get a fast heartbeat usually if I have a large meal but find I can stop it if I grab my left side and pinch it in for a few seconds close to the waist. This seems a bit bizarre but it might help others.
Dude.... My dad was having really bad afib and I showed him this video thinking it would calm him down to hear it. We tried the "Modified Valsalva Manuever" and... It worked. I've never seen my dad cry for happiness before. Thank you.
@Ethan Johnson I am very glad for your father. Tell your dad to have cardio ablation procedure ASAP. I have a friend, who suffered with a-fib episodes which was happening at least once a year since he turned age of 18. Doctors was telling him he needs open heart surgery to fix that condition. At age 35 he immigrated to USA and was told, his condition was secondary to WPW syndrome and cardio ablation may fix the problem. It is a minimally invasive procedure, done ambulatory through groin veins, while patient is under X-ray machine. No general anesthesia used and procedure is well tolerated. Specialized scopes, containing electrodes, are inserted into pt heart. Electro-physiologic mapping of the heart performed to find the source of bad impulse that triggering episodes. Finally, doctor make couple scars in the tissue of myocardium to stop spreading of bad signal. Procedure lasts about one hour and well tolerated. My friend has never had more a-fib episodes since that procedure, which was performed almost 30 years ago. That procedure is available in many countries now. God bless America, your father and all good people.
@@borismercalov6157 ablation us great, but it’s not for everyone.
Buy an oximeter yes the finger heart bit detection 👍
If your heart is inflamed go straight on soup 🍲 diet for 5 days you'll see the result
From 100 in bed now I'm 62 heart beat per minute
Most of the time it's all cased by inflammation of the heart the soup and FASTING will fix you very quickly
CUT THE CARBS PEOPLE CUT THE CARBS 👍👍
@Janitor Queen I'm on tablets and under supervision of a super professional doctors
The tablets by themselves don't really fix the problems completely but help you for the 60% of the problem
A good diet must apply if you like feel your heart very calm that is were the 100% people with Afib fail
You must cut the information process and to do so you must cut the carbs at list 85%
Please don't school me as I lived with Afib and I find out that medicine help but to keep well and maintain the low medicines doses you need a very clean diet .......yes and also 0 alcohol that for someone is very difficult to do
I HEAT ALCOHOL !!! DO YOU ???
@@mastio2007 I have to agree - I had A-flutter due to massive inflamation due to botched dental procedure (first my face swallen then had a-flutter). In ememrgency blood tests were conducted that indicated that a-flutter was caused by toxic shock.
My husband just terminated a 36 hour (9pm) episode by exercise - getting on the rower…. After five minutes or less he said he felt a pop and his rhythm was back to normal. Thank you so much for this video. Very grateful.
It sounds like your husband may have a Hiatus Hernia. The popping is usually the stomach slipping back into its normal place. Something to check anyway. Glad he found a fix 👍
Interesting… we never thought of that… Thanks very much for the feedback
Dr., you are the standard I measure all other doctors in demeanor and compassion. You're winning.
I learned a technique many decades ago. It's simple; cough really deeply then take a deep breath and repeat. This has worked for me time and time again.
This used to work quite well for me when I was in my 50s but nearly 80 now, and it no longer helps.
I can help you by finding and eliminating the cause. Merely treating symptoms only compounds the problem because it will manifest somewhere else in you body.
Same with me. My only episodes were on the golf course. Three times. I just sat in the cart deep breathing and it stopped in about 5 minutes. Heart rate watch monitor showed it up to 160.
No advice and they honestly dont know how to fix it, while some either figure it out, or it naturally goes away
I went to Casualty with SVT of 200+ bpm. They got me to breath into a 50ml syringe (closed airway) and simultaneously dropped the head of the gurney whilst lifting up both my legs. This maneuver switched my heart back to normal sinus rhythm immediately!! Amazing outcome. Wonderful result.
Since I started taking Magnesium Glycinate, as recommended in your other videos, I've had zero rate or rhythm abnormalities. Thankyou so much for your channel. 🙏
I was having heart rate 220 bpm. Regular rhythm.
Sudden onsets.
The shortest event lasted
2 1/2 hours. The longest was 13 hours.
Exhausting.
Happened 11 times, I think over the course of about 1 year.
One time it started while I was sleeping.
I started taking Magnesium Citrate and went 6 months w/o a single occurance.
I've had 2 occurrences recently in the same weekend (one early morning on Saturday and another the following Sunday)that were very brief, less than 30 minutes.
Not sure why they have returned but glad they didn't last for so long.
I remember the 1st few times they happened, it was quite painful...each beat hurt.
Gradually, they became less traumatic.
Magnesium is my friend.
I take Magnesium Glycinate, how many MG so you take?
400mg is the dosage I usually see recommended but I’ve heard up to 1g works. I take 420mg/day and I can definitely tell when I’ve missed a day or two.
I actually showed my cardiologist that caffeine pulls me out of AFib. This was demonstrated both in the hospital as well as over 30 examples tracked on ECG devices. When I showed this to my doctor he just shrugged and said, "everyone is different, keep doing it". I have been looking for an explanation for this for a while now. Finally someone knows what is going on. Thank you
I so wish you were my doctor. I'm still trying to switch my attack off, but no joy yet, I'm also coping with the migrain aura followed by the headache, I got last evening at 5pm.my PSVT started this morning at 4.45am. 75yr old woman is feeling so sorry for herself just now. Need a hug.
I know the feeling Hoe you are well now.
Dr Sanjay, please understand, we all love watching your videos, you are a huge blessing to all human beings! I cannot thank you enough for your information, I am in USA and I send all your videos to my friend in UK, he tells me your in 3 hospitals there!!! Kudos to you sir!!!
I went to my doctor and told him I only have Afib when I sleep on left side, I’m woken up with it, and if I eat a large meal - he told me none of those cause Afib and neither does stress. I felt so taken back and dismissed. This helped a lot.
left sided onset afib is common! Your dr knows jack shit. Get a new one.
Your doctor is not very smart, laying on the left side , stress or a large can absolutely trigger the Afib!
Your doctor is in great need of lessons in how to treat a patient with decent respect. He sounds like a jerk.
I have had the EXACT experience. I sleep only in my right side. Donot go to bed soon after karge meal. Remag and Potassium and exercise keep things under control
of experience. I told my doctor about these crazy heart episodes and she blew me off....I ended up in the ER and then a room and I was in big trouble.....fortunately medication and some lifestyle changes and it was all under control....the doctor? I let her have it through the grapevine. I told every doctor and nurse who my doctor and how she told me I was nuts etc......I saw the doctor for one last appointment and let her have my opinion of her and her mismanagement. Do you know she had the nerve to cover her tail and send me a letter telling me that she no longer felt I was a "good patient"....I got the last laugh....I asked a lawyer friend of mine to request a copy of my medical files from this doctor. He got the files. A few days later a lawyer called him about the law suit! We had filed no documents other than requesting a copy of my files....clearly she felt the need to defend herself.....lol...
Thank you Dr. Gupta. I’ve learned so much from your videos but have also learned from the comments of your followers! You are a blessing..
Such a relief to come on here and find other people are still trying to find a way out of Afib attacks. Sometimes it feels like only you in the world suffers with this damn condition. I've just been hospitalised again overnight with a long episode which self terminated after a deep sleep, and just before they were going to carry out cardioversion on me.
Thanks you Dr Gupta, always find your library of videos useful, and reassuring.
8 years ago I had my aortic valve replaced and developed a-fib as an unfortunate side effect. I felt very lonely and scared about this new condition and felt like there was no one else suffering through this. As the years have gone by, I have both learned to control my a-fib (surprisingly well, although the reduction of attacks may have more to do with my heart continuing to heal after surgery, rather than any steps I have consciously taken) and have also learned that there are a LOT of people out there who are also dealing with a-fib. I wish we could all give our support to folks who are new to dealing with the anxiety that a-fib brings out.
@johns3106 hi. Since my post I have had cryo cadrio ablation for my afib.
Although it worked partially, I still get episodes that are shorter but still as annoying. So after seeing the cardiology team it's been agreed to try rhe hot radiotherapy version in 2025 under a general anaesthetic. Not something I wanted as my last one was under sedation, but guess I'll have to get on with it.
As you said, I think your decline in episodes could well be your hesrt slowly healing and repairing itself.
Best wishes.
You're the best. Anytime I feel emotional about living with afib I come here and everything is ok.
I just got diagnosed and feel my life has turned upside down. I constantly have episodes and it’s frightening. I’m losing hope here. The only dr in my area that deal with this is 6 months out on apts 🥺
@@nes012003ify come join the Facebook group. (Afib support)
@@nes012003ify I was dx with AFib two years ago. At first it really messed with my state of mind. I absolutely dreaded and feared future episodes of AFib. However, it barely ever really crosses my mind these days. And that's the truth. Look, millions of people have AFib and live full and active lives. It doesn't have to control your life at ALL. There are any number of simple techniques you can learn to self-terminate your AFib. And you can learn to avoid a few things that may trigger yours. At any rate, I do NOT allow AFib to dominate my life these days. I have less and less AFib episodes now, and I think it's probably due to the fact that I no longer Stress about it!😉 Wishing this for you as well!!😊
WOW !! Dr Sanjay Gupta, you are without doubt, one of the highest value youtube authors of all time. Thank you so very much for all of your unselfish sharing of your knowledge and experience. I have subscribed.
My cardiologist here in western Oregon USA, shares many of your "patient individual" personality traits and I trust that vs. the "by the book" doctors.
Once again, thank you so much. Your editing and very clear enunciation makes it so enjoyable to watch and listen to your videos. Cheers.
Thank you very much. I have just been diagnosed with this and since I already have angina, didn’t really know what Afib symptoms were, and this has helped me.
I learn so much more just listening to your afib video about my new afib condition than all my cardiologists that weighed in with possible life long Rx's, and after extreme reactions to these meds, I was finally referred to other cardiologists who were more concerned with PREVENTING the higher risks of strokes & heart attacks in afib patients. Through your heart videos and my own research, I am learning so much more about afib, basic info and the growing research that is and will be offering more targeted inroads & options to all afib condition levels in the near future.
Again, Thank You !!!
bless you! i have ben terminating my afib by inhaling as much air as i possibly can an hold it for about10 or 15 seconds and then exhale. it has ben working most of the time but sometimes not. your videos are a huge help and I do not understand why my doctors do not tell me these things and just want to perscribe medication.
💲💲💲💲
Thank you. I live in New Zealand and have had paroxysmal AFib for many years. As far as can ascertain there is no one or Association that I can discuss with, about this condition . At 83 years old I get the impression from the doctors that at my age there is nothing they can do. But having listen to your post you describe often what happens to me. I wake find myself in AFib and it goes later on in the day. I wish you were here in NZ. Thank you for confirming what I have noticed over a period of time.
You doctor are a treasure……lots of Heart Health info from many good doctors on TH-cam and your delivery and information is Top Caliber
Thank You from the AFib Clan
Dr Gupta you are an amazing Dr and person. Your supportive advice has not only been comforting, but so informative and Im so greatful.
Doctor, it’s such a relief to come across your video. I have not being diagnosed to have afib yet, but I have had 2 episodes of what you described as paroxysmal afib, happened as recent as last night, both times happened between midnight-9am. I will definitely check your other videos. Thank you for sharing your videos.
When I started reading your post I felt like I was reading my own story. I have had 2 episodes but I have yet to be diagnosed. They are fitting me with a Holter monitor tomorrow. I am so scared of getting another one. Both times I wasn’t doing anything strenuous but stressed. I hope you are doing better now. Take care
@@lpsglitterpaws8536 Hope you are doing well. Yes, stress could be a trigger. I’ve learned a lot since I posted this more than a year ago: they couldn’t find the reason why, even after 4 holter separate monitoring events. They did diagnose it when I had an episode and had to go to the ER, so now I’m on Metoprolol. I know my trigger now: GERD (when it’s acting up)-it kind of gives me this knot/pressure feeling on my throat & when I drink anything cold it would trigger a palpitation. When this happens, I would need to be careful not to get too tired. So that’s my second trigger: don’t get physically tired. Now I only get it once in a few months vs once a week like before. I would go to sleep when the afib starts, and once I feel rested, I would try to stretch my whole body while lying down, this would usually stop the afib-it’s the weirdest thing. Hope you’ll learn to control yours as well. Oh, and another thing: I’ve changed profession, from a job that requires a lot of physical/strenuous activities to a desk job, that I think helps too.
Yesterday I had a sudden Afib episode start with bpm 100-112. I did the Valsalva maneuver 3x and within minutes my bpm dropped into the low 70s, then the mid 60s. It was glorious! Thank you! Thank you!
SOMETIMES I CAN TELL WHEN I'M IN AFIB AND SOMETIMES I CAN'T. WHEN I CAN TELL, COUGHING SEVERAL TIMES SEEMS TO HELP STOP THE PALPITATIONS .
You have a hiatal hernia which is compromising your vagus nerve. When you cough it causes a spasm of your diaphragm which touches your vagus nerve and stomach.
Jack Neals i have a hiatal hernia inwas diagnosed wih three months ago as “minor”. this week ive had two afibs, one that kept me in the hospital and one that i literally just got back from ten minutes ago, which subsided right beofre I got to the ER. I tell them every time that I think the Hiatal Hernia is the cause, and they deny theres any correlation. im very scared. What do i do
@@ericg1100 I strongly believe there is a major correlation between stomach stuff and afib. Or anything that will irritate the vagus nerve.
I highly recommend getting alternative doctors opinions until you find one who agrees and follows up. Nobody knows our bodies better than we do and I find it really fuckin annoying how often doctors make us feel crazy
THANKS FOR THIS TIP. IF I GET AFIB I'LL DEFINITELY TRY THIS.
Niacin is a great cure for Afib!!
Love guys like this.... They know their stuff, and they're not afraid to share it !! Good on you buddy ! Loved listening to you. I'm an AFib sufferer. Thankyou❤️🥰
Why has my new cardiologist got 2000 dollars so far from me and this video has taught me 3x as much as info she has given me.
He’s a blessing isn’t he? I had an irregular heartbeat for over ten years along with burping at the same time. All of the doctors, nurses and specialists couldn’t tell me why. They said they never heard of both together. I had my answer in 5 minutes from Dr. Gupta. What a relief! God bless this man!
I'm here because the cardiologist who have seen me week after after I had Atrial Flutter recommended ablation as a procedure to prevent future atrial flutters. I learned more from the youtube than from cardiologist (and afterwards electrophysiologist) I've seen.
Your cardiologist doesn't happen to live in the USA? They have to milk the patient for all they can get. Profit motive.
@@esimm595 I was thinking about making a similar comment (being Canadian thankfully) :-)
@@suehamblin9652 do tell
I’ve always tried self help wherever I can and this is marvellous information. I’m going to try to relieve these terrible symptoms by any means possible. I cannot thank you enough Doctor for making these videos explaining AFIB in such detail. You have put my mind at ease allowing me to be more positive about controlling these symptoms and even reducing their frequency or severity. God bless you.
Fifteen years ago, after diagnosis of AFib in 2005, Dr. Scheurman gave me this advice: take an additional Rhythmol, wait fifteen minutes. If not improved Vagal maneuver. If it does not convert, go immediately to ER .... I have presented in ER with as low as 19 PR, and 200 PR.
Only three visits led to admission. I am used to it at this point, but it still gets my attention. Time of day virtually always 8 AM to 9 PM.
Best wishes all.
I am so thankful to find this. Thank you for your mist hopeful suggestions.
It's 3am & I was feeling desparate. It's given me hope..Will try!
Bless you doc. You are so generous & kind.
The biggest mistake of my life was going to the hospital during a (lunchtime) Afib attack (the only one I've ever had) My brother is a cardiologist (across the state) & tried to help me over the phone but my PC refused to do an EKG & sent me to ER. I was quickly restored to a sinus rhythm at the ER but my sympathetic nervous system took over. I could not eat, sleep or breathe for several weeks after this episode. The medication was too strong. Over a year later, I'm still trying to recuperate. The doctors gave me a "rescue drug" in case I had another episode. Have not had one. This is very helpful!!
I use the valsalva maneuver which is mentioned. It works quickly to stop my afib. I read about this a few years ago….. I just woke up with afib a few minutes ago and quickly did the maneuver and got up. It worked…..and got onto YT to see if there were any other ways to do this just in case. Glad that this maneuver is mentioned.
I find that exercise or a slight increase in heart rate works for me. Either a walk up the hill, taking a shower, walking up the stairs etc. Doesn't always work first time and does get me really out of breath. My 3rd ablation coming up in a few weeks, my last was 8 years ago and up until the start of this year I had few episodes. Getting them nightly now. Thanks for these videos, much appreciated. 👍
Have u stopped alcohol completely?
Thank you so much. The info you provide in all your videos is extremely helpful, and very much appreciated. The world needs more Doctors like you. 😊
Another great video! Repeated yawning and forceful blowing are also helpful.
A. Gilani, MD
The one repeatable method for me when I experience A-fib is to take a HUGE deep breath until it strains my lungs. Nine times out of ten, my heart rate drops immediately back to normal. It's almost like flipping a light switch for me. It normally works after the first attempt - if not, I repeat. I stumbled on this when I had a BIG yawn during an A-fib episode and found it worked the next time for me. It's been my go-to method since.
The yawn was probably your body’s instinctive response to deal with the AFib, to move the vagus nerve & generate NO.
I’m convinced a lot of it comes from the digestion. & maybe an electrolyte imbalance, likely magnesium or potassium. Since I got my magnesium & potassium up, I no longer get palpitations.
Wouldn't work for me, as I only have one fully functioning lung.
a cardiologist told me to strain as if you need the toilet ...hm it worked... lol
Thank you. I'm planning to try it the next time when I have a-flutter.
Thank you for this tip.
Superb! As a AF sufferer, this is really useful. Many thanks for taking the time to make this useful video
Thank you! I find by listening to a human heartbeat (I have a recording on my phone), my afib resolves usually in 5-10 minutes. Mine always comes on after 9 PM!
Thanks. I'm going to try that.
Dr. Gupta, I am so appreciative for all your videos. My husband has AFib, He now has a pacemaker. I will share this information with him. Thank you🙏🏼
Thank you. I have developed recent problems and I have learnt more from you than anyone else, so far
It took over 20 years to diagnose my AF. It only happened during & after drinking and smoking. I stopped smoking 10 years ago and hardly drink but even now after just 2 drinks I can feel it coming on. My heart used to shutter so much I could actually feel electrical pulses going through my body. I’ve changed my lifestyle around completely but it had been a nightmare trying to get a diagnosis. Now have mild Mitral Valve issues. I rarely get AF but I have to be super healthy to not trigger it.
Admitted to St Lukes emergency room in Houston at about 11pm with Afil at 175 beats a minute. Put on all the electrical equipment and needles put into rehydrate Cardiac doctors made decision to jump start me with pads! Instructed to take off T Skirt. While doing this difficult movement, I held my breath and squeezed in. 💥 Machinery showed I reset heart to 88👍. Doctors and nurses told me this often happens ! No need to shock now. Released 24 hour later. No problems. What the hell do Doctors learn in medical school and 10 years of medical practice. 🙏
Thank you Dr Gupta. I saw my cardiologist today and he put me on beta blockers and anti coagulants as he says I risk an embolism. I'm not happy with all this medication but I suppose I have no choice. I appreciate your information and will try walking a lot and drinking more water. You are one of life's true angels. Greetings from Switzerland.
@dani cali sorry to hear your palpitations have not calmed down. Since taking beta blockers I don't get them any more. I hope you find a solution.
YES, HE IS VERY WISE.. AND WELL READ!...Thank you for your help Dr.!
I've listened to many of your videos. They are so very helpful and understandable. Thank you for your kindness!
I would say you are the best cardiologist I have ever been in consult with Wehl sort of in consult with as far as TH-cam goes that’s what we have today and I think it’s great that you can reach out to all of us who have this issue keep up the great work we really appreciate it
We love you 💜, Dr Gupta. You're a lovely human being. Wish we could clone you!
Thanks for this. With the coronavirus going around, I had my second episode of afib just last night. My heart beat quickly went up to 166 bpm. I was just sitting and simply surfing on my laptop. I quickly felt it snuck up upon me. Took out my phone and my Fitbit watch to measure my bpm, and my phone had me at 122 bpm and my watch had me at 166 bpm. I panicked and felt sort of dizzy, but then I got up to walk around for 3 minutes or so, but it still wasnt calming down. So, I took deep breaths, inhale and exhale slowly, then about 10 minutes later, my bpm was dropping back to my normal range 57-100 bpm. I was thankful, but I was really tempted to call an ambulance. I was only hesitant to call because it was 1am in the morning. For the record, I am only 27 years old and weight 130 pounds. My afib hasn't been officially diagnosed yet, because every single time I go to urgent care, or to just get evaluated, the doctors just cant seem to detect anything wrong with my heart, and would always say that I'm young and healthy, and that I'm fine. However, with just my second episode last night, and as I stated above, I truly believe that I have afib. Scary is all I have to say.
I've been dealing with this for a while now. It's kind of bad tonight. I usually get 1 or 2 chest flutters but I usually don't get them at night. I need to go back to the cardiologist to see if this is Afib. I don't have any other symptoms really besides that. I pray that everything works out for you and you get healed. This is really scary.
@@MsLadyBluesWorld Thank you! I will pray for you as well! Since the pandemic, and whenever I worry, I always turn to the Lord for comfort. More then ever before. Though I always go astray constantly whenever things are just alright. Even so and still i go to Him in pieces, so that he could make me whole again. Especially at night because for me, I tend to feel my heart flutter, and my anxiety/stress tends to be worse then as well because everyone is my household would be asleep, so I had to face my "demons" alone, and it scares me all the more. However, I highly recommend to get an official diagnosis, and or to get check ups whenever your gut feeling knows your NOT your usual self. Better safe than sorry. Plus, it will help ease the wondering mind. Normally, I'd go for check ups and docs would constantly say that I'm fine, and that they dont mean to "poop" on me. Like literally they would say things along that line, and in my mind I would say, why not just say shit instead of poop? But whatever. No biggy. But like I said, better safe then sorry! However, I dont have insurance anymore, so I gotta figure some things out in case I get future episodes that are concerning. I pray that you are insured as well because those bills themselves can be another concern. I just finally finished paying a $600 bill just last week. $60 a month. Again, thank you, and I pray that Lord Jesus Christ, and or whoever is God, the creator, Maker, Higher being heals us all, and have mercy on us. There's gotta be a Higher being. We desperately need one in my opinion. Lastly, sorry if my reply was a bit much and long!
I'm 25 and I had afib for 3 days and it converted by itself I was in the ER for 3 days scary af but I'm glad my heart rythem went back to normal and I can see my kids again. It sucks it's scary I was crying like a baby in the ER thinking I was going to die. Thank god for the nurses who were there and the docs because they assured me everything was going to be ok. I'm still suffering from anxiety but with good help and the grace of god I'll live my regular life once again.
@@kevincangiano8869 j
same here. Every scan / test / EKG showed all is normal. I was told it's in my head and I just need to relax. That ius until they gave me a holter for 24 hours...and there it was: an episode of AF @170 pulse and I even didn't felt it myself!
My advice: get a holter for a couple of days, tests are only a snapshot in that moment
So happy I have come across your Posts. You make all the info so absorbable and help me understand options and causes.
Thank you for posting this doc! Originally my Afib was due to mitral valve prolapse. Eventually had that valve replaced - took 2 surgeries to get it right. That didn’t end the Afib but at least it doesn’t feel like a jack-hammer! I couldn’t believe that my heart tissue could pound that hard and still keep itself together! So... I still have occasional Afib.
Mine first starts with my lower neck hurting on the right side above collar bone. This usually lasts for 3 days. Then around 3am I’ll wake up hot - usually from a strange dream -then the heart goes into Afib. A couple of times I’ve been able to stop it... but for the most part, it stops when it decides to stop. But usually it stops when the neck pain goes away completely. If the afib ends but my neck still hurts, then I know The heart isn’t “done” yet. The deep breathing seems to help but again, the neck pain is the indicator.
I wonder how many others have the neck pain sign. I know of one other person whose afib starts with the same area neck pain
I have occasionally same pain under the collar bone. Will track to see if it correlates to my afib attacks. Experience extreme heat before an attack.
Your videos are absolutely brilliant, thank you.
I wish I could sit down and talk to someone like you for a couple of hours.
I've has AF since my late twenties; I'm now 73. Mostly these started when I was asleep; hangover and being cold in bed both seemed to increase the chances of an episode. In the first ten years or so it would usually spontaneously revert after about twenty-fout hours. But I discovered I could self terminate by vigouous exercise. I was very fir in those days and my peak pulse rate was about 200. In retrospect I think what happened was if I exercised hard enough the pulse rate that my body wanted would out run the AF rate and I'd go back into sinus rhythm.
This doesn't work any more. A few years ago I did a 100km bike ride with AF at the start and AF at the finish.
of all those years that you experienced afib, did your doctor ever told you to take blood anticoagulants? I am so afraid that whenever there is an afib attack, I might get a stroke.
I had bypass surgey 2 yrs back. Before that i had 4 epsodes of paoxysmal AFB. After that one day i have mild chest compression in the early morning. I had an ecg then and found to have mild non st iferior mi troponin was little and then ununder went angigram and found to have 3 major block. Every time afib reverted by amioderone injection. After surgery 2 yrs i was ok. No afib. Recently in early morning i have 3 attak in last 2 months lasted 2to3 hrs self terminated after good sleep with pill. Ht rate was not so fast. I am on sotalol 40 mg bd. What should be nenxt plan of action.
Dr abdur rob sarkar. I you answer i will be very happy. My dm and htn controlled with oral drugs. Now iam taking aspirin rivaroxoban. Thaks for your very helpful lecture.
My mail
sarkarrob@yahoo.com.
Try interval exercise, start off, then exercise for 15 min, then stop and rest, then start again. Interval exercise brings more success than continuous exercise😮
@@AAYim89792 you get natural ones.....k2 , cayenne pepper, garlic ect
Deep breathing helps in controlling an A-fib attack for me. Another thing that helps is distracting myself by reading or sitting up and watching TV. Giving attention to something other than what is physically going on with my body also helps. I noticed that each time I distracted myself my body relaxed and eventually my A-fib episode would cease. My attacks usually occur between 9pm and 9am. They do not last more than an hour. I am fortunate that I can control them and they are not long-lasting and do not occur very often.
We call it belching or bringing up wind. Which works for me sometimes but often it just delays or reduces the episode. This ties in nicely with the theoretical interference from the digestive system. I've noticed that bad sleep can also cause a day of heightened afib feelings. I am at present trying various exercises which may help alleviate the problems with the digestion.
Hell of a doc in that video right there.
Agreed!!!!!
Always so very grateful to you, Doc., for addressing the subjects of concern to us. Stay well and thank you... Mike
I have only a little experience, each time starting at night or after sitting too long. First time I was aware of it, afib continued for 12 hours until I could get in to see my doctor, he sent me to the hospital. The hospital sits on the highest point of town so I biked pretty hard getting there, the afib ended before they did any testing. Next time I went straight to the hospital, riding slow, they diagnosed it, kept me 8 hours without any improvement, sent me home, the biking it seems fixed it quite quickly. Seeing a pattern, third time I biked and it stopped.
As a cyclist ( road racing over 30 years) I can tell you that bike racing “cure” won’t last forever. a.fib. is a progressive disease. I still cycle occasionally, but my racing days are long over as ablations & beta blockers limit one’s heart rate and therefor cardiac output.
;
@@almachung1989 R U Dr. Chung at university of Michigan U hospital?
Thank you so much for this latest info. On holiday last week I had an episode lasting 48 hours, I felt really unwell and was about to give up on my favourite val salver manoeuvre when finally I felt the change. It left me feeling very fragile. I haven't tried raising my legs after, but next time shall. God bless you, you are such a beautiful soul. X
I was recently diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in my mid-20's. Through a few months, I learned that my afib seemed to be triggered by consuming very cold food and drink, like ice-cold water and popsicles. Some months after an ablation, I was sick with flu-like symptoms with a fever (wasn't COVID, fortunately) and went into afib after drinking milk. My doctor told me to go to the hospital.
I bent over to tie my shoes and, like a switch, my afib was gone.
Same for me while standing and washing my hair in a sink. Bent way over and down and the Afib was gone.
It s all in ourheads
@@harrybarnes9425 Maybe A-fib's due to stress for some cases, but generally speaking, I'd have to disagree that a-fib is all in our heads.
@@harrybarnes9425 no its not
@@harrybarnes9425 it’s in our hearts sadly.
Rest and digest afibs respond to change of posture and drinking a cup of hot water (add sodium bicarb if this persists)....get rid of any air in the stomach...if it happens lying on left side ...lay opposite side.Some foods trigger this...loss of body salts.
Are you losing essential minerals magnesium?...low potassium? Just a few thoughts.
...I notice more stomach acids too... when laying on the left side ... turn over to tummy all good ...
AFib from food can be from overload or sensitivity to Lectins, Salicylates, or Histamines also. Mine is also related to my gerd/fumes hitting my bronchial nerves and triggering an asthma attack, which instantly triggers AFib. I can prevent this chain reaction by pressing in on top of my breastbone notch where the bronchial nerves start, until the gerd flare passes, or I change position.
After the fact is more difficult--if from food, it's iffy to stop. If from bronchial irritation, I use my NeoRhythm headband to help stabilize my vagas nerve while also doing vagal maneuvers. Top it off with some color therapy--blue/green (perfect teal) for the eyes or tracing the vagas nerve. Imagine breathing it into each cell to calm. Different techniques work at different events. And...sometimes nothing works.
My BEST defense for preventing AFib? DETOXING! Sweating, taking specific detox supplements, drinking lots of very pure water not in plastic...the daily toxins we produce, plus consumw and inhale are overpowering our systems, causing internal pollution that spills into our body systems. Detoxing and cleaning the LYMPH system is the real key.
Yes, loss of electrolytes is also a cause. If dialysis (removes fluid, salt and electrolytes from blood) is too aggressive, it can cause AFIB.
@@lore9753 : Gatorade has helped me. . .
Thank you 🙏
My cardiologist didn’t mention any of this. 🙏
very true great information
My AF happens at night mostly. I terminate it 95% of the time by holding my breath for as long as possible. I always have a regular heart beat if I feel my pulse, but I can hear the flutter if my ear is pressed closed against my pillow.
Sure that is not something else? I had that once and I was afraid it was AF too. But I mesured my pulse in my neck and it was completely normal. I figured it was just something muscular in my face (muscle twitching) or something causing it. It went away.
... breathing 7 8 9 works soo well to relax you ...no more than 2 cups coffee in the morning ...
@@willgaukler8979 )
If you breathe out and hold it as long as possible can reset the vagus nerve which acts on the parasympathetic nervous system.
Thank you. I had a cardioversion two years ago and was put on Multaq, Eliquis and Metoprolol. All worked like a charm for two years, but now I find that I am getting the odd A-fib episode again. I was told and read that the Multaq loses its efficacy over time, hence I imagine the returned episodes. Something tells me that I am on my way to an ablation and which speaking to friends I know who have had one, say worked for them brilliantly! My A-fib puzzles my Cardiologist as my blood pressure is wonderful. I had an echo and apparently aside from slight regurge and a murmer the physical construct of my heart is in tip top condition. Cholesterol 147, passed my stress test with flying colours, so all good aside from the A-fib. It's very frustrating. It's also terrifying when you get an episode, so thank you Dr. Gupta. (Any relation to the Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN fame?) :)
What are the sypmtoms ??I'm afib too 3 among ago and I'm diabetic
Yes. any relation Dr?
I’ve had a fib twice in 1 1/2 years. Went to the ER both times. Meds brought it down the first time cardio version the second. Three months later I woke up with a heart rate of 163 instead of going to the hospital I did the breathing exercises and self chest compression bringing it back to sinus rhythm in ten minutes. I’ve noticed a large meal at night or carbonated drinks tend to increase my heart rate. I’ve changed eating and drinking habits, smaller meals no carbonated drinks very limited alcohol intake increased exercise. Feeling a lot better with no a fib events in a couple of months. At least through Dr Sanjay’s videos I now have tools to help control these events.
How are you doing now?
I just did the modified Valsalva technique (with elevated legs) for the first time, and it worked! My episode had gone on for 9 hours, so I looked up this video, said let me give it a shot, and to my surprise, it worked immediately. Thank you so much for the tip!
This is fascinating!!
My episodes have occurred during night when sleeping on my L side. And when I’ve gone through a stressful situation.
Huge deep breaths help.
Exactly what happens to me I also get short of breath when I’m half asleep as soon as I’m fully awake I have no breathing problems
Mine starts when it feels like it , I can't understand why i feel these huge miss beats followed by almost a fluttering effect , my chest i can see it jumping and the same time i start to have a panic attack only to be told its normal, over thirty five years this has control me.
Glad I've found this site.
thank you for the information. I also find that on onset of afib , If I do a good strong cough from the diaphragm it can sometimes reset things .
"It starts up when it wants to and can happen in the most inconvenient of places"
So true. Well put.
exactly....when it feels like it: petting my dog, taking my meds (ironic there), reaching for a book off the table...anywhere, anytime...from 72 to 140 in a heartbeat
Patrick Swann my episodes also start when I'm doing a lot of reaching. Also when I do a lot of loud talking. Seems to be when doing activity above the diagpham. When I did the treadmill stress test, I did fine. Wonder if upper body stress test would be more appropriate for us.
Thanks, Dr. Gupta. I am always learning (from your videos). I appreciate your understanding.
Very interesting Video. Thank you. I was Diagnosed with episodes of AF. I have suffered from occasional bouts of Sinus aR for 20 years. Structurally normal and functional heart.
My AF normally begins when I am sedentary and heart rate low. Particularly if I nap through the day, I will awake with Af. If I immediately take a rapid walk I can sometimes stop the episode. Thank you for your most helpful videos for someone beginning the journey 🙏
Same here.
Thank you for posting this. Very interesting solutions. Whenever I have an episode, I ride my bike(indoors and outdoors) raise my heart rate from resting to 135. I hold it there for a few minutes and let it drop down for a few minutes. I repeat this process for 15 to 30 mins. I can feel it reset and the afib is gone. This works for me every time.
Cheers,
J
stomu toyota I do exactly the same thing! In my case, I bring my heart rate to 150 on my indoor bike, and after a few cycles of pedalling and stopping, my heart resets.
This is great, I have made a similiar experience. It works very well. Nutrition change might be also helpful to easier reset the heart while doing this interval training.
I am sure it works for a mild case and for younger people.
Michelle N - I’m 58 years young and ride 30k 7days a week now. No afib symptoms for the entire month of June! This is the first time since being diagnosed January 2019.
Thank you stomu toyota. Your advice helped me revert a 7 day afib event. I am so very grateful for your advice. I'm very paroxysmal and get into afib once every six months or so. Anyway 15 minutes into my workout my pulse suddenly dropped from 130ish to 85ish. I'm 57 and feel really fatigued when in afib, so ithe feeling of coming out of it was just wonderful. Such relief and I've been back in sinus rhythm for 6 weeks now, so I'm glad I found your comment again. Thankyou thankyou thankyou.
After my first few episodes, I kept track of the duration and frequency of all my afib events for 4 years until my ablation last April. One of the things that kept me from having my ablation was it seemed as if my duration was gradually getting less month by month, although the frequency was increasing. I think one of the most important things to help me reduce the duration was over time I was much more relaxed. in the beginning, I was terrified and was certain I might die, but over time I got used to the events and they diminished in time. Most of mine were under 12 hours and near the end, they were averaging about 2 hours. I knew when it was a real event that would last a long time, more than 10 or 20 minutes when I had to urinate a lot. Once my heat stopped tachycardia and was just out of rhythm often walking around the apartment or even a slow walk with the dog would help it go back in, also sometimes I would have success by sitting in a crouched position and blowing through my lips trying to build up pressure.. I also tried ice on my back and neck and twice it went back in rhythm while in the shower. oddly, on two occasions when it had gone on much longer than 12 hours and I was convincing myself to call the hospital as I got out of bed and sat at my desk ready to make the phone call it went back in rhythm just as I was beginning to dial the hospital. Also, 3 times it went out of rhythm while making lunch in the kitchen. I actually bought an EMF meter to check to see if I had any background radiation that might be causing me to have afib in the kitchen. I eventually realized what may have been happening as before I was in the kitchen each time I had been lying down and as I got up suddenly and walked in the kitchen my system was not steady.
After 4 years my events started to increase I length to over 12 hours plus I began having fast tachycardia without afib and slight pain in my chest while walking outside which terrified me and made me become sedentary and weak so I went ahead with the ablation. I think I tried about 14 different things. The only thing I think helped was to be calm, take vitamin B12 and liquid magnesium and to have the ablation.
I really appreciate being able to read your comment. It was informative and helpful to me. Thank you and so hope you will feel better. Greetings from Denmark.
@@mr.fatbasstard_--_ Thanks to God I have been wonderful. I had some throat issues for a month or two after. I had a few days where I noticed a pausing or skipping for a few minutes but no afib. In august I started an exercise program I am still on it. Also, I examined everything to see what caused my afib to help keep it from coming back and I think it was stress. I had a lot of issues before I got my afib, I was helping my mom who had alzheimers for 4 years and I became a big worrier over the years. I have since made it my priority to reprogram my mind to become a different person regarding stress. It sounds crazy, but before my exercise program every morning I bounce lightly on a mini trampoline for 20 minutes and speak out affirmations and things I want to happen in my health and life that are positive and joyful and life affirnming. I brainwash myself. I feel better and have been making better choices day by day, it is a process. It took me a lifetime to become stressed out person so i do not expect my transformation to happen immediately, but I like the direction I am going. Statistically, my afib has a high chance of coming back, I think 40% of people do not make it a year without it reoccuring , but I would not change anything i am doing. I will worry about that if it happens. My goal is to live to be at least 104 in health and happiness and I work on it every day.
Puu
@@RobbsHomemadeLife ifipp
@@RobbsHomemadeLife igg8
Very good stuff doctor. Paroxysmal Afib patient since late 2019. Activity and drinking cold water seems to make mine go away. I typically get it at rest or sleeping. Used to only be associated with modest amounts of alcohol and now I get short episodes even with no alcohol. Just got ablation done and maintaining NSR and hoping for the best.
Mine always happens at night. Like 10:30pm.
I try drinking salt water. Breathing techniques. Nothing works. Then when I get up at 6am and have a big drink of water mixed with apple cider vinegar, green powder, creatine, nutritional yeast, l-citrulline, and 20 minutes later it stops. I feel fine all day and exercise. Some nights I sleep fine but other nights I’m up all night with afib. Ugh! This sucks.
5 weeks post ablation now and have been NSR Afib free. Exercise endurance is good but not back to baseline. Resting HR still above normal by about 10 bpm but improving slowly. Heart rate variablity still 1/2 what it was preablation but getting better. My body is having trouble relaxing and getting high quality sleep as noted in my Hrv being low but is improving. Hope I remain Afib free.
Glad you’re doing well!!
Thank you for your information on AFib. My cardiologist does not seem to want to hear about or try anything new or not in his books.
The biggest thing that works for me is making sure to drink enough water. If I'm at all dehydrated I'll start getting AF. When I start having it, I drink a lot of water and it goes away fairly soon after.
I've been told to only drink one litre of fluid a day, dehydration?
Michael Mallal whoever said that is a moron , you are majorly dehydrated , you want to be drinking about 5 litres
Michael Mallal let’s say 3 litres from water and 2 litres from other drink sources or foods
Thank you. Very interesting. I have Afib and realised I was diagnosed with hiatus hernia a number of years ago so connected. Afib nearly always at night. . My afib was getting worse, 3 times a day and waiting for ablation. On meds too. However I lost 2 stone and afib much improved to only once a week or less. In addition I now try not to eat after 8pm. However I really wish my cardiologist and his team would stress the importance of lifestyle, in particular weight. I was and still am overweight (improving though). Don’t pussyfoot around if it can make a significant improvement.
DR.GUPTA.
I APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION ON AFIB. YOUR ENGLISH IS VERY ELEGANT AND A SIGN OF YOUR FINE EDUCATION, WHICH IMPRESSES ME.
THE SPOKEN WORD IS THE PRIME MARK OF A PERSON. I ALSO ADVISE PEOPLE TO AVOID CAFFEIN, WHITE RICE, FLOUR AND SUGAR, ALCOHOL.
Breathing a few breaths in and out of a paper bag.. as people told to do with a panic attack. Very calming.
My wife tells me to deep breathe if I'm having a dizzy attack.
Thanks very much for the informative video - as a mixed afibber, I have found the most success with the pill in the pocket treatment of ativan and inderal (which has historically terminated attacks within 30 minutes) and have also had some immediate results with ice and cold water applications on my face
Excise invigorates me to exercise more. Now I know why.
My husband had a very strange episode about five years ago. He spent nine days in the hospital with every type of ablation cardioversion and all sorts of other tests finding out he was still in a fib and out of $80,000. I am going to show my husband this video as he has a fib once again. Five years later let’s see if we can avoid going back to the hospital. I will keep you updated
how is your husband doing since seeing this video?
I hope n pray for the best for your husband. $80K out of pocket? No health insurance?
$80,000 and still not healed... that is daylight robbery.
I had an afid recently and was hospitalized for 3 days, and it costs me only USD$5.50.
That is the difference between US healthcare and South East Asian healthcare services.
With $80,000 I can buy a house here.
I had two stents in my heart arteries (done twice) and the cost? US$35+US$35.
Something is not right in US.
$80,000.00!!! The best argument for a National Health plan. Americans spend more on average for health than Europeans but get less care and many loose everything they have worked and saved for after a simple stay in the hospital.
When the doctor told me that I had to have a fib procedure he said three words and that made up my mind he told me the three words were it could be risky that’s all I had to hear I am 84 years old and I’m not gonna have it I had it years ago when I was younger I’m breathing good I get around good I drive I do my thing. I’m sorry for your story about your husband.
I enjoy listening to you. I had to go to a GI doc last Monday because my urologist kept me on daily antibiotic and I think it’s killing my gut!
The doc ordered a med to take as needed return in 2 months ordered blood work BUT never examined me at all. Just asked questions and typed rude too. I hate US docs
Do not generalize....there are good, caring doctors out there.
@@michellen2325 don't tell him what to do or say... that's RUDE
Thanks, I suffered from a tachycardia attack on regular occasions 50 years ago,it was wrongly diagnosed eventually as Wolf Parkinson, and later diagnosed as not Wolf Parkinson.
I developed my own strategy 50 years ago before I had ever heard of the Valsalva manoevre , I would kneel down,put my head on the floor and breathe in deeply and hold my breath, and I would flip back into normal rhythm. Usually worked very easily, but sometimes needed an hour or two rest before it would work.
Eventually this stopped working and I had an ablation which has cured the problem.
I'm patient who had a very first cardiovascular event diagnosed by the Emergency Room doctor as Atrial Flutter two and half weeks ago on 6/30/3021. Week later cardiologist in Saddleback Cardiology Center recommended ablation. I thought it was a very radical procedure to recommend for someone who had just first (and only) atrial flutter. This cardiologist told me that doing ablation "will prevent atrial flutters from happening in the future". Listening to your lectures I realized that ablation does not prevent future atrial flutter. Thank you for your lectures. Can you do lecture about ablation and Atrial Flutter for "the beginners". How likely is that Atrial flutter will repeat? BTW - youtube has become my goto education center as far as my cardiovascular event. Thank you again.
Same thing happened to me. Except my sister had been talked into having a ablation and I refused. Then I found on Mayo Clinic that that is not the accepted treatment. The cardiologist I saw immediately "paused" my heart. The second time I sent in with afib another cardiologist watched me. He had tests done and waited to see what was happening. I had been diagnosed with 1)panic attack, 2) Superventrical tacycardia, and finally afib. York Cardiology has taught me more than most doctors I've gone to. Thank God I have Medicare and Blue Cross.
@@judyrobertson9479 I refused, and knowledge i found on youtube was the reason for that. Today - it is 6.5 months after my atrial flutter that was traced to dental procedure that basically put my body into toxic shock. I did not have any atrial flutter after that time. I believe cardiologist and electrophysiologist were talking me into the ablation, because Medicare pays better for ablation. As it were I decided not to take blood thinners and not to do ablation. Looking at my echocardiogram, I did not see the reason for that. The overall assessment was "not remarkable". I wonder how much Medicare pays for ablation and how many unnecessary ablations are being performed just to bring income to the doctors, who after all have to pay off their medical student loans.
After having AFib for a while, although minor Oh, I thought I would just check on ablation. The doctor quickly try to talk me into the ablation, even though my 2 week heart monitor had not been read. I told him no. The next thing I know people are calling me trying to schedule an MRI, CAT scan, excetera for an ablation that I did not agree to I of course canceled it, and after a different technician read my Holter monitor report, she said it was not needed. I seem to think it was all about the money. He wanted to do the ablation for days before the reading of the Holter monitor. I would have gotten an ablation that I absolutely did not need.
@@jerituttle9092 That sounds awfully similar to my case. I was being talked into ablation, BEFORE doctor even read report from monitoring my heart for three days (in my case) and before I had ultrasound of my heart done. Ultrasound indicated that my heart overall is "not remarkable". I had atrial flutter traced explicitly to botched dental procedure, and still medical doctors cardiologist and electrophysiologist all that they were talking to me about was ablation. Did they plan to gain some experience on unsuspecting Medicare patient, or is Medicare paying quite well for ablations. Clearly state of my heath did not indicate that ablation has to be done. BTW - I did not agree to have ablation, and I did not use blood thinners, and yet, I did not have another a-flutter or a-fib now for close to 7 months. And I feel fine.
@@annawarner1078 what was the dental procedure?
I and others have been able to stop an afib attack by simply drinking an electrolyte drink. I find this incredible! I've had paroxysmal afib for nearly four years and it has slowly progressed. I was beginning to get serious about ablation and happened upon a Reddit string where this was mentioned. I've been taking an electrolyte supplement daily and no afib in over two months.
Does anyone else know about this? Nuun is the one I've been taking but I don't think there's anything special about it specifically, more just increasing my electrolyte levels.
I have A-fib, Angina, Heart failure, and have not had such a discussion; possibly because I have a sensory processing disorder as a part of my Autism, and find it hard to relate to the descriptions. I get exhausted, breathless, and dizzy, I also develop a breathing problem where I have a kind of hiccup with every breath, which is quite distressing after a while.
The last time I had this hiccup issue, I'd just about had enough; it's easy to lose patience sometimes with Autism, even for someone higher functioning like me.
I was getting thoughts of my heart packing up for good, and as others will know, those thoughts of doom are not nice, and so I decided, "if now is my time, I'm at least going to go out stoned and in a better mood for it". I don't smoke cigarettes but like a little weed in a pipe, so I took one little puff, and to my surprise, contrary to all the advice, the hiccupping stopped immediately and my heart went back to normal again. It gave me plenty of time to make an appointment with my GP a few days later and get checked out.
Cannabis may well have saved my life that day......
I self-treated my paroxysmal afib attack 7 months ago using a Propafenone based pill called rythmonorm (2 x 150mg tabs and 1 x 150 after one hour), as my doctor suggested. It worked fine. He offered me also as an alternative a Flecainide based pill.
Thank you for your posts Dr Gupta, I hope that the above might help.
Propafenone is only effective 30% of the time. I tried it and I was not one of the 30% that it helped. It was prescribed to me by my doctor as a last resort before ablation.
Oh perfect!!!! Thats me described to a 'T' thats brilliant because I have been waiting 5 months for a referral to a cardiologist and its exasperating and worrying that im not getting any help. Seek and ye shall find... heheh and here you are for me.
🎉
Now I have something else to try, and i can better describe my type of afib now when/if i ever get to see someone other than my GP, tho i have to say she HAS helped enormously by advising i stop all caffeine, smoking and alcohol, so now instead of daily and nightly episodes and palpitations and ectopic beats, i am now 'rest and digest' triggered and mostly at night, and no more palpitations, fluttering or stops.
Thank you Doctor for adding further advice so i can help myself even more while i wait for a cardiologist! Im taking nattokinase too after seeing your video, im sure thats also helping greatly x
Good vid SJ's a great presenter: - the auto-transcript made me LOL - no diss intended - see below
39 people out of the hundred said that it was possible for them to terminate their own egg featherbed
they're a fib by themselves!
regardless of whether the afib started with a vehicle trigger it seemed that vagal maneuvers seemed to do seem
to be effective at self termination
Please discuss the connection between IBS with bloating and gas and Afib. Can you please include a link to the research article by Hannson?
I had ablation (pulmonary vein antrum isolation) at NYU Langone in 2015. I haven’t had AFib since then
I seem to fall somewhat into both groups you mentioned. Often an attack will start when I'm hungryand start eating. Certain foods can cause overall anxiety and distress, sometimes as an allergic response or for other reasons, causing higher heart rate, and this can lead to tachycardia.
I can have SVT with or without afib. The SVT has been more frequent.
Over many years, I've found that habitual alcohol consumption makes the problem much worse-but it's a delayed effect, building up over weeks or even months. The immediate effects of alcohol seem to reduce the likelihood (as long as problem foods aren't aggravating things.)
I've also found that exercise has a benefit that builds up over time-not an immediate help, but one where I can look back over months and see a reduction in problems.
Techniques to stop an attack-what I heard about was breathing IN against a closed airway. Haven't tried it, but whatever it does, I'm sure it will do it really fast!
Excellent video as to reach patients that cannot get this kind of information easily.
Brilliant Doctor! I have a great cardiologist and I've had a couple of catheter ablations with some good results. However, in the NHS there is very little time for face to face consultations and more often than not, I find I have lots of questions afterwards, but then I have another 4-6 month until my next appointment. This guy for me fills in the gaps in my knowledge and has really helped me to understand my condition better and ideas on how to deal with it. One of the most useful/effective was his recommendation to take a magnesium supplement which seems to have eradicated my AF attacks over the last couple of months (normally I would have them daily), hopefully it continues to be effective! Regardless I'll be coming back to his videos because they are a gold mine of information and support.
I hope this comment finds you in good health. I just wanted to comment about taking magnesium and staying well hydrated with electrolyte water has stopped my Afib attacks as soon as 15-20 minutes. If I’m lazy and don’t get up and take magnesium and electrolytes my attacks can last hours. It was something I figured out on my own. I’m to have ablation surgery with my hypertrophic cardiomyopathy complication soon. Still scares me but nothing more scary than getting random attacks. Hope this helps someone until they can get to a cardiologist. 🙏
@@GigiNKD I am in good health thanks, I haven't had a single episode of AF (that I'm aware of) since I started taking magnesium over 3 years ago. It sounds like it's helping you as well which is great. Don't be afraid of the ablation procedure, I've had two of them myself and they are pretty straight-forward.
@@keithdoran728 thank you for replying!! It’s almost 4 am and I’ve been binging on Afib videos lol So, your comment is like a message from my prayers. Thank you more than you know for your comforting comment.
I’m so happy 3 years later you are doing great! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
@@GigiNKD Thank you! I'm confident you'll have a great outcome as well 🌈
@@keithdoran728 thank you Keith! I actually feel better about it now after your reply. ♥️
The first time I experienced AF, I thought I had had a heart attack. I went to the local A&E and they hooked me up to various machines. It was after midnight when I got there. One doctor saw me briefly. The next day, they moved me to a ward. After a while, I felt fine but they kept me there, with one visit from a doctor, the whole of the next day. It was Friday so if they didn't sign me out, I would be stuck there for the weekend since no senior doctors work at the weekend in the NHS and there would be nobody to sign me out. Thankfully, after constantly asking every member of staff numerous times to let me go someone did.
It happened again a few times over the next few years, and each time I went to hospital because my heart rate was extremely high. The fourth time it happened, again late at night, I waited a couple of hours for it to go away. It didn't, so off I went to A&E. When I got there, my heart was racing at 146bpm. My usual heart rate is about 50bpm, which is slow, I know.
A nurse immediately took me from the waiting room into the A&E area. I said I needed the toilet, so I went and sat down and strained to defecate. At once, I could feel my heart slow down. It was like a miracle. When I came out, I told the nurse that I thought the AF had stopped while I was straining. She said "Oh yeah, that's one way it can be treated". I thought "Why did nobody tell me this the first time it happened? Why didn't they tell me to go to the toilet that first time and strain to have a crap?" My heart rate was down to 70 after straining which is still high for me but it felt normal. It seems that most doctors are much happier to give people drugs, rather than provide them with simple means of control over their health. Doctors rarely advocate exercise a good diet and vitamin supplements when there are pills to be prescribed.
You are the first person I’ve read a comment from who has the same thing that I do which is I can have the eighth it go on for two or three or four hours but when I finally have a bowel movement it immediately stops within seconds. I do not understand this but that is the pattern.
Eight-afib
So true, I've had several hospital stays after being admitted with AF....been told that I need pacemaker or cardioversion and given beta blocker. Now beta blockers did make things a lot worse, they made me pass out in the night in bed. Now years later I have learnt to relax and breathe! I am on anticoagulants and try to avoid gluten I.e. bread, pasta, cakes etc. And alcohol too...I think sometimes I'm just sensitive and rather than having things done to my heart a walk in the woods is much better and healing. Meditation helps too and don't let them scare you! Dr. Gupta you are Ace! Thank you for your very helpful talks!
You’re just too marvellous for words Dr. Thank you so much . This is so helpful.
I have paroxysmal Afib with RVR. I have tried vagal maneuvers with no success. I terminated a really bad episode by simply lying done once but that usually doesn’t work. Usually I go to the ER, they eventually give me Diltiazem IV and within a couple of hours it stops (though sometimes it has taken longer, up to 10 hours). Now my Cardiologist has given me Diltiazem pills to try at home for next time.
I had an episode of Afib last night and self terminated by firmly pressing down on my upper stomach. I think it may be a hiatal hernia. I will try all the suggestions from the Dr and the comments. Thank Dr, and thanks everyone!
I think there is a definate connection with stomack problems and a-fib.
I've had paroxysmal AF for many years. For me it's 60/40 between vagal and sympathetic. I don't notice that one is more likely to last longer than the other. Often vagal maneuvers such as MVM do help. Aterial massage and dunking can also work for me. I used to wait as much as 8-12 hours for the attack to self-terminate, but the guidance from my EP is not not wait more than two hours before going to hospital and getting cardioversion. One reason might be that my AF is usually AF with RVR, so waiting many hours is quite distressing. Still, everyong with paroxysmal AF should learn vagal maneuvers. There's a good chance it will help.
Yes, keep liquid magnesium nearby and drink it quickly
I just got over an Afib episode. Mine happen during sleep . My apnea began right after gall bladder surgery. More recently Afib began. I had fast heartbeat episodes for years. I would get out of bed, and try to calm down, then I would urinate, and often at that time I felt the urge to defecate, and the bearing down, stopped the fast pulse. Tonight I had to bite a Toprol in half, as the fast pulse didn't slow as quickly. Love your videos, and wish your office were closer to Ohio. Your gentle approach to issues is awesome. I rarely see my Cardiologist, and he wanted me to have a stress test because of a slight shorter line or something on my EKG. I told him I didn't think it was whatever he thought, but did the test anyway. I refused to do the chemical that raises the heart rate. I don't know why that scares me. I figure if I had an issue, I could always jump off the treadmill. LOL As I figured, everything was fine, and I did the treadmill fine. I am 77, and have commented on your site before. You are awesome, and I am SO glad you're here. My husband, who is 80, recently went through colon cancer surgery, and 13 years ago he went through an Esophagectomy. This time it is more stressful for me because, his weight got so low, and his memory is really bad. I have to do the billing, and my work, plus making decisions, and finding my corn starch in the the food container cupboard, and other things come up missing. I think my God is testing me. I keep trying to pass the test. Have a great week, And God bless you for what you do!!
What a wonderful (non-self-serving!!!) informative video!!! Thank you!