Take these steps to avoid atrial fibrillation
/Take these steps to avoid atrial fibrillation
Anyone who’s had the unsettling and anxiety-provoking symptoms of atrial fibrillation (AFib) knows all too well the seriousness of the situation. This abnormal, erratic heart rhythm occurring in the heart’s upper chambers, may result in a skipped heartbeat, a feeling of a thud or thump, or a racing heart leaving you drained of energy, dizzy, weak, or breathless. To prevent further damage to the heart, it’s vital to get a proper diagnosis since Afib increases the risk of blood clots which can increase stroke risk by fivefold.
More than 2.7 million Americans suffer from AFib. AFib is generally managed with medications and when needed, certain medical procedures. Individuals diagnosed with AFib should also be advised to make lifestyle changes to help further reduce these scary episodes. But, is it possible to actually make lifestyle changes to prevent AFib in the first place?
The good news is recent scientific research is showing that by modifying risk factors that may increase the development of AFib, prevention is possible. The American Heart Association published this message in the March 2020 issue of the journal Circulation encouraging individuals to take steps now to help reduce the risk of AFib. Better yet, these same steps will also likely reduce the risk of several other chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and overall heart disease.
The earlier in life one adopts these lifestyle modifiers, the better chance of avoiding AFib altogether. Here are the six steps to manage or prevent AFib:
1. Reach a healthy body weight
Carrying excess weight or having obesity is a major risk factor for developing AFib. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index or BMI of 30 or greater. However, some studies have results showing that even people who are overweight (BMI of 26-29.9), also have an associated risk of a 4 percent rise in AFib risk.
Reaching a healthy body weight is not always an easy task. What can help is to participate in a structured weight loss program ideally with a registered dietitian in charge. A registered dietitian can help personalize a plan for shedding pounds by developing a healthier relationship with food by making healthier food choices and meal plans that support a healthy lifestyle.
2. Increase physical activity
Being sedentary is an independent risk factor of AFib. The human body is meant to move and research backs this up. Becoming more physically active has been shown to be associated with a reduced risk of AFib along with spurring on weight loss.
The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderately intensity aerobic exercise to improve cardiovascular health. Aerobic activity is any activity elevating heart rate higher than what it is at rest such as jogging, dancing, brisk walking, tennis, bicycling, or swimming.
3. Treat obstructive sleep apnea
A condition that many with AFib have is obstructive sleep apnea or other related sleep disorders. Conditions such as these can interfere with breathing during sleep. Research has shown there appears to be an association between AFib and sleep disorders due to sharing underlying physiological issues putting individuals at a higher risk for AFib. That’s why it’s important to treat obstructive sleep apnea or any sleep disorder early on to help prevent the damaging effects of AFib.
4. Get diabetes under control
When a person is diagnosed with diabetes, their risk for heart disease has just gone up by at least 2-3 times, and this includes the risk of developing AFib. The Framingham Heart Study discovered that individuals with diabetes had a 40-60 percent increased risk for AFib, especially if their diabetes was not in control.
There are several ways to manage diabetes successfully – losing excess weight, reducing portion sizes of carbohydrates, increasing exercise, and monitoring blood glucose levels daily. When kept under good control, people with diabetes will reduce their risk of AFib.
5. Maintain a healthy a blood pressure
The primary risk factor elevating a person’s risk for AFib is hypertension or high blood pressure. Over half of all cases of AFib could potentially be avoided by maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
Luckily, there are many ways to avoid hypertension, which can also lead to a stroke. Some effective lifestyle changes to make include following a low sodium diet such as the DASH diet (dietary approaches to stop hypertension), reaching a healthier body weight – losing as little as 10 pounds can make a significant difference, not smoking, and participating in regular exercise. For anyone struggling to reach a healthier blood pressure, there are many effective antihypertensive medications that can be prescribed by a physician.
6. Refrain from smoking and limit alcohol intake
Smoking has been established as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, with estimates that seven percent of all AFib can be attributed to this unhealthy habit. Even children living in households exposed to secondhand smoke, have a significantly increased chance of developing atrial fibrillation later in life, according to a 2019 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Heart rhythm irregularities like AFib also don’t mix well with alcohol. There is an undeniable link between the two as one study found that even moderate alcohol consumption increases risk of AFib. The belief is that alcohol disrupts the heart’s natural pacemaker – the electrical signals that are supposed to keep it beating at the right pace. However, for some, even drinking moderately may trigger AFib symptoms, turning paroxysmal AFib to persistent AFib. Doctors agree that any patient with AFib should refrain from alcohol, even light drinking.
Heavy drinking – more than three drinks a day – and AFib are a bad combination. Three drinks or more a day significantly increase the risk of an episode of AFib for every drink on top of that, the risk climbs another 8 percent.
Whether you should or can drink alcohol depends on the amount and frequency of drinking as well as a person’s medical history and medication regimen. That’s why it’s important to weigh the risks and talk to your doctor about their advice.
Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy. Dr. Samadi is a medical contributor to NewsMax TV and is also the author of The Ultimate MANual, Dr. Samadi’s Guide to Men’s Health and Wellness, available online both on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncology and prostate cancer 911.