Question 1

i have recently been diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, i take 120mg verapamil per day. how safe is it for me to continue weight training?

Accepted Answer

PAF: There is mounting data showing that athletes who generate a lot of upper body strain (ie rowers, weight lifters) have an increased incidence of a fib, felt to be due to back pressure on the heart during straining that ultimately stretches out the top chambers which is where atrial fibrillation comes from. As you continue weight lifting, be aware that your paroxysmal afib may become persistent.

Question 2

what is atrial fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

Fast irregular pulse: When the small chambers of the heart  ( atria) are beating very fast ( more than 300 beats per minute) the  larger chambers beat fast and irregularly.

Question 3

is atrial fibrillation inherited?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: There is a gene that makes the tendency to get it more likely, but most a fib is due to environmental and aquired factors such as age, valvular heart disease and alcohol.

Question 4

how is atrial fibrillation treated?

Accepted Answer

Several options: With medications to slow down the heart rate or control the heart rhythm, in the right setting blood thinners to minimize the risk of stroke, electrical shock to restore a normal rhythm and also catheter based approaches in order to remove the trigger for afib.

Question 5

atrial fibrillation , what are the chances of survival?

Accepted Answer

Good to excellent: But you need to see a doctor to assess stroke risk and do the correct treatment. There are many more choices than even ten years ago.

Question 6

can stress cause atrial fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Yes it is possible, especially if the heart is damaged , or enlarged.

Question 7

will stress cause atrial fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

It can: It can, but usually the heart has to have other problems for stress to precipitate this.

Question 8

can magnesium help atrial fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

Magnesium and afib: Research studies on this topic have yielded inconsistent results.  These studies were done in patients who had undergone coronary bypass surgery. Some of the studies seem to suggest that magnesium levels need to be increased to 2.0 meq/l  or more to prevent atrial fibrillation.  Provided that kidney function is normal, there would be no harm in using magnesium supplements in this setting.

Question 9

can atrial fibrillation be psychosomatic?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly: Stress can increase your adrenaline which can precipitate a.Fib, but usually the heart has to have an enlarged atrium or valvular heart disease in addition to the stress.

Question 10

what are the risks of atrial fibrillation?

Accepted Answer

Atrial fibrillation: Afib is a rapid irregular heart rhythm which can decrease heart efficiency as much as 20% in some patients. It can also be associated with clotting and clots travelling around the body to cause stroke or other problems. Some people have atrial fibrillation as their normal rhythm. Talk to your dr. About it if you have it.

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Doctor answers about:

Bodybuilding and atrial fibrillation

A member asked:

I have recently been diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, i take 120mg verapamil per day. how safe is it for me to continue weight training?

A member asked:

What is atrial fibrillation?

A member asked:

Is atrial fibrillation inherited?

A member asked:

How is atrial fibrillation treated?

A member asked:

Atrial fibrillation , what are the chances of survival?

A member asked:

Can stress cause atrial fibrillation?

A member asked:

Will stress cause atrial fibrillation?

A member asked:

Can magnesium help atrial fibrillation?

A member asked:

Can atrial fibrillation be psychosomatic?

A member asked:

What are the risks of atrial fibrillation?

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