Thank you for visiting this video segment of Dr. AFib, I'm Dr. Morales.
Today we're going to talking about exercise with atrial fibrillation.
In my last video segment, I talked about obesity and weight loss and how weight loss is such
an important feature for managing somebody's atrial fibrillation.
But how do you give somebody advice for exercise?
so they can lose their weight, for patients who have atrial fibrillation.
When patients are first diagnosed of atrial fibrillation.
I also couldn't find people in my office who get told by other doctors that they shouldn't
exercise because they're diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Because it may trigger an episodes of atrial fibrillation.
although some of that is true, exercise can induce atrial tribulation in in some patients.
However, long-term healthy living including exercise is an important part of the management
of your atrial fibrillation.
now the only time that I tell patients to not exercise in atrial fibrillation is perhaps
when they're first diagnosed with the condition.
Such as you just diagnosed, you're in the hospital, you just got out of the hospital.
It may not be the best time to start an exercise program at that time.
However, once your condition is stable, one whether that be with medical therapy or with
procedures I often encourage my patients to begin exercise programs.
Now patients when they get told that they should start exercising they want to know
how long should they exercise and what types of exercises are safe?
Are there certain a heart rate that they should avoid and the problem with that is that there
is no clear guideline, recommendations say what types of exercises you should do or what
heart rate of goals heart rate you should have.
Because many patients are very variable people have different levels of fitness so one person's
Good might not be applicable to another person.
So, all the exercises that people like to do whether that is walking, jogging, running,
swimming, weight training.
There's really no limitations on what somebody can do who has atrial fibrillation.
However, when especially when you're first starting off there are some important guidelines
to remember if you're first diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and your doctor said it's
okay to start exercising, always start off slow you know don't expect to do an hour of
fitness heavy intensity fitness the first time you do any exercise and after you've
been diagnosed atrial fibrillation start off slow may only be five to ten minutes but build
up as you feel that your body can do so and always listen to your body as well.
If you're feeling tired short of breath, dizzy that's your body telling you to stop.
As you continue to exercise you may do with a buildup and be able to do more.
I have found many patients who have of mine who use Harvey trackers while they exercise,
many from my pitch either use a Fitbit or an Apple watch to track them heart rate while
they're exercising and they won’t the guideline that says okay don't let your heart rate exercise
how faster than 160 or 180 beats per minute for example, but again there's no clear guideline
about what number is okay, what numbers is not okay while you're exercising.
Again listen to your body if you're feeling short of breath or dizzy you may need to slow
down or cut back or how much you are exercising.
When people are first diagnosed, it may actually be beneficial to them to do it more supervised
physical therapy such as cardiac rehab with where you can have your heart rate monitored
and you can get a better gauge of what your own personal limitations are when you start
exercising on your own.
In general exercise is healthy for you it is good for patients who have atrial fibrillation
because it may improve your high blood pressure, your diabetes and make prove your weight as
well which are all important factors for managing your atrial fibrillation.
So again as a long-term I do imprecise and I allow my patients to exercise with just
some guidelines so listen to your body, know when to stop when you're feeling tired or
short of breath and dizzy but progress and do as much as you feel that you're able to
do.
Thank you for visiting this video segment of Dr. AFib, I'll see you next time.