|
2004/08/05, 10:14 PM
Hey...not sure if anyone can answer this besides my own doctor...or if you are familiar with it..but being the health board, thought I'd ask.
I've just joined this board, and just started to work out. I did 20 minutes on the treadmill this morning...and it about killed me!!! ANyways....I have atrial fibrillation, which I had surgery for in May...although it didn't quite cure me totally, it has helped the inconsistency of my heart. Although the docs had told me previously, that exercise is great for my heart...do you think it's possible to do too much too soon? Is there a routine I should try..or anything I should steer clear of?
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
2004/08/06, 01:44 AM
As you guessed you do need to talk to your physician. There may be some exercises he or she doesn't want you to do due to the possibility of crushing injury while on blood thinners. However, that being said, in general aerobic exercise should be fine with an atrial fibrillation. I am going to assume that you had an ablation of the heart to keep you from going into a fast ventricular rate secondary to the fibrilation, in which case your ventricles should be operating fine at this point. I would be very cognisant of how you feel, it is alright to get tired while you work out, but you should not feel dizzy, lightheaded or faint. Furthermore the exercise should not wipe you out the next day. If you find that the next day you are unable to function normally, than cut back a little.
Other than that I think you are pretty safe. Do keep us informed on how it is going, and do give your doctor a heads up on what your exercise plan is. They are nosey that way. :)
Daniel Love
|
|
2004/08/06, 01:45 AM
Oh, and stay away from stimulants. Caffeine, weight loss pills etc. These will only increase your likelihood of palpatation.
|
|
2004/08/06, 07:34 PM
You sound like you know what you are talking about :) Yeah, I had a cardiac ablation.. it was intended to be a pulmonary vein isolation prior to the ablation, but my heart was triggered as soon as the catheders were entered, so they only did the basic ablation. I was told afterwards it was a form of tachycardia, which in the 4 yrs since my diagnosis, they never named it tachycardia.
Anyways, I was definitly lightheaded and dizzy, and felt weak later, but overall, I think it was ok. That was yesterday, and I feel fine today, not wiped out...(Aside from what I think is sugar withdrawals...lol)My friend who got me in these boards thinks the lightheadedness, maybe caused by an infux of oxygen I'm not used to in HIIT... Your thoughts?
Anyway, I'm on my way to do my abs n shoulders...I'm gonna do this!!
As for the caffeine etc, I have pretty much always steered clear of that, aside from the occassional sweet/unsweet tea, ever since I was told to not have caffeine or excessive alcohol with the A-Fib..
|
|
2004/08/06, 08:50 PM
I would probably ask my physician about doing HIIT, especially if it is making your lightheaded and dizzy. Due to the ablation, I am not sure that your heart can respond as quickly to the abrupt changes required in HIIT (I don't know for sure). I think you would probably be better with a steady aerobic exercise so that you can judge how your body is reacting on a more gradual basis. After you have done the activity for awhile and are comfortable, than maybe HIIT could be introduced, but ask you Doc.
Daniel
|
|
2004/08/08, 09:52 AM
A stress test on a performed treadmill while hooked up to an EKG and supervised by a cardiologist, may give a clearer indication of what can be safely done in the gym. You may want to ask your doctor about this.
|
|
2004/08/08, 12:33 PM
In any case, definately talk to your cardiologist before doing any cardiovascular exercise.
--------------
"A will finds a way, failure is not an option"
Ivan
carivan@freetrainers.com
Montreal Canada
|
