Comments on: Does Stress Cause Atrial Fibrillation? http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/ From StopAfib.org - For Afib Patients, By Afib Patients Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Sharne Dries http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3189 Sharne Dries Sat, 07 Aug 2010 02:25:34 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3189 Hi everyone, Has anyone considered SULPHITES as a preservative in wine, beer and packaged foods as a culprit that causes AF? I belong to the AF club. I have had ectopics and palps ALL MY LIFE, since about age 16. But, I am now 52 and SYMTOM FREE!! (. I had rapid AF 2 years ago, hospitalised, meds prescribed, ablation suggested, but I have lone AF with a normal heart. I was mega stressed at work and home both times, but had a lot of alcohol as well. ) For the last 2 months I have had no symtpoms what so ever and feel GREAT because I have ELIMINATED SULPHITES FROM MY LIFE!! Sulphites are the numbers 220 - 228 in cask wines, white and red bottled wine, and beer. All have ADDED sulphites as well! So does practically every packaged food, mostly dried fruits, chicken stock cubes, powder, soups and even chicken stuffing and chicken salt on your fries. Muesli bars, cakes, EVERTHING. Even foods you consider to be 'Healthy'. There is NOTHING Healthy about a SULPHITE!! It is a dangerous chemical. Why does our modern, stresed, time-poor, fast- food lifestyle see more people with heart conditions, asthma, skin allergies, anaphylactic reactions to food etc??? Because ITS THE CHEMICALS IN OUR FOOD>>>>>> I have cleaned out my pantry of ALL packaged foods that have numbers on them. MSG (NO: 631) is also known as 'soy protein', 'yeast extract', 'HVP - hydrolised vegetable protein. Beware of this ONE. The hidden names on packaging are there to trick you into thinking it's NOT MSG when it is! Also No635 - ribonucleotides give hives, rashes and other allergic reactions. The 'Chinese Resturant' syndrome doesn't gt this name for nothing. Have you ever had palps or AF after Chinese Food? Food additives could be the missing link to your AF attacks? Try keeping a diary of the foods you eat. To test my theory,I deliberately sabotaged myself and drank wine, coffee, had chocolate, etc and put myself back in hospital with supraventricular tachycarhdia. I KNEW what caused it but the hospitl report stated, "Tachycardia brought on by anxiety'. The doctors thought I was neurotic. WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!! So if you have lone AF, no heart defects and otherwise fit and healthy(many of you I read about are athletes) try eleminating preservatives from your diet, esp dried fruit, muesli which we are told is good for us! Make your own food, buy ORGANIC if possible or check to see the label says NO SUPHITES. THis includes your shampoo, soap, cosmetics. hair dye, cleaning agents that get into your bloodstream via your skin. I hope this information is helpful. Sharne NSW Australia Hi everyone,
Has anyone considered SULPHITES as a preservative in wine, beer and packaged foods as a culprit that causes AF?
I belong to the AF club. I have had ectopics and palps ALL MY LIFE, since about age 16. But, I am now 52 and SYMTOM FREE!! (. I had rapid AF 2 years ago, hospitalised, meds prescribed, ablation suggested, but I have lone AF with a normal heart. I was mega stressed at work and home both times, but had a lot of alcohol as well. ) For the last 2 months I have had no symtpoms what so ever and feel GREAT because I have ELIMINATED SULPHITES FROM MY LIFE!! Sulphites are the numbers 220 – 228 in cask wines, white and red bottled wine, and beer. All have ADDED sulphites as well! So does practically every packaged food, mostly dried fruits, chicken stock cubes, powder, soups and even chicken stuffing and chicken salt on your fries. Muesli bars, cakes, EVERTHING. Even foods you consider to be ‘Healthy’. There is NOTHING Healthy about a SULPHITE!! It is a dangerous chemical. Why does our modern, stresed, time-poor, fast- food lifestyle see more people with heart conditions, asthma, skin allergies, anaphylactic reactions to food etc??? Because ITS THE CHEMICALS IN OUR FOOD>>>>>> I have cleaned out my pantry of ALL packaged foods that have numbers on them. MSG (NO: 631) is also known as ‘soy protein’, ‘yeast extract’, ‘HVP – hydrolised vegetable protein. Beware of this ONE. The hidden names on packaging are there to trick you into thinking it’s NOT MSG when it is! Also No635 – ribonucleotides give hives, rashes and other allergic reactions. The ‘Chinese Resturant’ syndrome doesn’t gt this name for nothing. Have you ever had palps or AF after Chinese Food? Food additives could be the missing link to your AF attacks? Try keeping a diary of the foods you eat. To test my theory,I deliberately sabotaged myself and drank wine, coffee, had chocolate, etc and put myself back in hospital with supraventricular tachycarhdia. I KNEW what caused it but the hospitl report stated, “Tachycardia brought on by anxiety’. The doctors thought I was neurotic. WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!! So if you have lone AF, no heart defects and otherwise fit and healthy(many of you I read about are athletes) try eleminating preservatives from your diet, esp dried fruit, muesli which we are told is good for us! Make your own food, buy ORGANIC if possible or check to see the label says NO SUPHITES. THis includes your shampoo, soap, cosmetics. hair dye, cleaning agents that get into your bloodstream via your skin. I hope this information is helpful.
Sharne NSW Australia

]]> By: Mellanie http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3153 Mellanie Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:55:56 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3153 Hayley, I'm so sorry for your difficulty with afib, especially at your young age. Yes, your triggers are very normal for many who have afib. A lot depends on which drug is chosen as some have more side effects than others. You might ask your doctor how to minimize drug side effects. Since your attacks seem to convert spontaneously, most likely you will receive a rate control medication to slow your heart, making it convert quicker. And overall, rate medications have fewer side effects than rhythm medications. Good luck. Mellanie Hayley,

I’m so sorry for your difficulty with afib, especially at your young age. Yes, your triggers are very normal for many who have afib.

A lot depends on which drug is chosen as some have more side effects than others. You might ask your doctor how to minimize drug side effects. Since your attacks seem to convert spontaneously, most likely you will receive a rate control medication to slow your heart, making it convert quicker. And overall, rate medications have fewer side effects than rhythm medications.

Good luck.

Mellanie

]]> By: hayley http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3152 hayley Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:40:53 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3152 hi. I started with episodes when i was 20yrs, now 22. I strongly believe they was brought on by stress as at the time i was going through complications at work following a grievance procedure. It took quite a while and loads of tests to finally result in PAF. My attacks finally went down to just 1 every 2months. Whilst trying for a baby i had the occasional fluttering but once pregnant and working full time resulted in more attacks. Finally after giving birth and allowing 3months for my body to settle down again i thought they had disappeared because not even a murmur, so i was discharged. I have now had 4 in a month and am going back to the cardiologist. iam worried about the use of drugs if it is again suggested because of all the side effects. I was treated with a drug whilst in hospital but this was a one off. How often are people getting these attacks for them to be on medication?(In between my attacks my heart is perfectly normal) I have tried to note down triggers. (change to warmer/hot weather and becoming dehydrated, tiredness/stress, and not quite sure but digestion following meals where it sits heavy high up?) do these sound familiar?? hi. I started with episodes when i was 20yrs, now 22. I strongly believe they was brought on by stress as at the time i was going through complications at work following a grievance procedure. It took quite a while and loads of tests to finally result in PAF. My attacks finally went down to just 1 every 2months. Whilst trying for a baby i had the occasional fluttering but once pregnant and working full time resulted in more attacks. Finally after giving birth and allowing 3months for my body to settle down again i thought they had disappeared because not even a murmur, so i was discharged. I have now had 4 in a month and am going back to the cardiologist. iam worried about the use of drugs if it is again suggested because of all the side effects. I was treated with a drug whilst in hospital but this was a one off. How often are people getting these attacks for them to be on medication?(In between my attacks my heart is perfectly normal) I have tried to note down triggers. (change to warmer/hot weather and becoming dehydrated, tiredness/stress, and not quite sure but digestion following meals where it sits heavy high up?) do these sound familiar??

]]> By: Tania Brassard http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3112 Tania Brassard Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:01:34 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3112 Hi, I am 40 yrs old and just recently started having Afib and it has been happening once a month for 4 months now. I've been cardioverted twice electrically and the 2 other times with medication. I am quite overweight, have proteinuria(protein spills into my urine), and have had problems with blood pressure. I also have bad allergies which causes my lungs to be congested and I need to be on a puffer regularily. I eat quite healthy, I'm a vegetarian(to help my kidneys) and I exercise regularily including yoga which I started recently to help with stress. I believe a major factor in my Afib is stress as my husband was laid off last year and now we are losing our house and my handicapped brother who lives with us, recently passed away from a seizure in the night and I'm the one who found him. I also have had anxiety issues for many years but have never gone on medication. Do you think that would help prevent my Afib attacks? Because now I'm having more anxiety than ever and I know that's not going to help. Do you think anxiety plays a role? Hi, I am 40 yrs old and just recently started having Afib and it has been happening once a month for 4 months now. I’ve been cardioverted twice electrically and the 2 other times with medication. I am quite overweight, have proteinuria(protein spills into my urine), and have had problems with blood pressure. I also have bad allergies which causes my lungs to be congested and I need to be on a puffer regularily. I eat quite healthy, I’m a vegetarian(to help my kidneys) and I exercise regularily including yoga which I started recently to help with stress. I believe a major factor in my Afib is stress as my husband was laid off last year and now we are losing our house and my handicapped brother who lives with us, recently passed away from a seizure in the night and I’m the one who found him. I also have had anxiety issues for many years but have never gone on medication. Do you think that would help prevent my Afib attacks? Because now I’m having more anxiety than ever and I know that’s not going to help. Do you think anxiety plays a role?

]]> By: Alec http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3079 Alec Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:31:32 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3079 Hello all. Just wanted to share my afib story with you....... At around age 15, I would get ocassional episodes of afib if I didn't warm up before playing basketball, or sudden explosive movements would set it off. The episodes would last for a few minutes, I'd feel like I had a fish flopping in my chest and then it would just reset and Id be fine. At this point, my doctor was unable to identify what was happening because the episodes would end prior to getting an ekg. It wasn't until I was 32 that I had an episode that started spontaneously, no athletic activity going on, and was sustained, which finally did allow me to get it diagnosed. It lasted about 8 hours before converting on its own. The doc ruled it primary or lone afib and put me on 25 mg toprol-xl daily. I am 37 now and still take toprol-xl daily. I am still athletic and seem to only get afib episodes that last a couple minutes every so often. So it would seem that that the beta blocker is helping to some degree. Nonetheless, it is very frustrating to have to take a pill like this every day and having doctors that tend to blow it off as no big deal since there are no underlying heart or disease processes they can pin it on. Thanks Hello all. Just wanted to share my afib story with you…….
At around age 15, I would get ocassional episodes of afib if I didn’t warm up before playing basketball, or sudden explosive movements would set it off. The episodes would last for a few minutes, I’d feel like I had a fish flopping in my chest and then it would just reset and Id be fine. At this point, my doctor was unable to identify what was happening because the episodes would end prior to getting an ekg. It wasn’t until I was 32 that I had an episode that started spontaneously, no athletic activity going on, and was sustained, which finally did allow me to get it diagnosed. It lasted about 8 hours before converting on its own. The doc ruled it primary or lone afib and put me on 25 mg toprol-xl daily. I am 37 now and still take toprol-xl daily. I am still athletic and seem to only get afib episodes that last a couple minutes every so often. So it would seem that that the beta blocker is helping to some degree. Nonetheless, it is very frustrating to have to take a pill like this every day and having doctors that tend to blow it off as no big deal since there are no underlying heart or disease processes they can pin it on.

Thanks

]]> By: Demetrios Athenian http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3041 Demetrios Athenian Fri, 21 May 2010 13:28:01 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3041 Hello, your blog is just great! I am calling from Athens Greece (E.U). I am 42, my 1st AF was back in my 30's after a super stressed day..our weekend cottage was set on fire during a big forest fire and I drove fast to it to check out the situation, hopefully the house was ok but that was the moment my AF got started..and kept for 10-15 minutes and ever since I've had occasional incidences over the years until 2005 when I had to get in to the hospital after 2 days of AF to set it right.They gave 2 Rhytmonorms & 1/4 of Lopressure (B-blocker), after a few hours the pulse was back to normal again. AF continued to visit me maybe 3-5 times a year no more than 30 minutes..until now and I mean a month ago..I had to go to the hospital again..they gave me Algoron along with Rhytmonrm, stayed for 2 days but until now we're talking the arrhythmia still exists.. I am taking lopressor 1/4 + 1/4 & 100mg aspirin..I did all the tests (dopplers, tripplex ets..) as I did it many times in the past, my heart is quite normal, there is no problem, my stomach too, I have only a bend for hypothyroidism which is controlled. I do not drink, not smoke..but I am a neurotic person with Panic Attacks for more than 7 years which is controlled taking a small dose of Seroxat & xanax, extremely stressed..just a simple thought (negative or positive) makes my heart bumps like crazy horse..Adrenaline is my middle name..I can swim in it..I am an artist a painter and creation brings a lot of psychological suffer.. I observed a few things that may trigger my AF: 1.Stress / Panic 2.Pizza (generally I am allergic) 3.legumes (lentil soup) 4.I am allergic and difficult to use my nose to breathe (night in bed only, no problem in the daylight) 5.lifting weight 6. some sudden move My phychiatrist says not to worry about, it is very common for my and my type of person.. I just worry about strokes..a 100mg of aspirin is enough? my cardio says yes..but I heard about sydrome the anticoagulant drug from another cardio.. Moreover I am not willing to do electroshock since I know myself and I will recrudescence. thanx again for being out there..looking forward to your answer. Hello, your blog is just great! I am calling from Athens Greece (E.U).
I am 42, my 1st AF was back in my 30′s after a super stressed day..our weekend cottage was set on fire during a big forest fire and I drove fast to it to check out the situation, hopefully the house was ok but that was the moment my AF got started..and kept for 10-15 minutes and ever since I’ve had occasional incidences over the years until 2005 when I had to get in to the hospital after 2 days of AF to set it right.They gave 2 Rhytmonorms & 1/4 of Lopressure (B-blocker), after a few hours the pulse was back to normal again.
AF continued to visit me maybe 3-5 times a year no more than 30 minutes..until now and I mean a month ago..I had to go to the hospital again..they gave me Algoron along with Rhytmonrm, stayed for 2 days but until now we’re talking the arrhythmia still exists.. I am taking lopressor 1/4 + 1/4 & 100mg aspirin..I did all the tests (dopplers, tripplex ets..) as I did it many times in the past, my heart is quite normal, there is no problem, my stomach too, I have only a bend for hypothyroidism which is controlled. I do not drink, not smoke..but I am a neurotic person with Panic Attacks for more than 7 years which is controlled taking a small dose of Seroxat & xanax, extremely stressed..just a simple thought (negative or positive) makes my heart bumps like crazy horse..Adrenaline is my middle name..I can swim in it..I am an artist a painter and creation brings a lot of psychological suffer..

I observed a few things that may trigger my AF:

1.Stress / Panic
2.Pizza (generally I am allergic)
3.legumes (lentil soup)
4.I am allergic and difficult to use my nose to breathe (night in bed only, no problem in the daylight)
5.lifting weight
6. some sudden move

My phychiatrist says not to worry about, it is very common for my and my type of person..

I just worry about strokes..a 100mg of aspirin is enough? my cardio says yes..but I heard about sydrome the anticoagulant drug from another cardio.. Moreover I am not willing to do electroshock since I know myself and I will recrudescence.

thanx again for being out there..looking forward to your answer.

]]> By: Angela http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3022 Angela Sat, 01 May 2010 02:42:16 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3022 My a-fib has only started this year and I have only had two episodes. Both occurred during high stress times with school work and extracurricular activities. I am a slightly athletic 17 year old girl. For one of my episodes, I had a small cup of coffee 24 hours earlier, while my first episode seemed to have no triggers other than stress. However, I feel that sleep deprivation played a role in both episodes. My a-fib has only started this year and I have only had two episodes. Both occurred during high stress times with school work and extracurricular activities. I am a slightly athletic 17 year old girl.

For one of my episodes, I had a small cup of coffee 24 hours earlier, while my first episode seemed to have no triggers other than stress. However, I feel that sleep deprivation played a role in both episodes.

]]> By: beth swartzell http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3017 beth swartzell Mon, 26 Apr 2010 02:08:02 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3017 to all a-fibs. check out the pauling protocol. i have been taking it for about a month and a half. i had one a-fib about a year ago. please, please check out the site. it may save your life.! to all a-fibs. check out the pauling protocol. i have been taking it for about a month and a half. i had one a-fib about a year ago. please, please check out the site. it may save your life.!

]]> By: Tommy http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3004 Tommy Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:15:13 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3004 I'm 29 I’m 29

]]> By: Tommy http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-2/#comment-3003 Tommy Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:10:13 +0000 http://atrialfibrillationblog.com/2008/03/22/does-stress-cause-atrial-fibrillation/#comment-3003 Hello everyone, this is my story. I have had palps for years and been to numerous doctors complaint of these palps, every time I would get the same answer"it's stress don't worry". About 9months ago I got a really bad episode of these palps and they were harder and faster then usual but they went away on there own. Needless to say it scared the hell out if me and I was back to the doctor. Nuclear stress test, ecocardiogram and EKG revealed that I was healthy and nothing was wrong. Three hours later I went to work and ran up the stairs cause I was late. When I got to the top of stairs I thought I was having a heart attack. I had never felt anything like this before. My heart was pounding, completly off rythm and very fast. I went home thinking it would go back on it's own since I was just at the doctors and had every test done and nothing was found. I lasted a hour and went to the ER. My heart rate was 220 when I got there. The doctor gave me fecanide and toporal that night and I went into sinus rythym the next day. I have been taking flecanide and toporal with asprin for a month now. I amiserable that yhis happened. I am 6'3 225pds I went to the gym everyday and always had a healthy diet. I played highschool and college sports and never had a problem. I Sony know whay yo do. I have no confidence in my heart now. I still have palps and weird feelings in my heart all the time. I can't go to the gym because that triggers it. I literally worry about this all day everyday. I just want to feel normal. Please help Hello everyone, this is my story. I have had palps for years and been to numerous doctors complaint of these palps, every time I would
get the same answer”it’s stress don’t worry”. About 9months ago I got a really bad episode of these palps and they were harder and faster then usual but they went away on there own. Needless to say it scared the hell out if me and I was back to the doctor. Nuclear stress test, ecocardiogram and EKG revealed that I was healthy and nothing was wrong. Three
hours later I went to work and ran up the stairs cause
I was late. When I got to the top of stairs I thought I was having a heart attack. I had never felt anything like this before. My heart was pounding, completly off rythm and very fast. I went home thinking it would go back on it’s own since I was just at the doctors and had every test done and nothing was found. I lasted a hour and went to the ER. My heart rate was 220 when I got there. The doctor gave me fecanide and toporal that night and I went into sinus rythym the next day. I have been taking flecanide and toporal with asprin for a month now. I amiserable that yhis happened. I am 6’3 225pds I went to the gym everyday and always had a healthy diet. I played highschool and college sports and never had a problem. I Sony know whay yo do. I have no confidence in my heart now. I still have palps and weird feelings in my heart all the time. I can’t go to the gym because that triggers it. I literally worry about this all day everyday. I just want to feel normal. Please help

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