Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Manage Arrhythmia
The first time you experienced heart palpitations, it was probably very scary. Our heart beats out the rhythm of our lives, and when that rhythm is off, it can feel catastrophic.
However, the reality is that, although arrhythmias have the potential for serious complications, it’s possible to live a long, healthy, and happy life with them. Of course, to get the most out of life with arrhythmias, you might have to make some lifestyle changes. Depending on your current lifestyle, here are some of the changes a cardiologist might recommend.
Quit Smoking
Cigarette smoking is bad for your cardiovascular health generally, and arrhythmia is no exception. Cigarette smoking can damage your heart, leading to the development of arrhythmias. In addition, smoking can contribute to other cardiovascular conditions like coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These conditions can contribute to the development of arrhythmias.
Healthy Levels of Exercise
Exercise is generally good for your heart. However, with arrhythmias, you might be reluctant to exercise too hard, and that’s smart. When you have arrhythmia, vigorous exercise could trigger an erratic heartbeat. Sometimes, this could put you at serious risk for complications like stroke or cardiac arrest.
But don’t think that means that you shouldn’t exercise. Instead, it’s important to keep active. You just have to be smart about it. Talk to your cardiologist about the intensity and type of exercise that’s best for you. Consider joining an exercise class where you will have people around who can help if you have a problem. At a minimum, choose to exercise with a friend who can get help if you have a cardiac event.
Cut Down on Salt
High salt intake is also generally bad for the heart. It’s been associated with cardiac dysfunction and with high blood pressure. More recent research suggests that high salt intake might also contribute directly to the development of atrial fibrillation (aFib), one of the most common arrhythmias. High salt intake may also trigger aFib episodes.
To help control arrhythmia, you should cut down on your overall salt intake. You should also watch out for spikes in salt consumption such as when getting fast food or around the holidays.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for developing aFib. Studies also show that reducing alcohol consumption can reduce the incidence of aFib.
Try to cut back on alcohol consumption. As with salt, cut back on both your overall alcohol consumption and your consumption at a single sitting. Since alcohol is an addictive substance, it can be hard to control. If you are having trouble cutting back on alcohol, talk to your cardiologist about resources.
Reduce Caffeine Intake
As a stimulant, caffeine can impact your heart rate. In very large doses, caffeine can lead to the development of arrhythmias. In addition, caffeine can trigger heart palpitations in people with known arrhythmias.
If you have heart arrhythmia, it makes sense to reduce caffeine intake. For some people, the only smart dosage of caffeine is none.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Obesity is linked to many cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure. It can also lead to sleep apnea. However, research also suggests that being overweight is an independent and significant risk factor for arrhythmia. That’s because obesity can cause changes to the heart that stress it and lead to irregular heartbeats.
The good news is that evidence suggests that these heart changes aren’t permanent. Losing weight can reduce the severity and frequency of arrhythmias.
Get Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing stops during sleep, forcing your brain to awaken enough to restart breathing. Your body also senses a lack of oxygen, which triggers your heart to beat stronger and faster to distribute more oxygen. The repeated stresses on the heart can lead to high blood pressure and arrhythmias, especially aFib. Sleep apnea is often a secondary effect of obesity, but it can also be an independent risk factor for aFib.
Although lifestyle changes like attaining a healthy weight can help control sleep apnea, effective treatment requires professional care, which might be a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, an oral appliance that repositions your jaw to hold the airway open, or surgery.
Manage Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes have an elevated risk of aFib. The mechanism isn’t exactly clear, but researchers suspect heart damage from elevated blood sugar contributes to the development of irregular electrical signals in the heart.
Getting better control of your blood sugar, though, has been shown to have a positive impact on the frequency and severity of aFib symptoms.
Control Stress
Anything that drives your heart rate up can also trigger arrhythmic attacks. Stress is something that can cause your heart rate to shoot up, and it’s been known to trigger aFib, atrial flutter, and other arrhythmias. In addition, some studies suggest that it can make certain arrhythmias more dangerous.
If you have arrhythmia, learning to manage stress can literally be a matter of life or death. Not exactly helpful for reducing stress, we know, but once you realize the importance of finding a way to stay calm, you might realize that you need help. Talk to your cardiologist about strategies for stress reduction.
Get Help from Cardiologists Who Know the Impact of a Healthy Lifestyle
Although lifestyle changes alone may not be sufficient to manage your arrhythmia, at South Denver Cardiology, we know that they can make a big difference in your quality of life and your results. That’s why our Arrhythmia Clinic prioritizes lifestyle changes alongside our use of medications and advanced treatments.
We match every patient to the right treatment for them. That’s why we use advanced diagnosis techniques including not just EKG, but also ambulatory rhythm monitoring, which gives us an extended look at the health and rhythm of your heart. This helps us determine whether lifestyle changes are sufficient to manage your arrhythmia, or if you might need more targeted treatment, including ablation, which can remove the areas responsible for your arrhythmia.
From supervised exercise classes to dietary education to massage therapy for relaxation, South Denver Cardiology offers a wide range of lifestyle approaches that can help you manage your arrhythmia and live a long, full, and satisfying life.
To learn how we can help you get the most out of life with arrhythmia, please contact South Denver Cardiology today for an appointment at our central office in Littleton, or one of our satellite offices across the South Denver area.
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