Driving with AFib – Atrial Fibrillation

DISCLAIMER: I’m not a medical skilled. For those who imagine you have got AFib or another coronary heart/medical situation that wants consideration, please seek the advice of together with your private medical supplier.

You might be in nice form. You might be in nice well being. You might not have any heart-related points or exhibit any signs of coronary heart issues. However you possibly can nonetheless have AFib (atrial fibrillation) that’s an irregular heartbeat that would trigger a stroke. PEZ’s Chuck Peña takes you thru his private journey with AFib.

My AFib journey

Final summer time, I discovered {that a} pal who’s just a few years youthful than me (however each of us are formally “outdated”) and nonetheless a extremely aggressive age group triathlete had a coronary heart episode whereas at a hospital (he was there for an additional not coronary heart associated purpose, so each ironic and fortunate for him) that required fast emergency care. He was identified with AFib (atrial fibrillation), which is a kind of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat.

Though I’m in good bodily situation and was not experiencing something uncommon with my coronary heart (the most typical symptom of AFib is palpitations, a quick, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat), I believed if one thing like that would occur to my pal who’s youthful and in higher form than me, it might in all probability be a wise thought to get myself checked out.

So I made an appointment to go to a heart specialist. They took an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) that data {the electrical} alerts of your coronary heart, which didn’t present something significantly uncommon. However per week later, I used to be carrying a Zio distant coronary heart charge monitor, a small, discreet, snug patch utilized to my chest to watch my coronary heart rhythm throughout regular day-to-day exercise, together with whereas I slept, showered, and exercised — recording each single heartbeat for evaluation over the subsequent two weeks. One among my rides throughout that two week interval was a semi-epic trip that included Bare Mountain and Mount Climate (each climbs are rated Cat 3 by Strava), which is a reverse model of what’s generally known as the “Blue Ridger” right here in Babylon on the Potomac the place the climbs are literally more durable ridden in the wrong way — 57 miles and 4,700 ft of climbing.

Shortly after sending my Zio HRM again for evaluation, I had a coronary heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) that produces shifting photos of your coronary heart to point out how your coronary heart and valves are working. The tech stated I used to be in all probability probably the most match particular person ever to come back into the workplace for testing. And it seems that his dad (a physician) was a comparatively latest convert to biking so we ended up having a terrific dialog concerning the sport.

About two weeks later I had a telehealth name with a tech. The excellent news was that the echocardiogram didn’t present any proof of coronary heart illness. However the tech knowledgeable me that the evaluation of my Zio HRM confirmed AFib. The fast concern was that AFib will increase the chance of blood clots within the coronary heart that may journey into the bloodstream and into the mind, resulting in a stroke. So I grew to become the most recent poster boy for Eliquis, a blood thinner that helps forestall blood clots.

A few week after that, I had what’s known as a “nuclear stress check” that makes use of a small quantity of radioactive materials, known as a tracer or radiotracer, to point out how blood flows to the center at relaxation and through train. They knew I used to be an lively athlete so not a “typical” affected person. It took rather a lot longer than regular and the treadmill was shifting quicker (however I wasn’t working — they really need you to stroll and it’s a must to maintain onto a bar whereas doing so … not precisely the simplest factor to do whenever you’re attempting to go “quick” and elevate your coronary heart charge) and at a steeper incline than for many different sufferers to get my coronary heart charge excessive sufficient (which was a lot greater than what they’d usually go for a “regular” affected person) for the train portion. Apparently, my coronary heart went into AFib through the check, which the tech identified to me on the monitor.

verywellhealth.com

The follow-up was excellent news: good blood circulate and no blockage, i.e., wholesome arteries and never in danger for a coronary heart assault.

AFib and sleep apnea

One of many “attention-grabbing” issues concerning the evaluation of carrying the Zio HRM was that I had some unusually lengthy pauses between heartbeats after I was asleep. So I used to be referred to a sleep specialist and did an in a single day at-home sleep check. The check end result was that I had gentle sleep apnea (largely occurring after I was asleep on my again however not on my facet).

It seems that there are some robust relationships between AFib and sleep apnea. In response to the Cleveland Clinic:

The prevalence of sleep apnea is exceedingly excessive in sufferers with atrial fibrillation — 50% to 80% in contrast with 30% to 60% in respective management teams. Conversely, atrial fibrillation is extra prevalent in these with sleep-disordered respiration than in these with out (4.8% vs. 0.9%).

However primarily based on the outcomes of my sleep check, my heart specialist didn’t suppose my sleep apnea was a trigger/issue for my AFib.

Apple Watch and AFib

You probably have an Apple Watch 4 or later or an Apple Watch SE (what I’ve),  you should use AFib Historical past in your Apple Watch to estimate how regularly your coronary heart is in arrhythmia.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to set your Apple Watch to allow irregular rhythm notifications that is perhaps suggestive of AFib (what I’ve completed). Right here’s what Apple says about efficiency of the irregular rhythm notification characteristic:

Enrolled topics wore an Apple Watch and a reference electrocardiogram (ECG) patch concurrently for as much as 13 days. For these topics contributing information to the major endpoint evaluation, 32.4% (n=140/432) offered with AF as recognized on the reference ECG patch and had been included in figuring out the gadget sensitivity. Of these, 124 obtained an IRNF (irregular rhythm notification) with concordant AF on the ECG patch, and the sensitivity was 88.6%. Of the 292 topics who didn’t current with AF on the ECG patch and contributed information to the evaluation of gadget specificity, 290 didn’t obtain a notification. The AF detection specificity was 99.3%. The remaining topics (n=141/573) both contributed information to solely secondary endpoint analyses and/or didn’t full the research. These outcomes assist the gadget’s effectiveness in detecting AF.

Nearly all my irregular rhythm notifications have occurred throughout sleeping hours. I’ve solely had just a few after I’m awake. And none throughout train.

Driving with AFib

Throughout this entire time, I used to be using my bike no otherwise than I usually would. Which means: 100+ miles per week; most weekday rides solo and straightforward/average (apart from my Wednesday Night time Hill Experience aka WNHR aka Peña Peña aka Ache Celebration); more durable and longer rides on the weekends (however I’m not racing or coaching for something so my using is simply using). No matter my using, I didn’t obtain an AFib notification whereas using. I interpret that as “good” (however keep in mind … I’m not a medical skilled).

However I do imagine AFib might clarify a few of my “off” days during the last couple of years. I’ve had a lot of days (generally strings of days) after I simply couldn’t go as arduous as I needed (and may have in any other case been capable of) — particularly on climbs, my favourite terrain. I didn’t have an evidence for it (apart from being outdated and sluggish) — I hadn’t been sick, I wasn’t in any other case drained, and it wasn’t like I hadn’t been using. I believed perhaps I used to be experiencing the after results of getting asymptomatic COVID-19 that I used to be unaware of (NOTE: throughout that point, I used to be by no means examined for COVID-19).

Once more, I’m not a medical skilled and it is a single anecdotal information level, however …

• My Apple Watch notified me of a number of AFib detections within the early morning hours on a Friday.
• That Saturday after I rode, I went comparatively simple however my coronary heart charge was excessive for the extent of effort.
• That Sunday after I rode, I “plateau’ed” by way of energy output, i.e., I simply couldn’t go any more durable on sections the place I’d usually have the ability to, and my coronary heart charge wasn’t elevated for the extent of effort.

I wasn’t in AFib through the rides (in keeping with my Apple Watch), however I surmised I used to be feeling the lingering results of AFib. FWIW, my heart specialist and one other coronary heart specialist each subsequently informed me my “prognosis” was in all probability proper.

AFib and endurance athletes

The place would we be with out Google? For those who do a Google search on “afib and endurance athletes,” you’ll discover a plethora of analysis. Listed here are only a few issues I discovered:

• There may be proof for a better prevalence of AFib in athletes engaged in long-term endurance sports activities coaching in contrast with the overall inhabitants.
• Endurance train coaching produces a number of cardiac variations together with modifications in electrophysiological perform that will make endurance-trained athletes extra weak to AFib.
• A posh relationship exists between train and AFib. Reasonable train reduces AFib danger whereas intense strenuous train has been proven to extend AFib burden. It stays unclear at which level train could grow to be detrimental.

And for all of the MAMILs on the market:

• AFib is the most typical arrhythmia in middle-aged athletes. Bodily train carried out in a daily foundation has been proven to be useful for cardiovascular well being. Reasonable bodily train, apart from producing a pleasant, peaceable and well-being sensation, has been related to a lowered danger of AFib. Nevertheless, extra strenuous endurance train, just like the one experiencing marathon runners, appears to extend the chance of AFib in wholesome athletes with out natural coronary heart illness.
• Whereas the prevalence of AFib is low in younger aggressive athletes, it will increase considerably within the getting old athlete, which is probably related to an accumulation of lifetime coaching hours and participation in competitions. A latest meta-analysis revealed a 5-fold elevated danger of AFib in middle-aged endurance athletes with a putting male predominance.
• Rising proof signifies that persistent high-intensity endurance train predisposes male, middle-aged athletes to elevated danger of AFib.

This can be a little dated (2016), however right here’s an article about 9 world class athletes dwelling with AFib, one in every of whom is former professional bicycle owner Haimar Zubeldia, who twice completed fifth total within the TdF (’03, ’07).

My heart specialist’s suggestions

After about 4 months of dwelling (and using) with AFib and “managing” it with Eliquis, my heart specialist and I mentioned my choices going ahead.

One choice was to easily preserve doing what I had been doing. In a single respect, it was working, i.e., my danger of a blood clot from AFib was decrease and I wasn’t any worse off. However for me, this was not a most popular choice (if there have been different decisions) as a result of (a) I didn’t wish to need to be on a drugs, i.e., Eliquis, and (b) primarily based on my analysis (that my heart specialist confirmed), my AFib would doubtless solely worsen (the share of time my coronary heart could be in AFib would improve) over time. It additionally meant that AFib would proceed to have an effect on my using (and life).

An alternative choice was a Watchman implant — a tool that closes off the left atrial appendage to cut back the prospect of stroke by stopping blood clots from getting into the bloodstream. This was a pretty different to blood thinners. But it surely in all probability nonetheless meant that AFib would proceed to have an effect on my using. In different phrases, like Eliquis, a Watchman would tackle the consequence (positively factor!) however not the foundation trigger.

A 3rd choice was catheter ablation, which makes use of small burns or freezes to trigger some scarring on the within of the center to assist break up the defective electrical alerts that trigger irregular heartbeats and restore a typical heartbeat. My heart specialist thought I’d be candidate for this process as a result of:

• My AFib was nonetheless in a comparatively early stage (the Zio HRM evaluation confirmed my coronary heart to be in AFib about 15 % of the time)
• My coronary heart was in any other case wholesome with no different points
• I used to be in excellent bodily situation and well being

Assuming a profitable process (the general success charge for catheter ablation is about 75% and if a second process is required, the success charge will increase to almost 90%), my heart specialist stated I’d primarily be completed with AFib, i.e., my heartbeat needs to be restored to regular. Clearly, this appeared like the very best final result so I scheduled a seek the advice of with an electrophysiologist (a heart specialist who focuses on testing for and treating issues involving irregular coronary heart rhythms).

I had a lot the identical dialogue with the electrophysiologist that I had with my heart specialist. One factor I’m grateful for is that each of them understood and appreciated that I wasn’t a “regular” affected person, i.e., my degree of train was nicely past that of different sufferers who “exercised often.” So their diagnoses and proposals weren’t simply “customary” responses extra relevant to the sorts of sufferers they often encounter they usually took under consideration the truth that I’m an athlete.

As this goes to press, I’m scheduled for a catheter ablation in early March. I’ll be having it completed at a hospital with among the best cardiac electrophysiology applications and workers within the nation. And my surgeon would be the chief of complicated ablation. So in good fingers. Hopefully all of it goes nicely and I will probably be AFib-free afterwards. I’ll preserve y’all posted!

Some parting ideas

Though it’s possible you’ll be in good/nice form and never experiencing any coronary heart points/signs, my expertise would say that it nonetheless is perhaps a good suggestion to get your self checked.

• Estimates of the prevalence of AFib in the USA ranges from about 2.7 million to six.1 million. That quantity is estimated to rise to 12.1 million in 2030.
• One evaluation reveals a excessive prevalence of undiagnosed AFib in the USA, i.e., folks like me who’ve AFib however don’t comprehend it as a result of they’re in any other case in fine condition, wholesome, and never experiencing any signs
• Worldwide, the estimated variety of people with AFib in 2010 was 33.5 million, in keeping with a 2013 research. That’s about 0.5 % of the world’s inhabitants.
• AFib will increase the chance of stroke by fivefold and almost 35 % of individuals with AFib can have a stroke.

If you wish to be taught extra about coronary heart situations (together with AFib) in athletes, The Haywire Coronary heart by Christopher Case, Dr. John Mandrola, and Lennard Zinn is a should learn.

Three vital takeaways for me from the guide:

• One warning signal that you simply might need AFib is

Persistently low energy: A lower in sustainable energy is the true warning signal right here. There are many causes for low energy output, together with pure variability, overtraining, and medical situations. Often it’s the primary two. But when your sustainable energy drops, take observe.

Looking back, I imagine I used to be experiencing this.

• Based mostly on a research with greater than 1.2 million individuals

average caffeine consumption (3 to five cups per day) related to a decrease danger for coronary heart assault, stroke, or demise associated to coronary heart illness. Sure, decrease … Docs ask sufferers with arrhythmia to surrender rather a lot: alcohol, coaching, traumatic conditions, and extra. It’s good that athletes can get pleasure from an espresso with out guilt.

Even earlier than I learn the guide, I informed my heart specialist that I wasn’t giving up espresso stops on rides

• By far, the primary (authorized) irritant to the center is alcohol … the connection of alcohol to arrhythmia is linear. Which means: One drink per day results in a small danger of AF; two drinks double the chance; three drinks triple the chance; and so forth. I haven’t given up Negronis, nice wine, or good beer, however now figuring out that decreasing alcohol consumption could scale back the burden of arrhythmia, I’m being higher about my ingesting, e.g., attempting to not drink through the week and solely a few drinks on weekends.

All I do know is that I contemplate myself fortunate to have found my AFib (which I in all probability had for some time, however simply didn’t comprehend it) after I did. And that I’ve been capable of be proactive and do one thing about it. Not less than I’m giving myself each alternative to reside as much as the adage of my favourite rider/racer, Fausto Coppi aka il campionissimo …

REPEATING THE DISCLAIMER: I’m not a medical skilled. For those who imagine you have got AFib or another coronary heart/medical situation that wants consideration, please seek the advice of together with your private medical supplier.