Fibrillation in cyclist's?

DavidS

As a lot of you are highly fit and/or are elite road or off road endurance cyclists.

Have any of you experienced heart arrhythmia, a higher heart rate at time you know you should be at a lower HR? With no known underlying heart conditions.

I notice that a number of elite type athletes have come forward with some sort of lone or paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (LAF) with no diagnosed or underlying heart problems. This seems to be affecting young through to not so young very fit male and female athletes with a low, roughly below 50 BPM at rest-or below 45 BPM first thing in the morning endurance runners, triathletes, and predominately endurance cyclists.

Carbo loading ( high sugar) insulin/adrenaline boosts, or high tea/coffee drinkers (caffeine) again adrenaline boosts, seems to be two of the many vagal nerve/system “triggers” for VALF.

One such person was a TDF Aussie rider, who was helped by his team because of a high HR.for a stage. Most effected of the athletic type person do not seem to suffer form the adrenergic type of LAF. (ALAF).

Any medico’s or electocardiologist, or naturopaths out there with a handle on this?
Don’t advise me to see a heart specialist as I am going through this at this time but can see by much feedback that they are flying blind when you ask them to explain why and how. Apart from very strong drugs or to aberlate or pacemakers they don’t seem to have a clue when talking; causes, diet, natural, body function remedies etc.
David S

patch70

I had paroxysmal atrial tachycardia from 18yo to 30yo. It was exercise induced and quite annoying. I could keep riding but would have to drop back my effort. To stop it, I'd generally have to stop riding and do things to increase vagal tone (eg. controlled breathing, cold water to drink, lying down +/- legs up). Obviously not great options during a race! Twice when I pushed hard despite the PAT, it went into atrial fibrillation.

I never wanted to take the drugs. It happened less the fitter I was so I tried to stay fit, well hydrated and avoid caffeine before riding. At 30, I had the accessory pathway ablated and have never had it since so I would certainly recommend getting EPS done.

As to the underlying cause, it is not really clear. Underlying accessory pathways and re-entry of the heart's electrical rhythm are usually found but why those are happening is not clear from my reading.

tech.racer

I've been cycling regularly (2+/wk) for about 9 years now. I consider my sessions to be at high intensity but not to the point of total exhaustion...at least not on average anyway. I am 21 and have experienced arrithmyia intermittently since i was about 16. I went to the doctor about that time and didnt find a problem. Two months ago the duration and onset increased to the point where i was really concerned about what was happening. So i went back to another doctor and he gave me ECG, Lung X-ray and blood tests only to find nothing wrong.

My condition has improved somewhat since then....I am still pounding away on the bike, aswell as surf ski and going to the gym, but occasionally i still get the flutter.

I remember one website i went to when i was trying to find out for myself what the problem was, talked of this condition in relation to some professional athletes, basically concluded that the benefit of exercise outweighed the negatives and you can go as hard as you want without fear of doing damage. I am interested to see if any more messages surface similar to the postings here.

DavidS

Hi GC racer,

I am in brisbane e-mail me at : dascmar@acenet.net.au
and I can give you some handy url's and forums to help David S

seadog

I get paroxysmal atrial fibrillation every 2-3 days. It lasts for about 12-24 hours. I do a fair bit of cycling (2* per week) but also play hockey. I'm 52 and have had it for 10 years or more. According to my cardio it's more common in athletes.
I used to row and I can remember some occasions where I really pushed it, to the extent of nearly blacking out. This may possibly have been an original trigger.
It is possible that it's only athletes who are aware of the reduction in performance.
Triggers include caffeine and stress.
It try not to let it affect me too much. I carry on cycling and it doesn't seem to affect me too much. I did the South Downs Way in the summer and got AF half way through. I was able to carry on with little reduction in pace, and it actually went off after a few hours. However, it affects me more playing hockey, possibly because it's more anaerobic and spamodic and the recovery period from a burst of running is extended.
Drugs don't have a great affect, I've tried quite a few and flacainide appears to work best, reducing frequency to every 5 days. I might try ablation in a few years once it's got a 95%+ success rate.
My wife's a doctor and I came across the following article on lone AF in athlete's through one of her CDROM's:
http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.u...EHJ%202002.pdf.
The conclusion is that "long term vigorous exercise predisposes to AF".
I would appreciate any views on good long term fixes!

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Seadog

DavidS

Hi Seadog,
As you can see from above I have quite a bit of info via postings and web URL's and attachments from my Words doc files. So if you don't mind e-mailing me I will send them on as they do take up quite a bit of space. I have a fire wall and virus protection in-out from me, so should be OK

What part of the UK are you in? I am a part time cyclist 66 yo and live in Brisbane, Qld. ex London, Uk. Use to race with a north London club.

seadog

Hi David
I've emailed you separately. I live in Hampshire and go cycling recreationaly in the South Downs, on tracks when it's dry but on road at the moment as it's so wet!
The funny thing is my cardio had AF when I last saw him! It had just started for the first time and he was on flecainide. We spent most of the session discussing his symptoms and feeling his pulse!

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Seadog

DavidS

Hi Tech racer and Seadog,

How have been with any of the info mailed? and have you's found anything else in your research into LAF etc?

How is this heat with you Tech racer? I am only getting a few PAC's with it so far. David S

seadog

Hi David

Sorry I haven't replied sooner but I've been out this week abd it's taken me ages to read all the really useful stuff you sent me!
On the one hand it's good to see there are other in my position who are coping with their condition, but on the other hand there doesn't seem to be an easy cure-all!
I've got some magnesium orotate which I will be trying once I can give it a fair test and not trying out various drugs as I am at the moment.
One thing I don't understand - how do you work out whether you're vagal or adrenergic type LAF?

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Seadog