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Living with atrial fibrillation: change your lifestyle

5 min read

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There is a mounting body of scientific evidence: our lifestyle can have impact on our health. Our lifestyle is the cause of a wide number of cardiovascular diseases. But is it also correlated with atrial fibrillation (AF) or auricular fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder? Can we prevent AF or keep it in check by adapting our lifestyle?

Keep an eye out for these symptoms

One in every three adults risks developing a heart rhythm condition called atrial fibrillation at some point, which greatly increases the risk of stroke. The problem is: in 40% of cases, AF goes completely unnoticed. In all other cases, symptoms do occur, so it’s important to recognize them. To quickly obtain certainty as to whether or not these often vague symptoms are actually caused by atrial fibrillation, it is a good idea to frequently check your heart rhythm using the medically certified FibriCheck app.

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AF detected: now what?

Did your FibriCheck measurement detect atrial fibrillation? Then we advise to make an appointment to see your GP or cardiologist as soon as possible. Depending on your specific situation, they will make a diagnosis and decide on the most appropriate treatment. Medication and/or a medical procedure is meant to prevent strokes, keep your heart rhythm in check and tackle underlying medical issues and risk factors. The safest way forward is to continue closely monitoring the condition of your heart both during and after your treatment by performing daily measurements with the FibriCheck app. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also important as part of your treatment plan.

Reduce (the risk of) AF by adopting a healthy lifestyle

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an important asset in battling atrial fibrillation.

Be aware of what you eat

What you eat has an impact on your body. Try to avoid processed foods and junk food, as they often contain a lot of salt and are often lacking in vital nutrients. For years, nutrition experts have been arguing in favour of the Mediterranean diet. This includes at least 2 pieces of fruit and 300 grams of vegetables each day. Eat foods like whole grains, a handful of nuts and stick to lean meat and fish only. Try to switch out salt for fresh herbs.

Drink less caffeine

Caffeine keeps you awake and acts as a stimulant. However, research shows that caffeine also comes with the risk of pushing your natural heart rate into an abnormal rhythm. Does this mean you should strike your daily cup of coffee off the menu? Not necessarily. Just don’t go overboard on the amount of coffee you have. And bear in mind that tea, soft drinks, energy drinks and chocolate also contain caffeine.

Limit your alcohol intake

An increasing number of studies is showing that alcohol is a lot more unhealthy than it was believed to be. Heavy drinkers effectively run an increased risk of heart rhythm disorders. Recent studies show that even moderate drinkers (21 drinks per week for men, 14 for women) are in the danger zone. So avoiding hangovers also means avoiding heart rhythm disorders.

Give up smoking

One resolution that tends to rank high among smokers at the start of a new year is to give up smoking. Not only does smoking increase your risk of cancer, it also has a stimulating effect on your heart rate and can contribute to an irregular heart rhythm. Vaping and e-cigarettes have the same effects on your heart.

Get more exercise

We all spend too much of our time sitting down for too long, whereas our bodies are made to move. Ideally the entire day, but no less than 30 minutes. Needless to add that exercise is a natural medicine for your body and mind: it protects you from obesity, diabetes, cancer, depression and … cardiovascular diseases. So get moving!

Allow yourself a break, reduce stress

Give yourself a break and do your heart a favour. Some worry if you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation is normal and natural. But constantly stressing over it can do more harm than good. Persistent and/or high levels of stress act as a trigger for heart rhythm disorders. So try and take your mind off it and allow yourself to enjoy relaxing moments in your daily schedule.

Get enough sleep

A lot of us are bad sleepers and don’t get enough quality sleep. This chronic lack of sleep can cause harm to your heart, and can contribute to the development of atrial fibrillation. So turn in on time and make sure you get a good night’s sleep.

As always, prevention is better than a cure. Even if the FibriCheck app is currently not detecting any atrial fibrillation, it is important to incorporate these healthy habits into your daily routine to prevent the development of heart health conditions. A healthy lifestyle is the most efficient way to decrease the risk of AF.

Detecting and monitoring atrial fibrillation? Use FibriCheck!

FibriCheck is the first medically certified app that measures your heart rate and heart rhythm via your smartphone.

Check your heart rhythm

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