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Atrial fibrillation, known as Afib, is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the United States and around the world. In the US alone, approximately 5 million people suffer from Afib, which includes a disorganized and fast heartbeat that many mistake for a heart attack and end up in the emergency room for. Because most patients don’t know much about Afib, many are diagnosed at the hospital, thinking they’ve had something much worse. However, once they are reassured that they haven’t had a heart attack and that it was instead Afib, they often don’t seek specialized care from an electrophysiologist.
While plenty of effective procedural options, including pulsed-field ablation, thermal ablation, and cardioversion, can help a patient recover from an Afib episode, it is important to discuss whether Afib is reversible naturally.
This is a tricky question to answer. On the one hand, we know that Afib is worsened because of certain lifestyle factors that may include a poor diet, especially one high in saturated fat and added sugars, as well as a sedentary lifestyle. As such, it may seem logical that Afib could be mitigated or cured by improving one’s lifestyle by eating better and exercising with cardio and strength training. However, while some patients may see significant improvements with these lifestyle improvements, others will not. As such, patients should always be under the care of a qualified electrophysiologist if they are experiencing Afib.
Improving Your Diet
There’s never anything wrong with improving your diet if it needs help. Indeed, Afib is correlated with obesity, so any dietary improvements that also lead to appropriate excess body weight loss are no bad thing. Similarly, diet can improve high blood pressure, which is a leading cause of Afib. With that said, some underlying risks of Afib may not be as easily addressable. For example, high blood pressure due to occlusion or narrowing of the arteries, known as atherosclerosis, should also be treated as it can lead to coronary artery disease and worsening Afib.
Pro tip: Caffeine, once thought to be a risk factor for Afib, is now believed to be cardioprotective in moderation—unless, of course, you are sensitive to it.
Check Your Sleep
Sleep is critically important for overall health, including heart health. Millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, which is primarily caused by excess weight. There is a distinct correlation between sleep apnea and Afib, but sleep apnea often requires significant weight loss to improve or resolve. Some patients may require a CPAP machine to reduce the risk of sleep apnea-related issues.
Exercise
Patients who exercise appropriately for their age, combining cardiovascular exercise and strength training, create a protective environment against Afib. Increasing exercise alone may not cure Afib, but it can’t hurt (within the bounds of your abilities and limits) and may improve symptoms. Note: Afib may be worsened in patients performing extreme training and exercise, and this is especially common in younger patients.
Smoking
Smoking constricts the arteries and can worsen Afib as a result. Quitting smoking is very important, and a smoking cessation program, or at least nicotine patches or gum to start, is an essential part of addressing this concern.
Stress
Stress not only makes us eat more and sleep worse, but it is also a significant risk factor in the breakdown of critical bodily functions. A chronic fight or flight response, which is often created in a constantly stressful environment, can release excess cortisol and, in turn, cause a host of issues, including increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. While we all have stress, unavoidable in modern-day life, how we manage this stress truly makes the difference between a healthy and unhealthy heart.
Medications
If you are taking a medication that you believe is causing Afib, be sure to speak to your doctor. We will review your prescription drugs and supplements when you have your appointment. Your cardiologist will look for any medication that may be causing a problem and work with your primary care physician or other specialists to get you on new medications if these are causing an arrhythmia.
Supplementation
Supplementation can be an essential part of Afib control. However, while you may see plenty of articles on the Internet discussing the benefits of, for example, magnesium for controlling Afib, there is little evidence to show that oral magnesium alone can make a difference. However, certain deficiencies can indeed cause Afib, including magnesium. You should have your regularly scheduled annual visit with your primary care physician, including a complete blood panel checking for common vitamin deficiencies. Addressing those deficiencies may reduce symptoms or prevent Afib from getting worse.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, whether an arrhythmia can be controlled or cured by improving your lifestyle or otherwise naturally depends on the patient and the cause of the arrhythmia. However, since arrhythmias tend to progress and are best treated early, it’s essential to see a qualified electrophysiologist and get a proper diagnosis. Remember that arrhythmias tend to be paroxysmal/occasional in their earliest stages. They may only occur once every few days, weeks, or months. As such, an EKG from your primary care doctor may not always find an arrhythmia. More in-depth diagnosis with advanced testing may be necessary. In an ideal world, we could naturally control or eliminate an arrhythmia, but we must balance this with the possibility of progression to a point where treatment becomes more challenging.
To that end, common-sense strategies to improve general health are never bad. Losing weight, exercising more, and quitting problematic habits like smoking will slow the progression of any arrhythmia, including Afib. But medical care should always be part of the equation. So, even if your Afib requires treatment, improving your lifestyle is a great way to reduce the likelihood of it returning or worsening.