Quote
lermentov
I thought I would get back to substantial exercise and also try the unusual Wim Hof Method, which can be controversial. I just started taking my heart rhythm (Apple Watch) right before the breathing exercises and right after. I notice that the routine kicks the heart into afib sometimes. (Kind of like the same day I think it might have kicked back in anyway, but not before.
I do 3 rounds of Wim Hof breathing (30 hyperventilation breaths, an exhaled breath hold as long as possible then a 15 second inhale hold. Rinse & repeat) on most days as it keeps my life long rhinitis at bay. I've yet to have it kick me into afib (I've had paroxysmal afib for 17 years). I have had some success using it to convert afib episodes to NSR. This typically happens during or after the 15 second inhale breath hold.
Here is one post on a Wim Hof method conversion, including SpO2 & heart rate graphs: [
www.afibbers.org]
Another with only heart rate: [
www.afibbers.org]
The breathing technique can increase epinephrine "In the intervention group, practicing the learned techniques resulted in intermittent respiratory alkalosis and hypoxia resulting in profoundly increased plasma epinephrine levels." Source: [
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] In someone sensitive to an
adrenergic trigger, I hypothesize the breathing technique could be a trigger.