QuoteMadeline Do you think it more worthwhile than Patrick McKeown's? It takes a lot of time to learn & do new things, much less having so many suggestions & choices. Wim's is very different than Patrick's, from a biochemical perspective (I've done and do both). Patrick is working on CO2 sensitivity and increasing serum CO2. Wim's will initially deplete serby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMadeline Thank you very much for all the info George. I guess I am more a hyperactive brain type than one in need of CPAP. I am energetic the next day, so am not suffering that way. Last night I tried the serial diverse imaging first with my seed word & then used their app to see what it offered. I like what they call the cognitive shuffle. Not sure after one try, but it seems moreby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMadeline GeorgeN, I am interested in how one knows they need mouth taping. For years, I am a light sleeper. Sometimes I fall asleep for 2 hr & sometimes 4 hr, I have a lot of variability, but when I wake I can't get back to bed. Would this sound like an indication for some kind of diagnostic tests. Mouth taping sounds awful, but not sure why one uses it. The easiest thing iby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteKwilk Thanks. As a side, in some other long lost thread here you mentioned nasal breathing and Zone 2 in the same thread. Do you use nasal breathing to keep your workouts below Zone 3 (when that is that is your goal). I was watching an Attia Q&A on Zone 2 last might, and did some browsing. His working def if I understand correctly is that Zone 2 is below lactate threshold, whichby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteAfibber20 Interesting the mouth taping can make that much difference, though it seems counterintuitive. Did nasal strip help? I never tried nasal strips. While it won't work for all sleep apnea cases, mouth taping is a simple approach and nasal breathing can make a big difference. I use the snoreless tape from this site: There quite a few other tape options. My 32 year old daughby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoteadamh since we are on the topic, what do you do when your sinuses are clogged? just suffer? i went through an episode where i couldn't breathe through my nose for a few days. it was incredibly miserable. Here is an unblocking the nose exercise by breathing instructor, Patrick McKeown: Here is a post I just wrote on breathing in another group: Something to explore is breathing tby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteTweez During the summer: this year, I had a bit of a breakdown, of which I’m still suffering with and experienced huge anxiety. It started with severe health anxiety, but seems to have morphed into major anxiety . More on anxiety and breathing. This PDF book by Irish breathing instructor, Patrick McKeown, addresses it somewhat. This is an mp3 download breathing exercise by Patrick.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteNotLyingAboutMyAfib I'd love to find a technique that brings up past youth even at the cost of experiencing those traumas again. The techniques that are known for emotional stuff include Stan Grof's Holotropic Breathing as well as what is called Rebirthing. Both involve long periods of hyperventilation and are best done with a coach under supervision. I've not done thiby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon I know that "too much exercise" can be bad. The fact is we're not equal and "too much" for one may be "nearly negligible" for the other. So, "too much" can obviously damage the heart (as often described) and lead to arrhythmias. OTOH, "too much" can be far from what is usually described as "excessive". In my case,by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotehwkmn05 "Enough to clear the nasals but not make you dizzy", or the High? Gosh, as an avid mouth breather, I would love to give that a try. Nasal breathing is normal and doesn't make you high or dizzy. I've only done humming for short periods. I think it is a known technique in pranayama and other eastern breathing techniques. Nasal breathing is a big deal, in myby GeorgeN - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
QuoteKen Dang, getting old impacts our physical and aerobic capacity. Nothing new here, but I will continue to push for a 50 year old body, even though mine is 75. I am just trying to keep up with the guy. I get it. I'm typically suggesting the athletes that show up here moderate. I have a subjective limit that I don't cross to stay in afib remission. However I am not afraid to puby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Betty, Not answering your questions, but another idea. Breathing. First, listen to this mp3, (click on "click to download here" download here ) and do what it says. Another breathing approach is "cadence" breathing. Specifically 5 1/2 to 6 breaths/minute. Through your nose. Doesn't have to be exact. Use your heart (if you are not in afib) to count.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteKleinkp Did a sleep study and was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. When it comes to sleep apnea and afibb when do we or should we try and treat, mild, moderate, severe? I'm in relatively good shape(40yr old 6'4 205lbs active male). How do you know or guess sleep apnea is causing or attributing to your afibb? A simple answer may be taping your mouth at night. See this threaby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
People should solve their apnea however they can, it is very important to solve that. Some people with mild to moderate apnea can do that by taping their mouths shut. Beyond that, however, training themselves to breathe slowly and lightly can also be of benefit. Not just overbreathing at night, but during the day. This podcast with host UK doc Rangan Chattergee MD and author of "Brby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotecolindoHas anyone had any experience with taping ones mouth shut before sleep. I've done it for years. There are PowerPoint presentations showing apnea patterns in beat to beat heart rate (RR) vs time graphs. I could see these patterns on data captured with my Polar strap. Subsequent to taping at night, these patterns disappeared. The issue is blowing off CO2 because of overbby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wonder how your breathing is during your workout? I've been nasal breathing for a long time. Here is an interview with breathing instructor, Patrick McKeown on the topic. Also posted links to a number of books on the topic at the bottom of this post. In my afib career, I've not generally had a problem with lifting. However, when my calcium intake was high in 2012, many thingsby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJoe Wonder if someone would be good enough to add some clarity re. AF and using this? I know George is very knowledgeable on breathing related subjects. Wonder if you could comment? Go to 18:05 for the diagram Basically, if you make inhale longer than exhale you'll get a sympathetic response. Do the reverse and you'll get a parasympathetic response. For great detail on this sby GeorgeN - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
"Absolutely. Lower oxygen levels is one result. A 2006 study showed that reduction in blood oxygenation (hypoxia) and/or an elevation in blood C02 (hypercapnia) can create painful headaches for people required to wear masks all day. It should also be noted that people with asthma or hypotension are at a greater risk of stroke, cardiac arrest, or an irregular heartbeat when suffering from hypby GeorgeN - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
QuoteThe Anti-Fib My SPO2 levels for the last 10 weeks are 92 sitting in a chair or lying down, and 95-96 moving around. Is that normal? What elevation do you live at? SpO2 does drop with elevation. I live at 5,500' and a 93 reading is common. Though I can also have readings of 98. I assume your hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are normal? I'm helping a friend who has been haby GeorgeN - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
I've linked to some of breathing teacher Patrick McKeown's resources in links that are in linked posts above. Here is his method to unblock your nose in video & text. PDF book.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesmackman George How in the Hell did you sleep with your mouth shut with tape? LOL You must be a sound sleeper. I have to wear a full face mask for CPAP therapy because I am a mouth breather. It took me months to find a mask I could comfortably sleep with and now I cannot sleep without it. Irish breathing instructor, Patrick McKeown, has written, presented and done podcasts on this topic.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've found this 20 minute mp3 is a good exercise, both for breathing and as a meditation tool < It is from breathing instructor, Patrick McKeown. Anxiety Free is one of his programs. The idea is the slower and lower volume breathing will decrease sympathetic dominance (as a vagal afibber, I've never had this or any other meditation technique trigger a vagal afib episode).by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJoe Amazing values George! Have you had a genetic test and analysis? Bet you are not an AppE 4/4 3/4 married to a 4/4 actually. I posted about addressing this < . When I tested myself in 2014, I looked around and asked who has clinical experience with these SNP's? Turns out Steven Gundry in Palm Springs had been testing all his patients for ~15 years at that time. One of his obsby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz, Great news!! When I first posted this, I hoped that it might be effective for some instead of taking PIP meds to convet. Don't know what Liz did, but the idea is to accumulate CO2 in your lungs and therefore in your serum. Hence a normal breath in a normal breath out, then hold as long as you can. When you have to breath, try to breath in only through the nose as calmly as possiblby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe Anti-Fib I am not an expert in this, but is seems to me this is pretty basic, that if one holds there breath during Exercise, creating an Acute Oxygen deprivation, that the Atria will stretch out. This can contribute greatly to having an AFIB episode. Though I wasn't wearing an SpO2 meter, I doubt if I was creating significant O2 depravation. Though it certainly can be done, inby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quick look: Serum CO2 lengthens ERP, and slows conduction This may be why apnea creates a risk for afib (slowed conduction after the apnea). There may be an opportunity to use this to convert episodes without meds (I did this). There may be an opportunity to put afib in remission (speculation) by training the serum CO2 chemoreceptor to accept a much higher steady state level of CO2. There apby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Beardman, As chronic fitness can bring on afib, perhaps figuring out your minimum effective dose on exercise would be in order and use fasting/adjustment of macros to control your weight rather than cardio. The magnesium supplement is good. From Dr. Carolyn Dean, you'd like your RBC mag in the 6-6.5 range. If not there, I'd suggest increasing your supplement to near bowel tolerby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteAnneC I am sure l have daily episodes, most lasting several hours. My question to you all: what, if anything, do you do to try to convert? So some vagal afibbers can convert episodes with exercise, I could during the first couple of months of my afib journey, 14 years ago. Then I had a 2.5 month episode that wouldn't convert ( ultimately converted with 300 mg flecainide). Iby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotelizzie Over breathing while sleeping? Yep, pretty common. Patrick McKeown has worked with thousands of people on this. Here is an interview of him that is a reasonable intro < Or you can just read the transcript here < There is lots more, Patrick has a lot of interviews, books, videos & etc. and there are others in this space, too. If you want an idea how well you areby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Last night my HR was in the 70’s when I went to bed. Normal would be in the 50’s. This is usually a signal I’m sensitive to something I ate. In this case, it would have to be in the spices as the meal was prepared from scratch and everything else were ingredients commonly eaten. This kept me awake, so I went to the basement so as not to disturb my wife. I was starting to do a meditation whiby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM