Dr John M

cardiac electrophysiologist, cyclist, learner

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • About the Blog
      • General Cardiology and Internal Medicine
    • Six Reasons why I Blog
    • What’s Electrophysiology?
    • ICD/Pacemaker
    • Electrophysiology Column / Medscape
    • Contact
  • Afib
    • AFib
    • AF in Athletes
    • The best tool to treat AF
    • Know your CHADS-VASC Score
    • 3 non-warfarin anticoagulants
    • AF ablation
      • 13 things to know about AF
      • Atrial Fib Ablation -2012 Update
      • Gender-Spec results of AF ablation
    • Female gender and stroke risk in AF
    • My AF Story
  • Heart Healthy
    • Heart Disease (by DrJohnM)
    • Healthy Living
    • Exercise
    • Nutrition
    • inflammation
  • Policy
    • Policy
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Reform
  • Doctoring
    • Doctoring
    • Knowledge
    • Reflection
    • General Medicine
      • Does your cholesterol level matter?
    • General Cardiolgy – Medicine
      • What is a normal heart rate?
      • Cardiology/Internal Med
      • General Cardiology
      • Athletic heart
        • The ECG of an athlete
      • General Medicine
      • Stroke
      • Statins
  • Cycling
    • DrJohnM on Cycling
    • How I became a bike racer
    • My top 12 Likes on Cycling
    • Cyclocross
      • A CX-Primer
    • Fitness
    • Athletic heart
    • The Mysterious Athletic Heart

Not moving is not good therapy…

January 8, 2010 By Dr John

Not sure if using a question from the comment section is ‘pc’ in the blog-o-sphere but the issue raised is highly worthy of commentary. 

“Until last May I considered myself to be pretty serious cyclist as well, until exercise induced atrial fibrillation became a problem. Now I’m actually afraid to get on the bike, lest I set off an episode. I’m on Rhythmol SR, which I tolerate okay, but doesn’t stop the problem. Three electrophysiologists have all advised against ablation. Wonder what your thoughts are on this?”

Medical advice over the internet without a formal face to face evaluation is unquestionably suspect.

However, the question raised about exercising and arrhythmia treatment raises a very important issue on health and well being.  Except for the rarest of circumstance I strongly believe withholding exercising should never be a long term therapy for any problem.

Consistent movement of the body enough to raise the pulse and increase the respiratory rate is one of the three fundamental components of health.  Maintenance of health requires the “big three:” good nutrition, good sleep and good movement. 

My advice to patients who cannot exercise because of a specific problem is to fix the problem so that exercise is possible.   The examples are numerous; like the diabetic patient who cannot exercise because of knee pain from arthritis. The master of the obvious says get the knee fixed so as to allow exercise.

On the problem of atrial fibrillation, the tenets of treatment are the same.  If a therapy is not effective in allowing regular “common sense” exercise it should change.  As an atrial fib club member myself, it is certain that if therapy “x” did not allow riding the bike, than it would soon change to therapy “y,” even if this meant procedures. 

Move and be well. 

JMM

  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Reddit

Related posts:

  1. A good bye and a thank you…
  2. Go fast, it is good for the heart…
  3. Good for the earth and body…
  4. Be positive… It is good for the heart.

Filed Under: Atrial fibrillation, Exercise, Healthy Living

John Mandrola, MD

Welcome, Enjoy, Interact. john-mandrola I am a cardiac electrophysiologist practicing in Louisville KY. I am also a husband to a palliative care doctor, a father, a bike racer, and a regular columnist at theHeart.org | Medscape

My First Book is Now Available…

Email Newsletter

Search the Site

Categories

Find me on theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology

  • Electrophysiology commentary on Medscape/Cardiology

Mandrola on Medscape

  • My Medscape column on general medical matters

For patients...Educational posts

  • 13 things to know about Atrial Fibrillation — 2014
  • A new cure of AF
  • Adding a new verb to doctoring: To deprescribe is to do a lot
  • AF ablation — 2015 A Cautionary Note
  • AF Ablation in 2012–An easier journey?
  • Atrial Flutter — 15 facts you may want to know.
  • Benign PVCs: A heart rhythm doctor’s approach.
  • Caution with early Cardioversion
  • Decisions of 2 low-risk cases of PAF
  • Defining success in AF ablation in 2014
  • Four commonly asked questions on AF ablation
  • Inflammation and AF — Get off the gas
  • Ten things to expect after AF ablation
  • The medical decsion as a gamble
  • The most important verb in our health crisis
  • Wellness Requires Ownership

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.