The Top Natural Treatments for Atrial Fibrillation

Are you interested in finding more natural ways to manage your AFib symptoms?

While many people living with atrial fibrillation require medications or surgery for additional support, many AFib patients are able to make natural lifestyle modifications that will improve their overall health and reduce the severity of their disease.

What is Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of heart arrhythmia in the world. It is currently estimated that between 2.1 and 6.7 million Americans are currently living with atrial fibrillation, with the number trending upwards every year.

During an episode of AFib, the atriums of the heart beat very quickly (also called quivering or fibrillation) which results in an irregular and sometimes elevated heart rate. The most common symptoms of atrial fibrillation include:

• Heart palpitations

• Chest pain

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Feeling lightheaded

• Shortness of breath

Natural Treatment Options for Managing AFib

Just like many other health conditions, improving your overall health will have a positive effect on the severity of your AFib symptoms. Recent research shows that healthy living practices such as maintaining a healthy weight, reducing cholesterol levels, and controlling high blood pressure all have a positive impact on AFib symptoms. In addition, lifestyle modifications can also improve the success rate of common procedures for AFib, such as a catheter ablation procedure.

For many patients with atrial fibrillation, medications and surgical interventions are often presented as the only options available for treating their condition. While these interventions may be essential depending on the severity of the condition, it is also important to note that many patients with AFib can improve their condition through natural lifestyle modifications.

Some of the most successful and natural treatment options for atrial fibrillation include:

Increasing Your Daily Exercise

Exercise is essential for your overall cardiovascular health, especially for people who have a heart condition. By taking good care of your heart, the heart muscles don’t have to work as hard to maintain a normal heart rate.

With this in mind, the best exercise plan for someone with AFib is a holistic cardio, strength training, and flexibility routine. The goal of this exercise is to get the heart pumping, but not to overexert or put stress on the heart.

If you are new to regular exercise, it is essential to start slow. Regular walks, yoga, and tai chi, are examples of fantastic light cardiovascular exercises that can have a positive impact on your cardiovascular health (and reduce stress levels).

When in doubt, be sure to consult with your doctor prior to starting a strenuous exercise to be sure that it is right for you.

Eating a Balanced Diet

Our diet has a massive impact on our overall health, and that includes the severity of AFib symptoms. Eating a diet that includes the right serving sizes of lean proteins such as fish, poultry, nuts, and low-fat dairy products is a great way to give your heart the protein it needs to stay strong. Additionally, adding in whole grains and fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits is a great way to ensure that you are getting all of the nutrients you need to maintain a healthy body weight.

With that being said, there are foods that may trigger or worsen AFib symptoms. Stimulants and inflammatory foods can cause an increase in the number or a worsening in the severity of AFib episodes that a person experiences. Some examples of foods to avoid if you AFib include:

• Refined carbohydrates (processed foods that are high in sugar)

• Food with excess sodium

• Casein (commonly found in milk products)

• Gluten

• Caffeine

• Trans and saturated fats

• Aspartame (a replacement sweetener)

• MSG

• Excessive Alcohol

Making Consistent Lifestyle Modifications

In addition to eating a balanced diet and regularly exercising, there are other other lifestyle modifications that can be made to improve your condition. Other examples include:

• Practicing mindful meditation — Many people around the world use mindful meditation practices to spend some quality time connecting with their body and mind. Meditation practices have been proven to be successful in reducing stress and improving coping mechanisms, which can have a positive impact on the severity of AFib symptoms.

• Improving your sleep quality — Our sleep is an essential (and often overlooked) aspect of our overall health. Improving your sleep quality by making a sleep routine, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and keeping a sleep journal are all great ways to reduce chronic stress on the heart caused by poor sleep.

• Stop smoking — Smoking cigarettes and cigars has a negative impact on the health of your heart and lungs. When it comes to AFib, smoking can increase symptoms of AFib as well as increase risk for stroke. It is advised that all patients with AFib stop smoking as soon as possible to reduce the severity of symptoms. Talk to your primary health professional about your options for smoking cessation supportive treatments.

• Managing your stress — Stress is directly connected to AFib. Research has shown a connection between poor mental health and increased risk of severe AFib symptoms. Because of this, it is recommended that all patients with AFib speak to a mental health professional to find ways to reduce stress and to better manage feelings of anxiety.

• Trying alternative medicine practices — Holistic medicine practices such as acupuncture, yoga, and functional medicine can be very beneficial for many people living with AFib. These practices can help reduce stress, which can be beneficial in treating symptoms of atrial fibrillation.

• Taking supportive supplements — Ensuring that your body is getting all of the nutrients it needs is not always possible from diet alone. Because of this, supplements can be a helpful resource for patients with AFib. Supplements such as fish oil, dietary fibre, magnesium, and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) are great examples of AFib supportive supplements. Be sure to consult with your doctor prior to taking any supplements to ensure they are a good fit for your needs.

The Best Way to Reverse AFib Naturally

Ready to make the commitment to reversing your AFib symptoms naturally?

As a way for me to share my knowledge and help with my patients and followers, I created this free PDF guide that covers everything you need to know about using natural lifestyle modifications to better control your AFib symptoms.

Download my FREE Natural Guide for AFib below— designed to start you on your journey to improved health with atrial fibrillation right away. In addition, you will learn more about my step-by-step online program to reverse atrial fibrillation naturally, Take Control Over AFib.

Download your copy of my Natural Guide for AFib today!