The Beat Goes On:
Living with Atrial Fibrillation

CHAPTERS

What Can I Do if I Have AFib?

Lifestyle Changes

Creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will improve your quality of life and is just as important in managing your AFib.

Staying healthy with AFib includes healthy behaviors as well as working with your healthcare team, tracking your symptoms, and taking your medicines. But creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will improve your quality of life and is just as important in managing your AFib.

Some healthy habits are:

  • Avoid alcohol: Alcohol irritates your heart. Just one drink can cause you to go into AFib. Speak with your healthcare professional about what is best for your body.
  • Stop all nicotine: Nicotine (cigarettes, vape, dip, pouches) puts stress on your heart by raising your blood pressure and heart rate, in addition to all the other negative effects on the rest of your body. If you need help to stop smoking, please ask!
  • Choose heart healthy foods: Choose lean meats, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. Limit saturated fats and monitor your salt intake. Reduce your caffeine intake to one cup of coffee/tea/soda per day.
  • Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight increases your chances of having AFib. Getting to and staying at a healthy weight will help reduce your chances of having future AFib episodes. Check out the How to Eat Better Fact Sheet to learn more.
  • Be active: Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week. This can be a 30 minute walk 5 times a week. Don’t be scared to use your heart, working it out helps keep it healthy!
  • Prevent infections: When you get sick, your body is under a lot of stress which can lead to AFib. Avoid people who are sick, wash your hands, and keep your vaccines up to date.
  • Reduce stress: Stress raises your blood pressure and weakens your immune system. Finding healthy ways to manage your stress, like physical exercise, mindfulness exercises, and connecting with your friends, family, and community, can all help lower your stress levels.
  • Get good sleep: Good sleep is vital to making sure your body has the recovery time it needs every day. If you are struggling to sleep, please notify your healthcare professional.

Lifestyle modifications are hard to start and maintain.

Start by making small goals that you can accomplish and build on them.
Small changes make a big difference!

What Can I Do if I Have AFib?

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The Beat Goes On:
Living with Atrial Fibrillation

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