People who are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation deal with an irregular heartbeat. The heart rate can be rapid or they might experience a fluttering sensation in their chest. This condition is often accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The condition comes in episodes, which are sudden and often alarming. The atrial fibrillation (A-fib) episodes can last a few hours, days, or some are continually present. Some of them can stop on their own, while others require intervention. If you’ve been wondering what’s the best thing to do when experiencing in A-fib episode, keep reading.

Types of Atrial Fibrillation

There are three types of atrial fibrillation, including paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent. The paroxysmal atrial fibrillation comes with sudden symptoms can resolve in less than a day or within 7 days. The persistent type of A-fib means that a person has an abnormal heartbeat which lasts for more than 7 days and it sometimes requires treatment. The permanent atrial fibrillation type means that the condition is continually present and does not respond to treatment.

Atrial fibrillation is not a life-threatening condition on itself. However, it can trigger numerous health complications, such as stroke and heart failure.

The Best Ways to Stop an A-fib Episode

Here is a list of some of the best methods you can use to an episode of paroxysmal or persistent A-fib when it starts.

1. 1. Take Deep Breaths

This is a common yoga practice, but it can also be very beneficial for stopping an A-fib episode. Hence, you should sit down and place one hand on the stomach. Then, inhale deeply through the nose for a count of 4 seconds. Do the breathing practice slowly until your lungs are filled up with air. Hold the breath for a moment and then exhale through the mouth for the same amount of time.

2. 2. Aerobic Activity

Doing aerobic can be extremely beneficial for stopping a paroxysmal A-fib episode. Hence, as soon as you start experiencing the episode, try engaging in a low impact aerobic activity, such as a cross-country skiing machine or an elliptical machine. Nevertheless, always speak to your doctor first before engaging in such activity.

3. 3. Biofeedback Training

Biofeedback techniques act extremely calming on people during an A-fib episode. This training involves training the mind to control the body's responses to external and internal triggers. It stabilizes the heart rhythm by improving a person's control of their autonomic nervous system functions.

4. 4. Moderate Exercise

Doing regular exercise won’t only help you shed some pounds, but also relieves stress, lowers blood pressure, and regulates the heart rate. However, this means that you should do only some moderate and regular exercise, such as jogging, walking, cycling, and hiking. It’s very important to keep hydrated while doing exercise and to always start with a warm-up.

5. 5. Drink Cold Water

You can also stop an A-fib episode by slowly drinking a glass of cold water. This is a great tip for people who experience an A-fib episode from dehydration.

6. 6. Eat a Healthy Diet

Consuming healthy foods might reduce the risk of A-fib episodes. Moreover, you should reduce alcohol and caffeine intake as they’re believed to trigger A-fib episodes.   

7. 7. Yoga

Yoga is another powerful way to eliminate and prevent an A-fib episode. Hence, it is recommended that people with A-fib should practice yoga twice a week. They will experience significant improvements in their heart rate and blood pressure in a period of three months.

8. 8. Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is very important, not only for atrial fibrillation but for your overall health. So, you should sleep between 7 and 9 hours every night.