I am a 79 year old (in 2 weeks) retired ER physician and I am a rabid advocate of the health benefits of cycling. It truly works miracles and as an example I can still do 4 minute 19 second on the USAA Cycling 5 minute TT (a 4% average upgrade at 6300 foot elevation in Colorado Springs). I weigh low 170 pounds. I can't believe how good I still feel thanks to cycling BUT one area doctors never discuss (and this is huge) is alcohol and the heart. Alcohol is a potent cardiomyotoxin (meaning it is toxic to the heart muscle and causes heart muscle inflammation) but this is dose related. When I was in training I had a 23 year old die from his excessive alcohol intake causing congestive heart failure. In the ER I would see young people come in with an arrhythmia over the holidays due to excessive alcohol (thus the title "Holiday Heart"). As one gets older the risk of Atrial Fibrillation goes up logarithmically and AF can be exercise induced. AF causation is multifactorial and these precipitators make it much more likely during a ride: dehydration, low potassium, hypothermia (even drinking a smoothie can bring it on!), lack of sleep, too much caffeine, thyroid excess, and others. But no one ever seems to bring up the subject of excessive alcohol prior and the risk of AF. I love a nice red wine and this leaves me conflicted but I have found that half a bottle 2-3 days a week seems to not precipitate AF so one does not need to totally do without. My take home message to all us geriatric cycling advocates is keep all those precipitators to a minimum including alcohol and you can continue to partake of the Fountain of Youth and not need what most doctors would recommend: blood thinners or cardiac ablation! Also, watch your heart monitor (Garmin or whatever) like a hawk and when your rate starts getting in the upper ranges just back off to keep it out of trouble. Very high rate from exertion can bring on AF. AND be sure you are not overweight because any fatty tissue on your body gives off inflammatory cytokines (signaling molecules) which leave you in a chronically inflammed state prone to AF (and cancer).

It's so good to hear a doctor admit that food and exercise are medicine!

Thanks for your show. I have constant Afib I’ve started a walking program where I can manage about 15 minutes a walk without huffing and puffing. My goal is to increase by 2 minutes per day. So 2 walks equal 30 minutes per day. I’m in my mid-70’s, active as I have a business and thank you for telling us Maple Syrup is a healthy sweetener. I use just a little in my oatmeal and sometimes in my coffee. 0:07

This man did my ablation in 2016. Great doctor. He is an avocate of " Forks Over Knives".

Very good info. I have discovered this via personal experience. I’m sure everyone is different but I have markedly reduced my AFib episodes by continuing regular exercise, GREATLY reducing caffeine (which I have been HIGHLY sensitive to since my early 20’s when I began to drink coffee - caused arrhythmias 5 decades before AFib diagnosed recently) and GREATLY reducing carbs/SUGAR. I am hopelessly addicted to dark chocolate so I allow myself VERY small portions (1/2 oz) occasionally and drank decaf tea and coffee since my 20’s but now rarely have either. Am trying to avoid ablation if possible though the diagnosis and episodes have caused much anxiety, since I never know when it will occur, to the point of staying off interstates and traveling alone (I get lightheaded when AFib starts and have to get off the road). The best resource I can recommend is a book written by two electrophysiologists. (Will find and repost here.) As with so many conditions, lifestyle and diet heavily play heavily in conditions we develop;, especially later in life. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TRUTH! Most cardiologists don’t bother to even mention the possibility of influencing AFib through any natural means. Arrhythmia drugs and blood thinners are what they promote and the discussion ends there with them. BOOK: THE AFIB CURE by John Day, MD & T Jared Bunch, MD (electrophysiologists) I highly recommend it for anyone with AFib.

Thank you for your straight forward advice.

Thank you both so much I was diagnosed a year ago with a fib for a year ,This video is very informative and helpful.The glycemic chart was very interesting.

Your video without a doubt is the best so far. I am 82 years old and developed A fib 18 months ago. Mine started with a warning on my Apple Watch. I converted back to sinus rhythm in 24 hrs after hospitalization. I went 18 months without an episode and then it happened again only this time 2-3 times a day even though I was on blood thinner. Then I started reading as much as possible about the heart condition. I am not over weight and I was exercising regularly. So why me. What am I doing wrong. So then I started looking for triggers and the only thing I came up with was my glass of wine every day. So I haven’t had any wine for a month. And up until yesterday the episodes were 2-3 daily. So far no episodes but the day is young. I am hoping that I have found my trigger and things will get better. By the way I don’t consume a lot of sugar but I do use maple syrup and honey when needed. I have saved your video so that I can refer back when necessary. Again great video well presented and great questions and answers.

This is an excellent video. Thank you!

Helpful suggestions, easy to implement, pleasant presenters.

Excellent advice thank you

Very helpful, thank you

Great info, I'm implementing ASAP!

It is unique to each individual - I’m an endurance athlete in AF. My normal resting pulse is 45 but currently 75. I had several ECGs a few days ago which confirmed AF. However, relative to my usual self I cannot race a mile at the same pace I could without AF but I’m still planning to run a 50k mountain ultra at the weekend regardless. I did a 10 miler last night at a steady pace and felt great. Yes the heart rate was more elevated relative to a given pace than usual but how it felt was fine. Now I’m lucky that I’ve started with a very high exercise threshold but the point I’m making is don’t let it stop your existing exercise if you already have one. Just managed it appropriately based upon how you feel. I feel this marries the advice in this video? I was so pleased that I was not told “do not run” on diagnosis and that AF is a limited to athletic performance potential, yes, but doesn’t stop exercise all together.

Very helpful; thank you!

Thank you, very informative.

Very helpful. Thank you. Interesting about what you say about Keto.

Informative video, thanks. I have aFib and have a healthy diet but didn't know that white rice has such a high glycemic index. I'll substitute brown rice instead.

Thank you! Great video. Really liked the tip on "glycemic index". I'm so exhausted.....I'm ready to try anything.

Thank you both very much for all the tips. I am now on the plant based diet and exercise regularly

Good info- thanks! One thing I wonder about … I have just a slight arrhythmia occasionally. It was much worse when I was younger and drank diet soda! Now that I know better and avoid them I don’t have these episodes as often. When I slip up and drink one I will inevitably have a little fluttery episode so I won’t do it again for 6 months or so. So I guess my question is this… is the caffeine in Diet Coke different from the caffeine in coffee which supposedly is ok ?

I have afib and caffeine DOES TRIGGER an afib attack in me. I have been off of caffeine for over a year and have not had an extreme episode of afib.

More doctors need to stress the importance of food and exercise.