Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...
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“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD
FAQs Coping with A-Fib: Circulation
“I am in Chronic A-Fib. I feel tired and a little light-headed, probably because my atria aren’t pumping properly. How can I improve my circulation, without having to undergo an Ablation or Surgery?”
In theory, yes. In Chronic A-Fib it’s not unusual to feel tired and light-headed. Your atria are fibrillating instead of pumping blood into the ventricles. Blood flow to your brain and other organs is reduced by about 15%-30%. But your ventricles still function by suctioning blood from the atria much like a turkey baster sucks up liquid.
To some extent, you can improve the strength and capacity of your ventricles by exercise, such as by walking on a treadmill or at the shopping mall.
Oxygen Concentrator. You can also improve the oxygen saturation of your blood by using an Oxygen Concentrator ($500-$1,000). While on a treadmill, for example, you can breath in concentrated oxygen through a cannula, a flexible tube you insert into your nostrils. You can measure how much oxygen is in your blood by using an pulse oximeter ($50). The desired range is 95-100% oxygen saturation. (Some athletes with good circulation use this technique to improve their athletic performance.)
Enhanced External Counterpulsation. See also or FAQ about the out-patient heart therapy that improves circulation called EECP (Enhanced External Counterpulsation). “Will EECP Heart Therapy Help my Circulation?“
The Bottom Line: the real question is whether these techniques will improve your A-Fib symptoms of feeling tired and light-headed. I’m unaware of any studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the above techniques for the symptoms of Chronic A-Fib.
Back to FAQs: Coping with Your A-Fib
Last updated: Monday, June 18, 2018
