Fact or fiction? If you have a heart arrhythmia, you shouldn’t exercise.
According to Novant Health electrophysiologist Dr. Rafael Cavalcanti, this is one of several fictional claims about atrial fibrillation — the most common type of heart arrhythmia that causes irregular + often rapid heartbeats.
Curious about other AFib myths? Dr. Cavalcanti is busting five:
Myth 1: Every fluttering or irregular heartbeat must be AFib.
Did your Apple Watch pick up an irregular heartbeat? Don’t freak out. There are many rhythms that can mimic an atrial fibrillation, so it’s important to get an official diagnosis with a clinician.
Myth 2: Exercise makes AFib worse and should be avoided.
Here’s a myth that can hurt you. Many AFib patients fear their heart can’t handle the increased heart rate that exercise induces — but exercise is actually a vital part of AFib treatment. Dr. Cavalcanti recommends not going much more or less than 40 minutes per day.
