Keeping well (self-management)

Learning to recognise your individual trigger factors and reducing, or avoiding, them can sometimes help to minimise the symptoms of AF.

Learning to recognise your individual trigger factors and reducing, or avoiding, them can sometimes help to minimise the symptoms of AF.

There are a variety of situations that can trigger an episode of, or contribute to, Atrial Fibrillation. These can include:

  • Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, particularly ‘binge drinking’
  • Being overweight
  • Drinking a lot of caffeine, e.g. coffee, tea and fizzy drinks
  • Taking illegal drugs, particularly those that stimulate the heart, e.g. amphetamines (‘speed’) or cocaine
  • Smoking

Learning to recognise your individual trigger factors and reducing, or avoiding, them can sometimes help to minimise the symptoms of AF.

For general advice about keeping well with a heart condition please see the living with your heart condition section.