tabata and pacemaker

I had a pacemaker fitted eighteen months ago as I had AF and it is working perfectly. I am aiming to do some tabata training along with a diet to get back some of my fitness as I have put weight on through general inactivity. The question I want to ask of the experts here is would this regime be suitable for me as I am also on benroflumethiazide (10mg) I was a fitness Instructor with a natural low resting heart rate previously but when the AF kicked in, my heart rate was very high, so needed
the pacemaker and these tablets to adjust it to a normal level. Tabata training is working to get the heart rate high for a few seconds with high intensity movements and then rest for a few seconds then start again.

1 Comments

Several questions come to mind

by Theknotguy - 2015-07-01 12:07:29

Several questions come to mind after reading your posting. You also don't give us any info in your bio. Knowing who manufactured your PM/ICD can change answers to your question.

My suggestion is you should consult with your cardiologist / EP before undertaking such a high stress exercise regimen. Most of us on the forum don't know your medical history and what you are asking could result in serious danger to your health.

First question. What effects will tabata have on your afib? On the forum several people have commented on triggers for afib. Those triggers can be foods including alcohol and chocolate. While normal exercise doesn't trigger afib episodes for me, I'm not sure I could get away with tabata. The high intensity workout which would raise my heart rate to abnormal levels could trigger afib sessions. For me, I'd reject that form of exercise out of hand.

Second question is your benroflumethiazide. What negative effects would happen from doing intense exercise while on this drug. A quick look on the Internet suggested problems with hydration and kidneys. I feel, from a quick look that tabata could case more problems with exercise and this kind of drug.

Third question: What are the underlying problems that caused you to get the PM? I had afib problems for years without a PM. It was only when my heart stopped beating for a period of time they decided to go with the pacemaker. So what were the underlying problems? Tabata could have an impact on those problems too.

I did physical therapy after getting my PM. Slightly different circumstances as they had messed up a bummed up shoulder which had suffered from previous injuries. The PT people were NOT the no-pain, no-gain type of people. Instead they said if I left the exercise area in pain, they hadn't done their jobs.

Each of the exercises were low impact exercises, but that didn't mean they weren't intense. They concentrated on working supporting muscles. So even though I might only be lifting three pound weights, we were exercising smaller muscles. Those smaller muscles fatigued rather quickly and I usually left the exercise sessions worn out. No pain, but still worn out. Consequently I ended up losing weight without going through the no-pain, no-gain routine. The low impact routines allowed me to exercise without aggravating my afib.

For the most part, having a PM that has a software program to mitigate afib is great to have. But the underlying problems with afib have lead me away from things (like high intensity workouts) that I feel would aggravate my afib.

I volunteer in a woodshop. We'll be doing parts cutting tomorrow. We'll move 2000 pounds of wood but that will be in a four hour time period. While each iteration of cutting means I may be lifting 50 pounds at a pop and I'll be getting sweaty, it isn't at the intensity tabata has described. Last checkup at the EP's office said I was at the "average fit person" level - for whatever that means.
So I feel I'm getting adequate exercise with going to extremes.

Hope you find a solution that fits you.


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