How do you calm down atrial fibrillation?

A: It’s not uncommon for atrial fibrillation (AFib) to occur at night. The nerves that control your heart rate typically are in sleep mode, and that’s when your resting heart rate drops. Under these conditions, pacemaker activity from areas other than the normal pacemaker in the heart can trigger the onset of AFib.

Typically, anything that makes you stressed or tired can bring on an attack. Stress and atrial fibrillation often go together. Common activities that can bring on an AFib episode include travel and strenuous exercise. Holidays are often a trigger as well, because they typically include two triggers: stress and alcohol.

In addition to causing high blood pressure, high sodium levels have been linked with a long-term risk of developing AFib. Avoid or reduce salty foods such as pizza, cold cuts, salad dressings, and soups to reduce your risk. Check food labels for the amount of sodium, and ask your doctor what your daily limit should be.

You may be able to keep your heart pumping smoothly for a long time if you: