Does anyone here have atrial fibrillation

[blacksocks33]

And do you have any advice for me, a family member, of someone who has it.
That someone is my mum who too suffers from extreme health anxiety.
She has it in episodes but when she has a episode it triggers her anxiety and she doesn't mentally get over it for a long time.
She is medicated and receiving support. It what can I do or research to help? Do certain foods or diets help? Anything to help the heart rate return to normal?
Just after experience really!

BHF website has great info and support. A heart helpline you can call to chat things through and webinars you can watch.

The Atrial Fibrillation Association is great for advice and information.

https://healthunlocked.com/afassociation

Once you've signed up (it's free) you get a daily email with posts from members about AF issues. It's a great place to go for advice, support and reassurance.
The important thing to remember is that, provided you are properly medicated, you won't die from an episode of AF. Episodes can be very unpleasant and worrying but the more you read and find out about AF, the less scary it is.

I am in AF at this very moment - as well as having covid.

Your Mum should be getting the right drugs - anticoagulant to prevent stroke and beta blocker or similar to slow the rate down. Has she seen a cardiologist?

I find that avoiding cold food - drinks with ice in, ice cream etc. helps. Also eating small frequent meals rather than a big meal, which can trigger it for me. Definitely no caffeine, and for me no chocolate.

Mine gets worse when I walk uphill, and sometimes when I bend over.

As long as she is on the right medication and her condition is being monitored then all should be well. I do sympathise with her though as it can be a bit scary. I have a Scanwatch that I use when it is bad to check the rate/speed - if it gets very high she needs to seek help.

I've had it, ended up in resus with a heart rate of around 180. After further episodes I had a cardiac ablation and am on low dose beta blockers. I still get ectopic beats and fluttering at night. Not sure what that is. Very slow deep breathing tends to stop it.
I don't drink caffeine or alcohol any more.

Licorice sweets and syrup should be avoided if you have AF.

DH has it, along with atrial flutter. Drug therapy didn't help so he had catheter ablation at a specialist hospital. He's now off medication but still has the odd episode. He has to be very careful with caffeine, and we now only have decaff tea and coffee in the house.

My DH had it and didn’t get on with the meds so had the catheter ablation at Papworth and has never had an episode since.