Does anyone else see a correlation between grief, loss, trauma and irregular heartbeat?

[MaryLL]

I've noticed that I tend to have more a-fib around anniversary dates: especially family death dates, traumatic death dates, etc. I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed that? I have a brother who died in a house fire and every year on this date, I have a-fib. Also, my dad and mother's death dates. I'm wondering if the stress of that day works on the a-fib since I often forget what day it is until I have my a-fib episode.
Would appreciate hearing from others.
Thank you,
MaryLL

[Crystalclaire]

I lost my youngest son to an accident and two months later atrial fibrillation occurred.My grief is still with me and I have periodic bouts of AF necessitating ambulance and hospital. Stress seems to play a big part in these bouts.  Can anyone comment ?

[MaryLL]

Yes, I almost always have episodes on day's like that" mom's death day, dad's death day, anything traumatic and painful...

[DeltaDawn23]

I just realized my last Afib episode was April 14 and my the anniversary of my Mom's death was April 16.  I never put it together before.  My previous episode was at Christmas.

[MaryLL]

I have a new cardiologist and she definitely says "yes, grief, loss, and other stresses can set off an a-fib episode." She said that when we are processing something, internally it can produce more adrenaline (fight or flight) which sets off the a-fib. I'm so glad to know this.
thanks all, hope things go well.

[LindaTX]

I lost yet another pet over the holidays and I think the emotion of sadness can play a part in bringing on the palpitations and other irregularities of the heart's rhythm.

[MaryLL]

Thank you for all the responses you wrote. I have a new cardiologist and electrophysiologist and they gave me some relevant information. Apparently, when the body is under more stress (such as painful dates), there is an increase in adrenaline which triggers the a-fib.
Makes sense and since I've been journalling more and working on feeling my feelings instead of intellectualizing, it is helping!!
Hope you're all well and have had a lovely holiday season,
Mary LL

[Ihatepalps2]

oh YES!!! At least for me, its a resounding YES! I dont have AFIB...but I do have tons of palpitations...PVCs and PACs...and I have no doubt that stressful days (death days...and days of significance in a negative way) affect the heart.
My palpitations will kick up something fierce when I have a funeral to attend...when theres any significance to a day...its terrible.
So I can totally empathize...

[DeltaDawn23]

Definitely stress makes a difference.  And our sub-conscious remembers those dates even when we are not consciously aware of it.  My first two Afib episodes were at times of great stress.  My meditation teacher says, "Every thought you have leaves a footprint in your body."  Yoga and meditation can help, as can breathing exercises.  I have not had an Afib episode in correlation with anniversary dates that I know of, but I will pay more attention and see.  There has been a lot of loss in my family the last 10 years  and that pretty much covers my Afib onset in 2003, altho I've had pvc's since my early 20's.  Beta blockers help, as does Xanax.  I am also now on Norpace and Coumadin.

[LindaTX]

Have you ever heard of a broken heart? I think what you experience could be very relevant. Most Drs would probably say no way!  Stressful thoughts can be so powerful. I think they most definitely weigh-in on affecting the heart.

[john248]

Stress will without a doubt help trigger afib. My wife left me. When I feel down it seems to trigger them. Also when I am very tired will also do it. Its been a year since she left. I feel better and my afib has almost completely went away. Rest a low stress has been the answer for me.

[Jerry_NJ]

I read you to day you have AFib episodes on the subject dates even if you do not consciously think about the date/event relationship.

This is an interesting question on how the mind works in and of itself.  

I do not know and as I have permanent AFib I can't test you situation.  But, I think it is very possible/probable that grief, loss, trauma can cause an irregular HB, including AFib.