AF in Endurance Athletes

Lisa, a 57-year-old non-elite endurance road cyclist, was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). In the months leading up to her diagnosis, she noticed regular episodes of symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath and light headedness.

Watch the video to view Lisa’s full story.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with increasing incidence in Australia¹. It causes your heart to beat irregularly and often too fast. Moderate levels of exercise have been shown to be protective against developing AF. However, it has been found that there is a U-shaped relationship between physical activity and AF, with increasing prevalence in endurance athletes².

People with untreated AF are at five times greater stroke risk than those without AF¹. It can also lead to other conditions such as heart failure.

Click here to find out more about atrial fibrillation.

A regular heart beats around 60-100 beats per minute in a steady, regular rhythm. If your rhythm is fast, slow or uneven, this is known as an arrhythmia.

Many factors can influence your heart rate, including fitness level, emotions, medicine and age.

If your heart rate is notably below 60 bpm or above 100 bpm consistently you should contact your doctor for further investigation.

In many cases, an arrhythmia will be no reason for concern, however sometimes it can be a sign of other heart conditions, such as atrial fibrillation.