Light Exercise Prevents Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly

The findings were published in the Aug. 5 issue of the journal Circulation.

Meanwhile, a separate trial looking at the effect of exercise on atrial fibrillation from a different angle is being done by Dr. Jose A. Joglar, an associate professor of internal medicine and director of clinical cardiac physiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

"We have enrolled patients who have atrial fibrillation already to see whether exercise improves their quality of life," Joglar said.

The 10 participants in the trial, all in their mid-70s and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, are doing aerobic exercises 45 minutes a day, three or four days a week, Joglar said. "They are riding stationary bicycles or walking fast," he explained.

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The study is ongoing, but "preliminary data appears to be that they feel better and function better," Joglar said.

He and Mozaffarian stressed that light exercise, whatever its effect on atrial fibrillation, has known benefits, such as helping control blood pressure and weight. Other studies have shown that the right exercise -- "not too strenuous but not too light, either" -- is helpful against angina, the chest pain caused by heart artery problems, Joglar said.

"There are additional strong reasons for the public to focus on exercise," Mozaffarian said.

More information

The American Heart Association has more on atrial fibrillation and its treatment.