Atrial fibrillation, often called AFib, is the most common long-term heart rhythm disorder. Instead of beating in a steady pattern, the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly, making it easier for blood clots to form.
These clots can travel to the brain and cause a stroke, which is why AFib greatly increases the risk of serious health problems.
Many people with AFib also feel tired, short of breath, or worried that exercise could make their condition worse. Because of this, they may avoid physical activity. However, doctors have increasingly questioned whether staying active might actually improve health and lower the risk of complications.
A new study suggests that regular exercise could offer important benefits. Researchers found that adults with AFib who were physically active had a lower risk of stroke and were also less likely to die during the study period than those who were inactive.
The research was led by Dr. Kristoffer Johansen from UiT The Arctic University of Norway. It followed 87,340 adults who took part in two large Norwegian health studies and tracked their health for about 15 years.
Participants reported how often they exercised, how long they exercised, and how hard they exercised. Based on these answers, they were grouped into four activity levels ranging from inactive to highly active.
The researchers then linked these records with national health databases to identify who developed AFib, who experienced a stroke, and who died during the follow-up period.
Compared with inactive adults, people with low levels of physical activity had a 9% lower risk of stroke. Those with moderate activity had a 19% lower risk, while highly active people had an 18% lower risk.
Exercise was also linked to a lower chance of dying from any cause. Low activity reduced the risk by 11%, moderate activity by 18%, and high activity by 22%.
Importantly, these benefits were seen both in people with AFib and in those without the condition. For participants with AFib, being physically active was associated with living about six months to more than one year longer than people who remained inactive.
The researchers said the findings support current recommendations that adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, along with muscle-strengthening activities twice a week. Even so, they emphasized that even small amounts of activity appear to be better than none.
The study does have limitations. Participants reported their own exercise habits, which may not always have been accurate. Because this was an observational study, it also cannot prove that exercise directly caused the lower risk, since active people often have healthier lifestyles overall.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Overall, this large, long-term study provides strong evidence that regular physical activity is linked to better outcomes for people with AFib. While future clinical trials are needed to prove cause and effect, the results suggest that encouraging safe physical activity could become an important part of AFib care.
The message is reassuring: even modest exercise may help people with AFib live longer and lower their risk of stroke.
