Biofeedback breathing is generally considered low-risk (and potentially beneficial) to individuals with cardiovascular conditions. In this post, we provide resources for individuals who wish to know about biofeedback breathing safety for atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and heart palpitations.
Atrial Fibrillation
If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (Afib) and it is intermittent (paroxysmal), biofeedback breathing is considered safe for you practice. However, most experts recommend that you avoid practicing when you are experiencing an active episode of Afib.
There is not enough scientific evidence to say whether biofeedback breathing helps people with Afib. biofeedback breathing is not likely to help with the underlying electrical causes of Afib. Instead, it may help you reduce or manage your lifestyle triggers of Afib. These can include drinking alcohol or caffeine, or experiencing stress and/or poor sleep. If you like, you can try tracking the frequency, duration, and severity of your Afib episodes before versus after several weeks of biofeedback breathing practices to see if it helps you with trigger management.
Research linking biofeedback breathing to Afib trigger management
Across 8 studies, biofeedback breathing was shown to reduce cravings for alcohol and food.
Across 9 studies, biofeedback breathing was shown to significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, which is closely related to self-reported stress.
Some studies show biofeedback breathing when practiced before bedtime may help you with sleep, but scientists are still researching how reliable this effect is.
Some evidence shows that these triggers (dietary, anxiety, sleep) are associated with Afib likelihood.
Premature Ventricular Contractions
PVCs are extra heartbeats (or irregular contractions), which are one type of arrhythmia. They can feel like fluttering, pounding or skipped heartbeats, with a feeling of unease. When PVCs are infrequent, you can continue practicing biofeedback breathing.
Occasional PVCs usually do not require any treatment, unless your doctor has told you that you have heart disease. Lifestyle factors, such as caffeine, alcohol, smoking, stress or anxiety, exercise, and medications (e.g., for allergies) can increase the likelihood of PVCs.
Our remote sensing devices and staff are not designed or intended to diagnose PVCs or cardiovascular disease. If you experience frequent or severe symptoms, please consult your physician.
Heart Palpitations
Biofeedback breathing brings attention to your heartbeat. Some people experience this attention as uncomfortable awareness of the heartbeat or palpitations. The experience of heart palpitations during HRV biofeedback without any known cardiac diagnoses should not by itself cause alarm. If you experience a new onset of bothersome heart palpitations during your practice, discontinue and contact your primary care provider for guidance.
