Maintenance of normal heart rate and heart rhythm depend, in part, on the balance of electrolytes in your body. Not surprisingly, high or low levels of these vital nutrients upset the conduction system of your heart, leading to or worsening abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. One of the more common arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, results from a combination of factors, but an imbalance in nutritional status or nutrients in your body can trigger episodes of atrial fibrillation.
Atrial Fibrillation
Normal electrical conduction in your heart starts in a structure called the sinus node and proceeds through the heart in an orderly manner, causing the heart muscle to contract regularly. In atrial fibrillation, the electrical signal is able to repeatedly stimulate the walls of the atria, the smaller heart chambers. This results in a rapid and irregular heartbeat, MedlinePlus says. Because the heart beats so fast and with varying force, it doesn't effectively squeeze out all of the blood with each heartbeat, and blood pools in the heart. Clots form in the heart chambers when this blood remains stagnant. Pieces of these clots can break off and circulate in your blood, leading to strokes or other problems. This makes atrial fibrillation potentially dangerous, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Because the nutrients known as electrolytes are responsible for electrical conduction, the heart rhythm suffers from irregularities in electrolyte balance.
Electrolytes in Atrial Fibrillation
Causes of atrial fibrillation and the mechanisms of conduction disturbance in the heart are multifactorial and differ from one patient to another. You may have atrial fibrillation as a constant arrhythmia. More commonly, normal heart rhythm exists most of the time, punctuated by periods of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation episodes, called paroxysms, may be initiated by various internal and external factors such as nutritional status, explains the specialty medical text "Clinical Electrocardiography: A Simplified Approach." Once established, this arrhythmia becomes more easily triggered by imbalances of potassium, calcium and magnesium. A low potassium level, hypokalemia, frequently leads to episodes of atrial fibrillation in susceptible people. Potassium levels in the blood should be checked regularly if you have atrial fibrillation. Calcium and magnesium imbalances may also instigate atrial fibrillation. If you have had this or any arrhythmia, you should follow a healthy diet, including fruits and vegetables that contain these important electrolytes.
Interaction of Medications and Nutrients
Nutritional status becomes even more important during treatment for atrial fibrillation. Medications used to treat atrial fibrillation introduce further concerns about nutrients and their balance in your body. Digitalis, commonly used to treat atrial fibrillation, becomes toxic if potassium levels drop much below normal levels. If you take digitalis -- especially if you take it along with a diuretic, which causes lowered potassium in the body -- your potassium levels require careful monitoring. In addition, you may take warfarin or other anti-coagulant medications to reduce the risk of blood clots and strokes if you have atrial fibrillation. Warfarin works by inhibiting the action of vitamin K, an essential component of blood clotting. Your doctor may recommend that intake of vitamin K-containing foods be restricted to some degree if you take warfarin, says Drugs.com.
Warnings
If you've been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, see your doctor regularly. Do not attempt to treat an irregular heart rhythm with diet or nutrient manipulation alone. You risk worsened heart function, stroke and death. Follow your prescribed diet and medication regimen to keep this arrhythmia under control and minimize the risk of complications.
References
- MedlinePlus: Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter
- "Clinical Electrocardiography: A Simplified Approach, 7th ed."; Ary Goldberger, M.D., 2006
- Drugs.com: Coumadin
- FamilyDoctor.org: Atrial Fibrillation
