Magnesium & Slow Heart Rates

Magnesium, an essential mineral, supports over 300 metabolic reactions in the body. Although your body uses the majority of magnesium to build strong bones, over 35 percent remains in the cells, where it plays a vital role in transporting ions like calcium across cellular membranes. This function makes magnesium important for inducing muscle contractions and keeping the heart beating rhythmically. Scientific studies have proven the effectiveness of magnesium in slowing heart rates.

Role of Magnesium

Muscle cells, including heart muscle cells, contract in response to tiny electrical impulses. In the heart a group of specialized cells known as the sinus node generate the electrical impulses. These impulses reach each individual heart cell and trigger the internal structure of the cell known as the sarcoplasmic reticulum to release calcium ions, resulting in muscle contraction. The fluid portion of the cell contains magnesium ions. When calcium ions enter the fluid portion of the cell, the magnesium ions produce an electrical charge that pushes the calcium back into the internal structure of the cell. This action allows the muscle cell to relax.

Use as a Treatment

Magnesium functions as a natural calcium blocker. Because the movement of calcium ions across the membranes triggers heart muscle contraction, additional amounts of magnesium help to control those contractions and allow for added relaxation between contractions, which slows the heart rate.

Magnesium and Heart Surgery

A study published in the Annals of Thoracic Medicine reports that magnesium given to patients prior to heart surgery can help stabilize blood vessels and reduce complications following surgery. A group of patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery were given an infusion of magnesium sulfate prior to the surgery, while another group of patients did not receive magnesium to serve as the control group. The group given the magnesium experienced a reduced heart rate, which decreased the need for other heart-stabilizing medications.

Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure, commonly called heart failure, is a condition that occurs when the heart fails to pump enough blood to support the needs of the body. Patients with congestive heart failure have an increased risk of developing irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. Some doctors suggest their patients take magnesium to help stabilize their heart rhythm. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that the use of magnesium orotate for one year improved the survival rates for patients with heart failure.

Too Much Magnesium

You should only take magnesium supplements under the direct supervision of your health-care provider. Patients taking magnesium supplements, especially those who suffer from kidney disease, have an increased risk of developing magnesium toxicity, also known as hypermagnesemia. Too much magnesium in your body can cause your heart rate to slow too much, which can lead to low blood pressure. If the condition remains untreated, hypermagnesemia and the resulting slow heart rate can cause difficulty breathing and muscle weakness and can lead to cardiac arrest.