What is AFib?

Atrial Fibrillation is a disruption of the heart beating sequence system. It is found globally in about 1% of the population, but in the USA it is higher. AFib research sends mixed signal results because science is having trouble pinpointing the exact causes since there are a number of different pathways involved: energy level, nervous system impulses, blood pressure and artery health, gut bacteria mix on neurotransmitter production, mineral levels,  ratios, and cellular movement, especially electrolytes, hormone balance, kidney functions, and co-enzymes levels.

AFib is a serious condition and can be caused by a heart value problem. See your heart Doctor.

This article from Cleveland Clinic explains the beating process for the four chambered heart. ref

The heart uses a lot of energy for this system to beat continuously for a lifetime. And the four chamber sequence is quite critical to operate smoothly receiving blood from body, sending it to lungs to get oxygenated, and then back to heart and finally out to the body. There is a vital delay before the large muscle chamber sends it out to the body to make sure enough blood gets into that chamber. This is often the area that is at fault and the heart trys to beat faster which disrupts the sequence to an even greater degree. 

Amazingly, Doctors give drugs to correct this condition which list as a possible side effect, heart arrhymias. But, the purpose of this article is to reveal some nutritional support with impact on some of the involved areas.

ENERGY PRODUCTION

Lots of energy is needed not only for the heart muscle, but also for cell membrane mineral pumps, or gates, to move minerals in and out of cells to generate electrical impulses. This is a vital part of muscle contracton as well as nerve impulse flow, two areas of critical importance for smooth heart beats.

Statins are often given for related conditions to control actions of cholesterol on artery health for blood circulation. The statin mechanism involved limits the actions of an enzyme to produce cholesterol that is also involved in producing Co-enzyme Q10. One of CoQ10 functions is to support cellular energy producion. Anyone on a statin should also take a CoQ10 supplement.

Without enough energy, cells cannot generate mineral gradients for electrical impulses to support normal heart actions. The minerals invoked here include: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. Faulty ratios between calcium magnesium, or calcium phosphorus, or calcium sodium all can upset electrical impulses to the heart. A common thread here is there is a calcium ion disruption taking place.

This calcium disruption can be caused by excessive or not enough calcium, too little magnesium with excessive calcium, too much phosphorus compared to calcium, too much sodium, not enough potassium, or a number of other faulty combination of these minerals. There are also involved kidney functions to help regulate these mineral rations as well as the influence of excessive or deficient vitamins D and K, which also impact mineral levels and actions. Then there are hormone actions that get involved, such as thyroid functions and menopause symptoms.

The vitamin criteria developed on this website factors in most of these situations. That is one of the reasons the amounts appear to be low and rely on diet to supply the lions share, especially for minerals.

Supplemented vitamins and minerals are very concentrated and often difficult for the processing methods of the body to control. MD article Good info on safety.

HEART NUTRIENTS

The minerals for heart health, the electrolytes, are calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. The vitamins mentioned often include vitamins D and K. Other factors include fibers, both soluble and insoluble, as well as fish oils supplying omega 3 fatty acids. The reason for taking omega 3 is to control and reduce inflammation. The body choose levels of the amount of EPA, one of the omega 3 fatty acids, as the controller for limiting or stopping the processing for all the different fatty acids, omega 3, 6, 9, etc. Some of these other fatty acids yield pro-inflammatory actions while others like omega 3 are anti-inflammatory. But, these all need cautions to not be over consumed, and maintained at certain healthy ratios.

Dosages as well as ratios of minerals are important considerations for body regulation of muscle and nerve action. First,consume dietary foods rich in magnesium and potassium. Potassium supplements over 200 mg. should not be taken without medical supervision. And then usually in a liquid form. Potassium in supplement form can be irritating to the intestinal tract. Both Vitamins D and K should be measured in blood. Vitamin D helps calcium and other mineral absorption processes. Vitamin K levels can be checked by measuring carboxylated osteocalcin amounts, a protein built by vitamin D. This is a bone building test that Doctor's have been measuring for a long time, but they did not tell patients it was really measuring vitamin K actions. Vitamin D is now available in excessively high dosages over 2500 units, 1000 - 2000 units are usually enough.

Vitamin K has two forms. First, K1 is found in leafy greens and controls blood coagulation. Vitamin K2, is formed in the body from K1 by bacteria in the gut and from dietary fermented foods, like cheeses. It is vital to not over consume vitamin K supplements since they have other functions which can be upset. These include calcification of soft tissues and arteries, blood sugar control, plus prostate and other cancer impacts.

The vitamin K2 impact on artery integrity is involved with AFib. But, any changes after AFib is noticed will take quite some time for the impact of K2 on artery flow to be noticed. Something for younger people to use.

REMEMBER this PRECAUTION: The coagulation effect of Vitamin K can inhibit blood thinning drugs for heart health. So, this needs medical support and monitoring before supplements. Vitamin K2 as MK7 at low doses, 45 mcg, is used here since it has less impact on blood thinning drugs than K1 at supplements of 45 milligrams.