Arrhythmia
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- What is arrhythmia?
- Symptoms of arrhythmia
- Causes of arrhythmia
- Prevention of arrhythmia
- Risk factors for arrhythmia
- Complications of arrhythmia
- When to see a doctor about arrhythmia
- Diagnosis of arrhythmia
- Conventional treatment of arrhythmia
- Alternative/complementary treatment of arrhythmia
- Living with arrhythmia
- Caring for someone with arrhythmia
Alternative / complementary treatment of arrhythmia
People who have been diagnosed with any type of arrhythmia must seek their doctors advice before trying any of the alternative / complementary strategies advised here, as they could seriously and adversely affect you if they are taken in combination with certain medications.
These treatment strategies are advised as part of a heart healthy lifestyle:
Herbs
There are some herbs which have heart-protective benefits, but they need to be individually prescribed by a qualified herbalist to ensure the best benefit. Always seek your doctors advice before trying any herbs for your arrhythmia as it could have serious and life threatening consequences.
Vitamins
The antioxidant vitamins may be especially beneficial for people with arrhythmia (but do not take these in supplement form unless you have approval from your medical specialist to do so):
- Betacarotene - the antioxidant betacarotene is required for the health of the arteries, as it helps to reduce oxidative damage that free radicals or any inflammation may cause. Since betacarotene is less toxic and is the precursor to vitamin A, it has been most often recommended instead of vitamin A in supplements. Recent studies suggest that betacarotene supplements must not be used by people who are current or former smokers or who currently drink excessive amounts of alcohol, as it may increase their risk of a number of cancers. It is recommended to get your betacarotene from the food in your diet (orange and dark green coloured fruits and vegetables have the highest amounts of betacarotene)
- Bioflavonoids - the bioflavonoids, together with vitamin C help to ensure the walls of arteries and other blood vessels are strong and healthy
- Folic acid - the B vitamin, folic acid has vasodilation properties, which helps to ensure the blood vessels and arteries are not narrowed to allow proper blood flow
- Vitamin A - the antioxidant vitamin A is vital for the reducing oxidative damage from free radicals and ensure the cells in the heart are healthy. Vitamin A recommended intakes must not be exceeded in supplements, as they can produce toxic side effects
- Vitamin C - the antioxidant vitamin C, together with the bioflavonoids, help to ensure the walls of arteries and other blood vessels are strong and healthy. One large study of people who had coronary artery bypass surgery, and who were also taking beta-blocker medications were divided into two groups: one group were supplemented with vitamin C and the other was not. The study found that the people who were taking the vitamin C as well as their beta-blocker medications were significantly less likely to experience atrial fibrillation than the people who were just taking the beta-blocker medications
- Vitamin E - the antioxidant vitamin E is vital for the health of the arteries, as it helps to reduce oxidative damage that free radicals and inflammation may cause to the arteries. In addition to this, vitamin E helps to thin the blood, which may significantly decrease the risk of blood clots forming. People taking any type of blood thinning medications must talk to their doctor about using any vitamin E supplements in combination with their medications, as it may not be advised to do so
Minerals
There are a few minerals which may be beneficial for people with arrhythmia (but do not take these in supplement form unless you have approval from your medical specialist to do so):
- Magnesium - the mineral magnesium is really beneficial for the heart, as it helps to ensure the heart muscle is able to be relaxed (after contractions), functioning properly and that the heart rate is normal, which reduces the risk of arrhythmia. Adequate levels of magnesium are also necessary to reduce any calcium deposits in the arteries, which may cause blockages. Several studies also show that intravenous magnesium, compared with placebo or control, is effective in preventing atrial fibrillation in people who have had any type of heart surgery (such as coronary by-pass surgery), if the magnesium is administered post-operatively
- Selenium - some studies show that the antioxidant mineral selenium may help to protect the heart against oxidative damage and heart disease. A severe lack of selenium in the diet may cause a type of heart disease called Keshan's disease
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Other nutrients
There are a few nutrients which may be beneficial for people with arrhythmia (but do not take these in supplement form unless you have approval from your medical specialist to do so):
- Arginine - studies show that the amino acid arginine is a vasodilator, which helps to keep the arteries and other blood vessels open, preventing narrowing and enabling proper blood flow. Studies show the effect of arginine on the arteries is greatly enhanced when vitamin C is also supplemented together
- Carnitine - the amino acid carnitine is very beneficial for improving the function of the heart. Research shows that carnitine is a key regulator of fatty acid metabolism, which helps to ensure that cholesterol levels are normal (by eliminating excess levels of cholesterol so that they do not circulate in the blood and risk plaque build-up in the arteries) which may help to reduce risk of atherosclerosis. One study showed that combining carnitine with simvastatin (a cholesterol-lowering drug) in people with diabetes helped to reduce their cholesterol levels better than just with simvastatin alone. Studies also show that carnitine helps to reduce inflammation which is associated with atherosclerosis
- Co-enzyme Q10 - studies show that coenzyme Q10 may prevent blood clots from forming and may boost the function of the other antioxidant nutrients in the body, as well as boosting the mitochondria of the heart, enabling it to function better. Other studies suggest that there is evidence to support the therapeutic value of CoQ10 as an adjunct to standard medical therapy in congestive heart failure. Several other studies show that people who take statins (a medication for lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels) have lowered levels of coenzyme Q10. People taking statins need to seek their doctor's advice about trying some coenzyme Q10 supplements
- Lipoic acid - several studies show that alpha-lipoic acid has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties, which help to reduce fatty plaque build-up in the artery walls. The studies also showed that alpha-lipoic acid helps to reduce triglycerides (fat) levels in the blood
- Omega-3 fatty acids - many studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA found in fish oil can help prevent atherosclerosis from worsening or even prevent it from developing, by stopping the development of plaque and blood clots in the arteries. Many studies have also shown that omega-3 fatty acids may help to prevent heart disease, lower blood pressure and reduce the level of triglycerides (fats) in the blood. The Australian Heart Foundation recommends people eat at least two servings of oily fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines, trout, tuna) per week to reduce the risk of heart disease. In addition to this, several studies have shown that adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids may prevent sudden cardiac death associated with life threatening arrhythmia. People with existing arrhythmia and who want to reduce their blood pressure or triglycerides levels can try an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, but need to talk to their doctor before doing so, because many medications may not work well in combination with omega-3 supplements and increase the risk of internal bleeding (especially blood thinning medications)
- Quercetin - the flavonoid quercetin is a part of the bioflavonoids, so it has the same protective effects on the artery walls, strengthening the walls and reducing the risk of atherosclerosis from developing and since quercetin has antioxidant properties it reduces oxidative damage to the arteries and may prevent oxidation of cholesterol which reduces the risk of plaque build-up in the artery walls
- Taurine - several studies on animal hearts show that the amino acid taurine has a protective effect on the heart by stabilising irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), which is accomplished by taurines' ability to stabilise cell membranes and through its properties as an antioxidant, by scavenging for free radicals and reducing oxidative damage to the heart. The studies with taurine suggested that certain arrhythmias could be prevented with taurine supplementation. The arrhythmia studies and prevented were: premature atrial contractions (PACs), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), atrial fibrillation and related sinus pauses
Dietary modifications
There are a number of dietary modifications which may be beneficial in maintaining good heart health:
- Eat enough legumes and wholegrains - the diet needs to include adequate amounts of legumes (chickpeas, peas, beans and soya beans) as well as wholegrains to ensure that the diet has adequate fibre, as well as the various nutrients that the legumes and wholegrains provide. Adequate fibre intake can help to reduce the amount of LDL ("bad") cholesterol in the blood
- Eat enough "good" fats - you need to ensure the diet includes adequate amounts of the "good" fats which are the polyunsaturated fats, from foods such as olive oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, olives (but take care that they are not too salty), avocado, as well as all types of nuts and seeds
- Eat more fruit and vegetables - intake of fresh fruit and vegetables needs to be increased so that the diet includes about 2-3 portions of fruit and 5-7 portions of vegetables every day. The vitamins, minerals and especially the antioxidants in the fruit and vegetables can help the heart function more effectively and reduce the risk of blockages in the coronary arteries and may reduce risk of oxidative damage to the heart
- Eat more garlic and onions - both garlic and onions, but especially garlic have blood thinning effects, which may help to prevent stickiness and blood clots, as well as reduce the risk of artery blockages. Fresh garlic and onions, are best, but they can be cooked in meals. People who cannot tolerate garlic can try supplements, but always seek the advice of a medical doctor before trying supplements as they may not be recommended in conjunction to your other medication
- Eat more ginger - fresh ginger is highly recommended as it helps to reduce inflammation in the body. Fresh ginger can be finely grated into smoothies and fruit juice and it can also be cooked in meals
- Eat more oily fish - research suggests that people at risk of any type of heart disease should eat more oily fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines, trout, tuna). Heart foundations around the world recommends eating these types of fish around 2-3 times a week in order to provide adequate levels of the heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids from the fish
- Increase fibre intake - fibre is essential for ensuring good digestive health and good heart health, as adequate fibre intake reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood and this may be helpful in reducing the risk of blockages by the cholesterol in the arteries
- Increase intake of potassium-rich foods - the mineral potassium is needed to counter the effects of sodium, especially in people with high blood pressure, whose heart may not be functioning properly and may be causing the angina. Foods high in potassium include: bananas, apricots, treacle, sultanas, raisins, wheat bran, figs, currants, unsalted nuts, baked potato and most fruits and vegetables. People taking certain medications should talk to their doctor about their potassium intake
- Increase intake of magnesium-rich foods - the mineral magnesium is so beneficial for the heart, as it helps to ensure the heart muscle is relaxed, functioning properly and heart rate is normal. Foods high in magnesium include: beans, spinach, wholegrain bread and cereals, wholemeal flour, yeast, seafood, almonds, brazil nuts, peanuts, walnuts and treacle. People taking certain medications should talk to their doctor about their magnesium intake
- Limit intake of saturated fat - foods that are high in saturated fat (full cream milk, cheese, butter, sour cream, as well as red meat, any fried foods, any processed foods, any take-away or junk foods) need to be limited in the diet, to help reduce levels of cholesterol and triglycerides as well as reduce risk of possible blockage build-up in the arteries
Lifestyle modifications
There are a number of lifestyle modifications which may be beneficial in maintaining good heart health:
- Antibiotics - always use the antibiotics you have been prescribed around one hour before and also six hours after a dental procedure, to reduce risk of any bacterial infection of the heart
- Exercise - regular physical activity is recommended to help reduce the pressure on the heart and enable it to function better. Since some arrhythmias can be induced by exercise, always seek your doctor (or cardiac specialists) advice about the type and duration of exercise you are allowed to do
- Stop smoking - people who smoke are recommended to stop because the chemicals inside cigarettes can damage the walls of arteries and make them more susceptible to blockages and narrowing, as well
- Stress reduction - there are a number of stress reduction therapies available for people who experience prolonged stress, as it is not healthy for the heart and could be the reason for the arrhythmia. Stress reduction therapies include: meditation, tai chi and yoga
- Weight reduction - people who are very overweight and obese will be advised to lose weight, because their excess weight may be causing the arrhythmia and the heart disease
Alternative treatments
There are no other alternative treatments recommended for arrhythmia.
Always ensure that you notify your medical practitioner of any supplements that you want to take - it may interfere with other medication or conditions you have. Confirm with your doctor it is safe to take BEFORE you try it.
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< 9:conventional treatment 11: living with arrhythmia > Last reviewed: 27 October 2007 || Last updated: 9 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
