Reason behind slow heartrate and natural alternati

Hello what is the cause of a slow heartrate? I have had 2 ablations so yes I have had heart rhythm problems . But is there a cause . Is there something or some health issue Doctors might miss?
I had one of my customers say to take slow mag 2 times a day and drink Gatorade and it would get rid of my heart palpitations.
Also I was told to soak my feet in magnesium oil daily for 30 minutes because all of this is related to low magnesium.
Help I am so comfused.

6 Comments

why

by Tracey_E - 2015-10-05 01:10:02

Selwyn gave an excellent list of things that can cause a slow heart rate. Most of us do not fall into any of those categories, however. For many, it's simply random, a short circuit and we never know what caused it. It can happen in an otherwise perfectly healthy heart, someone young. In my case I was born this way. There is nothing in my family, my kids don't have it, it's just there. Bad luck, if you will. I would not waste a lot of effort digging for answers, putting yourself through tests, getting your hopes up trying folk lore when the sad reality is most of us never get answers and we most definitely don't get magic cures. The only fix for a slow heart is a pacer.

I would not go loading up on gatorade! Electrolytes are good for you, yes, but go look at a gatorade label sometime. It's basically sugar water, next to no electrolytes, so if part of your problem is dehydration it may help but water is better. It's good to stay hydrated, but drinking gatorade is not going to fix a slow heart, just give you extra calories.

Yes on the snake oil

by Theknotguy - 2015-10-05 07:10:08

The magnesium proponents always say it will solve the problems. But they also forget to mention possible side effects. If you go that route, you have to make sure the increase in magnesium doesn't interfere with other meds or cause a problem you haven't anticipated.

I haven't seen any scientific studies done - or at least credible ones. So it gets back to the snake oil Ian mentions.

Since the companies producing the magnesium supplements aren't under the jurisdiction the medical drug companies have, you can't be sure you're getting a specific and consistent dosage. Case in point where a large chain store selling supplements had some of their products tested. Turned out none of the chemicals needed were actually in the supplements.

The best one I saw was the guy who said all his problems were cured by taking pills made from a mud with metallic elements. Wouldn't that be nice??? Just take a couple of mud pills a day and all problems are solved. Eliminate doctors and live forever. Good fantasy.

Some doctors will tell you people do feel better taking some vitamin supplements. But mostly they will tell you taking supplements just gives you expensive pee. So it is caveat emptor.

Another interesting thing I just saw re-reading your posting is the magnesium proponents say it helps with both a slow heart rate and others have said arrhythmia problems. Pretty good stuff if it does. A multi-spectrum supplement?

I'd really like to think the magnesium route would solve the arrhythmia and slow heart rate problems. But I have to come down on the "use caution" side.

Tough questions Lisa !

by IAN MC - 2015-10-05 08:10:41

The cause of a slow heart rate may be because there isn't enough electricity being produced in your body to make it go faster ! Not that different to when the bulb in your torch begins to dim if the dying battery isn't producing enough electricity. ( or you may produce enough electricity but your circuits are wrong and it gets diverted to the wrong places; I see that you have had ablations and your circuitry may be abnormal )

But to go down the magnesium route you then have to ask " How does the heart produce electricity ? " This is complicated and the answer is that it comes from the chemicals which we eat in a normal diet.

Foods contain potassium, calcium, magnesium , sodium, phosphorus ; so called "electrolytes" and these all have a tiny positive or negative electrical charge.

These electrolytes move in and out of the cells in your sinus node and when the positive charge inside the cells becomes high enough it produces surges of electricity which travel down the nerves and makes the heart beat.

Regrettably, like all body parts, with general wear and tear , the electricity-producing system may become less
efficient over time.

Magnesium, like the other electrolytes , does play a part in producing electricity. In fact intra -venous magnesium is used to treat some arrythmias ; but to say that magnesium supplements " WILL get rid of your heart problems " is ludicrous !

If you are definitely magnesium-deficient though there is growing evidence that topping up your magnesium levels with supplements may help your heart.

A healthy diet should give you all the magnesium that you need I.M.H.O. so dig into those green vegetables and nuts; but if you are sold on the idea you could always ask your Dr to check your magnesium levels.

As for soaking your feet in Mg oil; virtually no magnesium will be absorbed through the skin and it sounds like witchcraft to me. If electrolytes were that easily absorbed, every time you swim in the sea your body would fill up with sodium.

Did your friend recommend snake oil as well ?

Best of luck

Ian

Causes of slow heart rate

by Selwyn - 2015-10-05 12:10:38

Some Drugs:e.g..Betablockers.Calcium-channel blockers.Digoxin.Verapramil etc.
Glandular : Hypothyroidism.Hypoadenralism (eg. Addison's disease)
Hypothermia.
Damage to heart :
Myocarditis due to various causes, infarction, sick sinus rhythm, ischaemia, tamponade
Electrolyte disturbances
Lastly, and most commonly - vagal stimulation ( eg. common faint)

Rubbing something on to skin is not going to help the problem.

You should certainly be talking to a doctor you have confidence in!

Selwyn

Lol snake oil

by Lisamaruna - 2015-10-06 01:10:57

Ok I was talking about transdermal magnesium oil. My friend is Glen Parnahm at www.ihsite.com
He recommended this to me years ago after my first ablation and I never really stuck to soaking the feet.
I don't know if I would have done it if I would be in the same spot I am in now. I think his may be more complicated although I am sure certain supplements may help with mabey energy.
I guess I am scared to start the Metropolol again and feel run down. I feel crappy enough already. I am just not sure if these extra beats are going to cause long term trouble down the road or if I can just put up with the beats that is what I have to ask,

down the road

by Tracey_E - 2015-10-06 12:10:25

No, the extra beats are not going to cause trouble down the road. Nearly everyone is tired on beta blockers, some just at first, some long term.

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

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