Does low hemoglobin affect atrial fibrilation?

[Vicki1709]

Hi

I have been advised I have extremely low hemoglobin and have been prescribed iron tablets. Prior to this I was diagnosed with AF in 2010 and had cardio version in 2012. Since then my AF has been extremely well managed by taking, flecanide, bisoprolol, ramipril and warfarin. I have led a normal life. But over last few weeks AF symptoms are back!! So was wondering if this is due to low hemoglobin.

[BobD Volunteer]

Not to my knowledge. Surely the haemoglobin is what carries the oxygen around in your blood. I know that carbon monoxide bonds with it so you die from lack of oxygen which is why people with CO poisoning have red faces or so I have read. I guess if your blood is not working properly it may be that affecting your AF but more likely to be a coincidence I feel.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

That makes a lot of sense as being anemic (having low hemoglobin) causes the heart to beat faster. Your heart has to work harder to get the oxygen around, so you may feel short of breath, dizzy, and notice that faster heartbeat. That extra burden on the heart can induce AF in susceptible individuals. I hope you get your anemia treated and your AF symptoms subside soon. Be well.

[Offcut]

My sister has Lupus and has AF both my parents had leukaemia and were diagnosed with AF at the time of diagnosis. I have AF but have not had the low hemoglobin but did have glandular fever which knocked me flat.

[Kingdaddy]

I have a similar concern. I donated blood 23 times over the last 4 years, 5 last year alone, and my biomarkers for iron deficiency, reticulocyte hemoglobin, etc., were all low. On Feb 25th, I made another blood donation without knowing the numbers were so low, and on March 8th I developed persistent AFIB. I believe the 2 are definitely related. Below is an example of the 23 blood donations I made to the Red Cross in the last 4 years (5 in 2021 alone), and how the hemoglobin dropped with almost every donation, to the point of becoming too low. And then AFIB occurred 11 days later. Related? Seems like it to me. And unfortunately, the Red Cross didn't care to discuss this. My concern was, they should inform you if your Hemoglobin levels will drop that dramatically. They don't - they simply tell you you can donate 6 times /year, and I'd get an email reminder every few months it's time to donate again. I simply thought of it as an "oil change", never thought I was creating an issue with my hemoglobin level.

So here's my point. How many times have you heard uncontrolled sleep apnea can lead to AFIB? What is the primary concern with sleep apnea? Low oxygen levels. What's the primary role of hemoglobin? Transferring oxygen in your blood from the lungs to the tissues. If hemoglobin is too low, it is not transferring enough oxygen. So why couldn't low hemoglobin result in triggering AFIB, like sleep apnea can?

Low hemoglobin