Anemia and afib

[redshock11]

Anyone ever has iron deficiency anemia detected? Does being anemic worsen af? Did af get better after the anemia is corrected?

[CDreamer]

Interesting question - to my knowledge it would have no affect on AF.

I have been mildly - moderately anaemic most of my life, cause unknown, multiple melons have just been ruled out, so I am working with diet as I do not ever want to go through the agony of iron injections and/or iron tablets ever again!

Have you had your B12, folate & ferric levels checked? What have your doctors suggested as a treatment plan? Have you consulted a Nutritionist?

[redshock11 in reply to CDreamer]

I have a degree in human nutrition although i do not work as a nutritionist.

I will be discussing with the doctor again next week. My father with AF is now taking more iron in his diet and supplement. His current blood test results on red blood cells indicates his iron content is low.

Three months ago, doc ordered checks for stomach and colon bleeding but came back negative. The colon doc suggested dietary cause. After i analysed it, i suspect dietary could be the cause. To confirm it, i will have to get his blood test again in three months time.

[CDreamer in reply to redshock11]

I think it pays to keep a track of these Bloods - our surgery GPs are very good with testing me very regularly.

[CDreamer in reply to redshock11]

Melomas - not melons!

[BobD Volunteer]

Indeed interesting. I have never heard of this happening unlike iron overload. This IS known to cause AF.

[10gingercats]

My afib. is unafected by anaemia .I take a ferrous sulphate tab. daily without which my haem. would drop drastically.No known reason as to why I have anaemia other than I have coeliac disease and they can go together.

[redshock11 in reply to 10gingercats]

I think i read before coeliac disease can cause you to bleed internally. Taking blood thinner will make that more likely to happen.

[10gingercats in reply to redshock11]

Not to my knowledge and not with me.I have been checked for blood losses.

[Hidden]

A low ferritin count can contribute towards a fast heart rate which , in those susceptible can trigger AF. This has happened in my case.

Difficult to say to what extent iron supplements helped in my case. I assume they did. I certainly noticed that when my iron stores fell under range I was having more tachycardic episodes.

[redshock11]

I have just come across a study that indicates low iron status made one twice as likely to get a stroke. The reason is the platelets are more sticky if one is low in iron.

I have already switched my father with AF to a multi vitamin with some high absorption iron content instead of a iron free one since he seldom take red meat.

[Hidden in reply to redshock11]

This from 2014

imperial.ac.uk/news/142906/...

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Very helpful thanks - I have large pulmonary veins, sticky blood & anaemia but it explains a lot!

[10gingercats in reply to Hidden]

Thank you oyster......very interesting.I was particularly interested in the hole in the heart problem and clots.I had mine closed after a TIA in 2010 and felt so well after it had been done....over night in fact .I suspect i had been a ticking time bomb for years.The surgeon was pretty anxious to get it done saying 'what are you doing next Tuesday.I have a space'!!

[10gingercats in reply to redshock11]

Interestingly, I have been a 'normal' meat eater and then i was a strict vegetarian for 20 years. Now eat very little meat and rarely red meat. Throughout i have been anaemic......more or less .My diet is good with plenty of fresh dark greens grains and salads

[redshock11 in reply to 10gingercats]

Fresh dark green are non heme iron that is not well absorbed unless u are taking vitamin c with it. To make thing worse, some components in wholegrains and vegetables can further decrease iron absorption.