I have written on here before about the fact that when I have been to A and E , when first diagnosed with AF, my potassium levels were below range. After upping potassium in my diet (food, not supplements,) I have had intervals between AF episodes varying from one year to three years.
My BP recently rose and I started on Ramipril which tends to make one retain Potassium. I therefore stopped bananas, salmon and the skin of jacket potatoes , thinking I might start AF if my Potassium levels were too high.
So, last weekend, after having a tree on the line on the way to Kings Lynn for a concert, my BP was very high during the night. I had an irregular pulse for a short time but then had a very fast regular pulse and felt really ill. I rang 999 and the responder asked me to count my pulse out loud- he quickly said,"we'll send someone straight away!!" So I ended up in Kings Lynn A and E for the night ( I'm from Surrey!)
Interesting thing was my Potassium was below range when tested in A and E . Because I've recently been put on Ramipril I have blood test results for 2 days earlier where my potassium was in range. I've now started on the high potassium food again and have to have another blood test tomorrow- will be able to check levels then.
Because I don't have a AF very often now, it was almost as if I was trying to go into AF because of low potassium and then it switched to the very rapid tachycardia.
Ive been fine since changing diet back so will be interesting to see what test result /levels of Potassium are tomorrow.
This rather long-winded story may be of interest to others who have wondered about effect of potassium levels!!
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rosyG
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This is very interesting rosy . What rate were you when fast ? My potassium is usually in range these days . I take magnesium glycinate which I credit for keeping me in NSR for the best part of 12 months ( bar one episode 7 months ago). A recent record for me.
Do let us know how your levels go after reverting to your previous diet.
No, I have vagal AF and so beta blockers etc are not suitable, Just apixaban and magnesium and the extra potassium in food. A And E just took bloods, checked BP at intervals as it was very high and waited for HR to settle!!
You’re right- I have Vagal AF but upping potassium in food has held it at bay. Point of my ( long winded!) post was to show what happened when I lowered potassium.
Funny enough I got a bad bout of AF when doing the London to Paris cycle ride and ate too many bananas as fuel. 5 was obviously too many as the maximum daily amount should not exceed 2. So I guess it goes both ways but like Yatsura above I have found high dose magnesium has almost stopped the AF.
Sorry to hear about your experiences - if your serum levels were low - I wonder what your cell levels are? I do think maintaining electrolytes is so important. I’ve never had a problem with potassium levels but it is worrying to realise just how drugs affect us.
I've also noticed that having adequate potassium allows me to have less AFib events. In order to keep my levels up I try to eat small amounts of moringa (ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/po... several times a week in stir-fries soups and blender drinks. Living in Hawaii it's easy for me to grow but in colder climates I believe it's available dried.
That must have been a very scary experience for you. So, in short you think that if you have the right level if potassium then no vagal AF. How do you know if one has vagal AF?
it happens at night, on relaxing, or after large meals- but mainly at night- it's when the sympathetic nervous system , which is liked with the majority of AF activity is overtaken by the autonomic system and the vagal nerve comes into play, slowing the heart down at rest. Lots of people have both types of AF but a minority have vagal AF and it has to be treated differently- no beta blockers for digoxin for example as these can worsen things.
Yes, potassium reduced episodes from every 2-4 weeks for about 7 months, to 1-3 yearly as soon as I increased potassium in food. Potassium supplements of course are dangerous as would cause arrhythmias if potassium levels are too high.
Hi Rosie And sorry to hear from you that you had a bad episode. I hope you get back under control soon. I know you will certainly try.
My recent blood test results for everything are the best they have ever been and still no AF. I can only imagine that my extremely boringly healthy lifestyle is having an effect!
No ANYTHING except exercise ( moderate of course ). If I ever make it to a grand old age just watch this space while all my old vices come flooding back.
I would say be careful-those considering upping your potassium intake have test first. High levels can be dangerous. I had test and mine slightly above normal range.
That sounds unpleasant. Poor you. As I understand it from various doctors Potassium and magnesium levels can both be reduced by stress and anxiety levels and the inflammation they create. (And also troponin can be raised but that's another story). That explained to me the difference between potassium and magnesium levels which were normal at a recent pre-op test but were markedly different and very low post op - after I'd had anaesthetic and complications. Luckily I love bananas and green veg! I hope your AF quietens down again.
came across your post because I’m looking into potassium levels. Long story short, I ended up in the ER with svt (heart rate of 170) with low potassium. I’d had labs just a few months back showing normal levels. Anyway, they gave me some potassium and I went in about a week later to check my levels. I was feeling dizzy and cramps and thought I’d gone low again. Here’s the weird/interesting part. I got the blood draw at a lab but then stopped by the ER on the way home because of the lightheaded feeling. They, too, drew blood for potassium. The lab result was 4.4 but the Er result (just 1.5 hours later) was only 3.7–low enough to cause symptoms for me. I’ve looked into this and apparently potassium done at the lab can be falsely high because of the way it’s sometimes handled. You can google this and see for yourself. It’s a pretty scary reality, given that being low (or high) can be dangerous.
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For those monitoring/supplementing their potassium levels
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