sparking/carbonated water and AF

[LouBrig]

I had an episode of AF following consumption 2.5 litres of fizzy water. I can’t think what else it could have been. Is it a known trigger?

[BobD Volunteer]

No but 2.5 litres of anything is a lot in one go.

[LouBrig in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob. It was over the course of 6 hours. I was out with friends, who were drinking alcohol. I tried it instead of plain water.

[Threecats]

Hi Loubrig,

I’ve triggered an episode through drinking a couple of glasses of water over the course of an evening, once. It was flat, not sparkling and probably equated to a pint. I imagine it affected my electrolyte balance, - didn’t give such things any thought back then🙄

[LouBrig in reply to Threecats]

Thanks

[secondtry]

I think it is a trigger. No scientific rationale I am afraid, just I believe if you are near the AF threshold (due to other factors) and have vagally mediated PAF then the gas can push the vagal nerve tipping you into an episode. I don't drink it.

[LouBrig in reply to secondtry]

Thanks for replying. Something else to add to the list to avoid. Do you have any tips for calming the Vagal Nerve? I take Magnesium Taurate already and have booked a GP appointment to have levels of vitamin D & Potassium checked.

[secondtry in reply to LouBrig]

Yes, I have worked continuously on lowering stress and improving my gastro health,as the Vagus Nerve runs from the brain to the stomach via the heart. If the gastro side is not in good condition I believe it sends stress waves to the brain to add to any emotional/work stress.

My understanding of the Vagus Nerve (when sensitive) of AFers, using an analogy, is like a stuck choke on old engines. Yes you do need it out at times but it should go back when things run normally. Due to various stress issues it stays stuck out and then becomes a contributory factor to an episode triggering. I have sought to correct this by a long period of all stress reduction and only now after 8 years am I beginning to increase stress but in only a limited way in business - never going back to my old bad ways!

Lastly, I was advised to take CoQ10 with Mg.

[LouBrig in reply to secondtry]

I’ll try adding CoQ10 x

[JonathanPittsCrick]

Anything that stimulates the vagus nerve, such as a distended stomach, can be a trigger for AF. In addition, drinking large volumes of water can lead to a low potassium level in the blood which makes the heart unstable - there is no benefit from this kind of excessive fluid intake.

[LouBrig in reply to JonathanPittsCrick]

Thanks Jonathan.

[Mugsy15]

i don't touch fizzy pop, for 2 reasons: it is almost always loaded with at least one nasty sweetener, which for me is a surefire trigger. And the gas it puts in one's gut can cause bloating - another very common trigger because (so the received wisdom goes) in many people the bloated section of the digestive system pushes directly on the heart.

Many people on here identify alcohol as a definite trigger and abstain. In my case (we're all different) I would've been less likely to trigger arrythmia if I'd drank beer with the rest of the company rather than anything with sweeteners, especially of the artificial variety. Beer is carbonated, of course, but is far less gassy than pop (or 'soda' if you're stateside).

I can't drink red wine or whisky though, something in those causes my heart to perform a prolonged jazz drumming solo! Sulphites is/are a prime suspect, I've read.

[LouBrig in reply to Mugsy15]

Thanks Mugsy15. Very, very helpful.

[Ppiman]

The stomach and intestines easily and naturally distend when full of liquids, food or gas and push the diaphragm against the heart. This easily sets off ectopic beats which can then trigger AF in prone individuals.

Steve

[LouBrig in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks

[Hidden]

I doubt the sparkling water is a trigger, maybe the volume was, or maybe a random correlation! I don’t drink alcohol but drink sparkling water.

[Tomred]

If it made you run to the loo and caused dehydration to ensue, maybe it may help trigger , i drink it daily myself some days no afib and some days afib , hard to find the triggers.

[Bigandy]

Perhaps it was the meeting itself, old memories or reminiscences with friends.

[Autumn_Leaves]

Too much water wull cause a drop in sodium, which is an important electrolyte. When I’ve had my venesection treatments for haemochromatosis, I’m advised to drink extra water beforehand to counteract the loss of blood volume. My blood is always drawn and sent off to the lab immediately afterwards and low serum sodium is a frequent finding. Over consumption of water is the most obvious cause of low sodium and I probably overdid it on venesection days. Personally, I don’t avoid fizzy water but whether it’s flat or fizzy, you need to pace your water consumption to avoid electrolyte imbalances. I don’t know whether you have been advised to avoid salt, but as my BP is rather on the low side I can get away with a little bit of added salt. With AF you’re always going to have “just done” something that may or may not have played a role. Whether it’s actually the case is impossible to determine.

[LouBrig in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Finding a cause appears to be a road to madness!

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to LouBrig]

Oh yes, it certainly is. I call it “playing symptom detective”. 😜

[Dollcollector]

l was strongly advised by a cardiologist not to drink fizzy drinks, as they can trigger an a.f episode.

[LouBrig in reply to Dollcollector]

That’s really interesting. My EP told me no alcohol or red wine.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to LouBrig]

No fun, no triggers! 🤣

[Dollcollector in reply to LouBrig]

l was also told no alcohol of any kind and no caffeine. The only one l haven't stuck to is caffeine. I have 1cup of tea with my breakfast and the occasional cup of hot chocolate with no ill effects.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Dollcollector]

But is that the fizz he was warning about or is it another ingredient like caffeine in coke, for example? Or did he specifically mean the bubbles?

[Dollcollector in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Any fizzy drink whatsoever.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Dollcollector]

He must include water in that case. I don’t do the cokes and the confectionery types of fizzy drinks but I’ve avoided those long before afib so they aren’t anything that has “triggered” me. Last time I had AF I’d had an avocado a few hours before — well, amongst other things like raspberries, almonds and spinach — so let’s see if I’m triggered by having avocado again. Since I don’t eat them very often. I’ve had half an avocado this evening.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Now I know I can’t blame the avocado. Didn’t think it was likely anyway.

[jwsonoma]

Hi Lou,

look up vagal manoeuvre on youtube. There should be plenty of examples. They haven't worked for me but they help a lot of people.

I was told even a small bag of crisps would replenish any lost sodium.

I drink n/a beer. took some getting used too but my cardiologist is adamant about no alcohol to help keep Afib at bay. Good luck

[LouBrig]

Thanks. Yes tried all the vagal manoeuvres and they don’t work for me either.