Can saline nasal spray trigger AF!

[50568789]

This might seem a bit out there, but since having a statin added to my prescription (includes atenolol and Rivaroxaban as well as diabetic and BP stuff) I've had ongoing catarrh and congestion. Self medicating, of course, I thought I would try a simple saline nasal spray to see if it helped, couldn't do much harm. Tried it one day and a couple of hours later went into AF. Could have been other triggers, quite possible it was pure coincidence, but feel very hesitant about trying again. So the AF passed over but the heavy catarrh goes on. Any thoughts, anybody?

[BobD Volunteer]

If you think it will. It will. AF is like that.

Doesn't need a reason though for sure decongestant sprays can increase HR and possibly trigger AF

[CDreamer]

I use saline spray and rinse every day and it has never in itself triggered AF for me but as BobD says - if you think it, it often does.

I find the squeezy bottle sinus rinse is more effective for clearing catarrh in sinus passage and steam if it has gone to my chest. The saline spray is quite good for hay fever and dry passages caused by environment though - try warming the container in bowl of warm water before you use it - could have been the shock of the cold?

[MarkS in reply to CDreamer]

I use the squeezy bottle as well and have never had a problem with AF. I make sure the water in the bottle is up to blood temperature by sticking it in he microwave for 20-30 secs. As CDreamer says, a saline spray is OK for a dry nose but I found it useless for a blocked nose.

[CDreamer]

I’m sure I don’t need to say this but just in case - please don’t put a metal container in the microwave. The squeezy bottle we are talking about is one you use to mix up your own solution so has a fair amount of water in and the bottle is all plastic.

[JoniM]

I had two occasions where saline spray triggered afib. One could argue it was a spurious correlation, but in both cases the afib started immediately after the saline hit so I just stopped with the saline spray. It seems to be reasonable to assume a strong sudden inhalation of saline could precipitate an episode just as a diet heavy in salt might also. I have cut back significantly on fried, heavily salty foods but my last afib episode happened after an impulsive ingestion of potato chips. Maybe a coincidence. I’m sure there are many people who will not have this reaction to saline spray. You and I may be the unlucky ones 😬. On a related and curious note, there is current research in clinical trials looking at a nasal spray that can stop a fib episodes in average 20 minutes or so after ingestion. I keep hoping it will get FDA approval soon.

[50568789 in reply to JoniM]

I was thinking of giving it another go, but now you've made me swing the other way! Perhaps it's not worth the risk of trying it again.Regarding nasal spray, as part of my diagnosis (suspected angina, but it wasn't) I was prescribed GTN spray if I felt the tightness in the throat which alerts me to AF. I used it once, and the AF stopped an hour or so later. The cardiologist said this was pure coincidence, the AF must have been about to stop anyway and I should stop using GTN as I didn't have angina. All that may be, or not, but wouldn't it be a good thing if there was a nasal or throat spray that stopped an AF episode in its tracks (we can only dream).

[JoniM]

Interesting. I often get a tightness in my throat as afib episode is coming on. The problem is if one’s afib episodes are variable it’s just hard to know if it’s only a coincidence. But my reaction to the nasal spray was so immediate on several occasions that it seemed likely connected. Sadly I do think many doctors’ immediate reaction to these things is to dismiss it as not related. And they may be right, but maybe not. My afib is better controlled now with metoprolol and flecainide so I am having fewer episodes and some foods and activities seem less apt to trigger it than before. I keep a journal of episodes and find that it is often some combination of activity/sleep/diet and stress factors that can lead to afib episodes. So I try to keep as many of these things in balance as possible. It’s still a work in progress! And yes I am still hoping for the magic quick acting nasal spray, but then hope springs eternal 😊