Effects of cucurmin or curry powder on AF?

[oscarfox49]

Yesterday, for the first time for a couple of years, when I monitored my pulse in the morning when feeling a bit breathlessness I found my pulse rate was 120 at rest. And my pulse was also very irregular with what was clearly noticeable AF. I confirmed this on both an oximeter/pulse meter and my regular arm BP device. Whatever I did, relaxing lying on the floor, making myself do a short walk, trying to ignore it, the reading remained very high.

I know I am in permanent AF but this is normally controlled fine by Sotalol and my normal resting pulse rate is 60.

To cut a long story short, I spent all day feeling below par but trying to remain fairly active, such as taking the dog for his walk, but the high pulse rate remained stubbornly around 120 until quite late in the afternoon when it reduced (after some physical work, sitting down, but quite energetic!) to 80 and by evening it was back to a normal 65 to much relief.

The question is, could it be turmeric or other ingredients in curry powder? I ate some veggie burgers the night before to which my wife admitted to me, she had added curry powder and a few other herbs and spices.

A Google revealed that some believe turmeric is actually good for AF and has been used as an anti inflammatory treatment; but also, others claim it is a trigger for AF and should not be used.

What are the experiences of this in this group? Is it likely to have been the curry powder and should I steer clear of turmeric containing things in future?

[BobD Volunteer]

Turmeric I believe is a natural anticoagulant but to be honest the amount used in cooking should not adversly affect anybody and may actually have benefits. Obviously when people try to use it instead of proper medical anticoagulants they can run into trouble as the amounts are much much higher and not quantifiable in terms of efficacy. There was a much publicised case a few years ago of a gentleman who was brewing and drinking his own concoction using amonst other things turmeric and ginger and died of a massive gastric bleed.

In conclusion fine in food not as a drug.

[Luludean in reply to BobD]

bob d, I feel a bit luddite!! I am amazed by the time people spend monitoring themselves and fretting about what seem teeny hiccups in their digestion.

I have persistent AF , have had mitral valve repair , got RA etc . Trouble getting to see GO , noot seen my cardiologist in a year, rheumatologist much much more absent!! But, If I do not keep in contact with people, read, paint or garden , walk or cook I’d be in a straight jacket!!

Does all this chasing / reading the latest often conflicting medical articles , help? Or, bewilder and frighten ?

On a mundsne note, I have no BP monitor , no “ coralive” , fit bit things.

Feel a bit behind the times now .. where would I get them ? And, who would I realistically report readings to? .. to whom ?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Luludean]

Good for you. Lulu. IMHO these gadgets generate anxiety which feeds the habbit. I had a Kardia given to me when Dr Dave first came to UK to test and appraise. I often joke that I didn't start to feel better till the battery went flat.

Still we are all different and if it makes people happy who am I to complain. You stick to your guns.

[Luludean in reply to BobD]

thank the lord for humour!!

[Qualipop in reply to BobD]

Totally agree. Only gadget i have is a BP monitor only used if and when the G P asks me to keep a record. My son has no health problems but has every gadget under the sun to record his sleep, his pulse, his BP and regularly rings me to ask "Is this ok or should I be worried?". He obviously is worried because of the gadgets. He's developed health anxiety. OK it did once indicate sleep apnoea which he banished by losing weight. I'd be an absolute nervous wreck if I was constantly monitoring everything. Now off to try to calm down enough to just take my BP as the G P requested but I get so anxious about it being high, it always is. I guess if you're a serious athlete then they may help but for most people they just cause anxiety.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Luludean]

Hi

I have only a cuff Microlife BP monitor which has a memory too of Systolic, Diastolic and Heart Rate. I used to get a ERRR..R. if it didn't like my reading.

Then last year a Clincician told me I had a Soft Heart Murmur.

I'll pass on expensive Smart Phones, Apple Watch, ECGs etc.

Honestly people pay out heaps on these gadgets.

It's how you feel. If symptoms are too much emergency check up is necessary.

I've never rung my St John's Alarm except for a fall and I couldn't see all of me for damage. What a bruise developing 24 hours later. An icepack stopped bruising on my coccyx but upper arm a shock.

Almost 4 years post Embolic Stroke (Ischaemic) I am controlled by CCB Diltiazem 120mg AM for rapid H/R Day was 120plus at rest and BB Bisoprolol 2.5 PM.

I use the BP monitor about 4 times a month. To check surprises.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Autumn_Leaves]

Whilst I’d never say never, the amount of turmeric your wife added to the recipe is highly unlikely to produce any significant effect because the amount of active curcumin it contains will be minuscule. The same goes for the curry spices. I use turmeric, chilli, cumin, coriander, ginger, paprika, you name it, nearly every day and I’m OK with it. But I’m just an anecdote and what applies to me won’t necessarily apply to you or anyone else.

Playing food detective is a recipe for health anxiety, you’ll drive yourself mad if you’re not careful. By all means cut these things out and try reintroducing the “culprits” after a few weeks, then see what happens. It may well be that nothing happens. And then you can get back to enjoying your food and living your life.

[Luludean in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

brilliant reply autumn leaves!!

Common sense !

[Threecats]

Hi

I’m in persistent AF with a normal resting rate in the low 70s and for the majority of the time I forget I’m in AF at all but, if I have anything with chilli powder in it my ticker takes off and will hit 120 or more for several hours afterwards before settling back down again. Small amounts of turmeric are ok for me but I did try some curcumin capsules a while ago that were a no-no as far as my ticker was concerned!

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Threecats]

Hi

Like you in RAPID PERSISTENT AF I don't feel (got a bowed ribcage).

Interesting about the spice thing.

By isolating a spice to see if it does have an effect is a good start to feeling different.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Peacefulneedshelp in reply to Threecats]

Have you thought that this could be an allergic reaction? When this happens to me I take something that is like Alka seltzer gold. (Because I am with that company) that has been recommended by a friends son’s allergic. I tried it when I feel like you’re describing and it worked nicely. Now I use my product and it works nicely also. Do your homework on the Alka Seltzer gold which does not have aspirin in it.

I am not saying to eat things that set you off, but sometimes we just don’t know. I dealt with MSG for years and learned wheat is just as bad. Never knew wheat and MSG was in so many things we eat. MSG has somewhat disappeared but I have read articles saying they are trying to use it as a salt substitute because here in the state they are deciding we all eat too much salt. To me MSG is way worse. Just my thoughts on this.

[Threecats in reply to Peacefulneedshelp]

Some interesting thoughts, Peaceful, thank you. You are quite right, often it’s the hidden ingredient in something that can trigger us off.

[CDreamer]

I’m good with all spices and eat them in some form every day, including Tumeric Lattes but some people find some spices, especially hot spices (Tumeric is not) cause gastric problems which could irritate and trigger higher HR.

I find that if I am below par or have any infection, I am much more susceptible to HR increase - whatever I eat or drink.

Hope you feel better soon.

[secondtry]

If your Vagus Nerve is very sensitive it is just possible something unusual to eat or drink could trigger an episode. I have done that with a cold drink gulped down in the heat.

[Windlepoons]

I consume spices frequently and take 2 tiny turmeric tablets a day without any ill effect. I usually have AF episodes every 3 to 4 weeks but have had 3 episodes this week, with a day off for good behaviour between each one! Unusual for me. However as I monitor the influences of solar activity, and have done for years, there are strong electromagnetic energies this week ( solar wind from coronal hole and cme) which usually kicks me off. To everyone that thinks I'm crackers, there are scientific papers written about the effects of solar activity on the human heart. We are electromagnetic beings. 🤔☺️

[Cabinessence]

From reading the above I think it's another case of different strokes for different folks. Alcohol, even the amount in a 500ml bottle of 0.5% beer, is enough to trigger an episode in me, whereas many of you lucky so and so's can enjoy a drink or three without any repercussions. Listen to your body.

[2learn]

Hi, as other people have said the amounts used in cooking are relatively small and unlikely to be harmful. Howeve, with any kind of food alergy such as nuts, gluten etc for some people it can take only a small amount to generate an adverse effect. You could have the same meal again and see if you have same result, if so it could be something in meal, but not necessarily the spices.

[momist]

Everyone is different. A very cold beer from the fridge will set off my AF, while others claim a cold drink can stop theirs. I avoid curries when I'm in AF, as my first ever session was, I think, made worse by a Lamb Jalfrezi with fresh green chillies (and probably turmeric).

[Singwell]

It's natural you're looking for a cause if the AF behaved differently than usual. You listened to your body, noticed a change that presumably felt uncomfortable, and wondered why. It's unlikely to be the turmeric itself but it's possible something about the meal caused you some digestive distress - perhaps in the night while your.body was processing it - and perhaps that caused the higher heart rate.

[Sustainedvtach270]

Hello Oscar, last year I overindulged myself in an Indian restaurant (1 of my favorite foods), the night after my heart rate went up and I converted to afib. Same thing last night, I ate some dates, although it is natural sugar, it put me into heart rate 120s and afib. I put my head under cold water and did some slow nasal breathing to bring me back in my normal HR of 50.I am very strict with my diet, so my body is very sensitive to any change...

Thierry