Has anyone else noticed a correlation between AF and digestive issues?
I have been diagnosed with Paroxysmal AF. I have begun to notice that when ever I have an episode I also have a lot of bloating and trapped wind. Is there any known correlation and causative element between digestive disorders and AF?
I am vegetarian and have a high fibre diet so gas is something I am used to plus I was diagnosed with irritable bowel a long time ago but going vegetarian seemed to help with that.
Yes, works both ways. If digestive issues get worse when in AF this may be because your circulation is affected by your heart’s erratic behaviour. I don’t usually eat anything for a few hours after AF starts but later I eat very light meals until it settles. Possibly it might help to adjust your diet to reduce gas. Others will probably chip in with info about vagus nerve and so on.
Of course. The vagus nerve (a neural super highway) conects brain to heart, stomach and other organs so they can all be affected. I would suspect your stomach is triggering your AF so maybe look into diet etc.
As Buff and BobD mentioned there can be a correlation between AF and digestive issues. Since you're a vegetarian can you make note of your triggers, ie the specific foods that you've eaten that day. For example possibly bigger quantities in one meal such as those that are particularly fermentable (e.g., beans, cruciferous), leading to increased gas production. Maybe include smaller servings spread out. Other ways are probiotics that can help balance the gut microbiome and reduce symptoms of gas and bloating. And chew your food thoroughly. Another area is common high-FODMAP foods that lead to gas (you can look this up). And getting up and walking after a meal can help stimulate digestion and reduce if not eliminate excess gas. Lastly watch the stress, this can exacerbate both digestive issues and of course AF.
If it persists, seeing either a gastroenterologist and/or cardiologist may be the next step.
Thanks. I have been a vegetarian for many years prior to AF. I did notice a correlation between AF episodes and eating liquorice which I have now eliminated (apparently a known effect of liquorice is rapid reduction in potassium levels leading to arrhythmia).
Like many the AF tends to start very early in the morning at about 3a.m. so not correlated with the actual meals as such.
My main concern was that the drugs I am taking may be a cause of increased flatulence.
I have noticed that AF is very frequently associated with digestive discomfort but my feeling is that the AF starts and the digestive discomfort follows.
The relationship between AF and digestive discomfort can be complex. Out of the medications your taking the statin may cause flatulence (not saying it absolutely does but you may want to record time of day when you take the statin and when it's at it's highest peak in your system).
Another reason may be that AF is triggered or exacerbated by vagal activity (vagus nerve), which tends to be higher at night or early morning. This could explain why AF starts around 3 a.m. I also get flutter episodes this time of morning and do find it challenging.
As I said, all of this can be complex if not interwoven with your own personal health. Keep details what's going and when each day so you have something to present to your doctor. Best to you.
Yes, there most definitely is a connection. Every AF attack l have accompanies burping for England despite changing diet and doing everything necessary to combat this. I have a hiatus hernia which adds to the symptoms. I just accept it now.
I have the same problem, also a hiatus hernia, and have often wondered if there is a connection
Yes there is or certainly can be. Digestive issues and arrhythmia work together to my detriment. One always knocks on to the other without fail in my case.
Hiya,
Yep, absolutely ! No sweat !
I pretty much agree with all the posts so far especially BobD's comments on the Vagal Nerve. As he says it is a kinda information superhighway linking brain - heart and gut. some research, mainly in USA has described it as the body's own 2nd brain. It is just such a power thing. Suggest to try and research this and especially Google a 'Schematic diagram' of the Vagal Nerve.
For myself, having wasted alot of time ( and NHS money ) and got nowhere I consulted a Nutritionist ( Dietician ) and was given a food plan ... going forward and one which I more or less follow today. Cut out foods with traces of Gluten, Wheat and Oats. Keep a food diary ( your memory isn't good enough no matter what you think ) of all other food stuff ........ and remember it isn't just the food - its also all the ingredients used in getting a food onto the supermarket shelves, i.e. preservatives.
For me, my initial symptoms were burping, massive, massive painful bloating under rib cage, left side, and wind. for me the trigger was the massive and painful bloating. I personally have no regard for all this Vegan, Vegetarian stuff, not now anyway ... in terms of gut and cardiac health its all nonsense because if you aggravate/inflame the Vagal Nerve your body will soon tell ya. I ended up working the diary system and ended up over a few years ( its not a quick process ) cutting out onion, cabbage, broccoli, fats, ie. Roast chicken, roast duck, roast pork especially if still got crackling, soft cheeses ........ just to name a few. But Shallots and hard cheeses are fine. You may be able to return to some foods after a few years ... BUT ... it is just not the food per se BUT the hidden ingredients and preservatives that form part of the trigger problem.
Drinks can also have a similar impact, hot/cold, alcoholic/non alcoholic - all play a part in this heart/gut health thingy.
Take a bit of time to read food and drink labels too ......... it'll give you the frighteners ! Bit like a horror story of food.
Anyway, thanks to my Nutritionist and alot of patience I'm now pretty good, still have flare ups if I get careless with food but at least I have avoided surgery and seriously reduced my AF events, probably one every 4 or 5 years, and that's with an aging heart, I was 65 when all this kicked off and turn 80 in September. If you choose to investigate the Nutritionist route look at the BANT website.
I wish you well on your journey of discovery.
John
Yes, completely so; in fact my GP put my fast atrial flutter episode down to my hiatus hernia initially. Bloating can push the stomach high against the diaphragm, too, which can push against the heart and set off ectopic beats; these can lead to AF in prone individuals.
But... after four years of this of that, I am now no clearer and partly convinced that cause and effect might also be the other way around, or both ways. When I have bad ectopic beats or AF sometime, this seems in itself to bring on gastric problems, too. In the end, I am never sure whether it is chicken or egg.
Steve
Yes, my AF episodes are usually accompanied by uncomfortable bloating and (excuse my directness) farting. Not to mention the absurdly frequent and copious weeing. Sorry to anyone who finds that too much information, but you did ask!
Coming towards end of 3 month blanking period and just trying to see what adds up, if anything. Since ablation, no AF or anything related, as far as I know. Stopped alcohol a month before ablation, not a drop since (not voluntary I can tell you). Overall diet pretty much as was, mixed and varied. Have taken Lansoprazole early morning and Gaviscon at night for years due to acid reflux. Somehow (no conscious decision I can recall) I stopped taking the Gaviscon about 6 weeks ago - hasn't made any difference! No issue with reflux during night. Conclusion, maybe, suppression of AF and exclusion of alcohol has allowed vagus nerve to settle?
not so sure if it’s a known correlation but absolutely and many people mentioning the same thing on here - was nearly always the case for me
Yes ,I'm sure AF episodes cause gastric upset,and definitely gastric problems cause AF!My diagnosis of AF came when paramedics were called out to my home,I had norovirus and was in a bad way,passed out in bathroom,etc.
Chicken and egg story!
My AF was diagnosed (just waiting to happen as my 4 sisters have it and we believe so did our late father) after I scratched my leg on a aloe plant in my garden, The cut become infected and I was prescribed an anti-biotic which did not agree with me. After taking the first one and vomiting about 7 times until I was vomiting flecks of blood, I phoned the doctors' rooms and was told to come at once. My HR was 140 BPM and the ECG showed AF. I was then rushed off to a Cardiolgist because the GP was worried the blood indicated some kind of dissection. I spent the weekend in the heart hospital where he had his rooms. As I never had any symptoms, I am grateful to the plant and the anti-biotic, as I would never have been treated and could have suffered a stroke by now.
Yes , me too but recently seems to have calmed down. Not sure why. Only change in diet is I used to eat fruit and yogurt for breakfast. Now don’t have breakfast!!
Yes , me too but recently seems to have calmed down. Not sure why. Only change in diet is I used to eat fruit and yogurt for breakfast. Now don’t have breakfast!!
Hi
Have your gall bladder checked out.
I had a colonoscopy, then mouth to stomach an oesphagusoscopy and the an ultra-sound. Saw little balls. But when I said my grandpa had his out, they did a through the tummy button look.
The small balls were blood balls not 'limestone' and pretty, she disappeared in the solution within days.
Surgeon found that my gall bladder had disintergrated! Was inflamed bits stuck to other surrounding organs. I had 4 portholes so surgeon could remove all bits stuck on surrounding organs.
Never looked back. Episodes of circulating pain. Reflux and off stomach with furred tongue. Great now but I do keep to a low fat diet.
Without a gall bladder bile drips into the stomach all the time.
Just saying truthfully that my Grandpa had his out made all the difference. As a child Mum used to give me dinefinds.? Has alcohol in it.
With reflux always check out gall bladder.
cherio JOY. 75. (NZ)
To suppress gas, try chewing gums. Following a colon rectal cancer, I had terrible gas for years, until I chewed gums. I got some Greek sugar free gums.
Thanks for this! I never made the connection but it makes sense for me. 🙁
Try Iberogast. My gastroenterologist put me onto it … and … for me, it’s a lifesaver.
Thanks everyone. All very helpful. It would appear that for quite a few people there is a correlation although I ma still not sure of causation in either direction.
I will experiment with my diet.
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