SVT episodes in the night

[HowMyHeartSings]

Hi - I am now on 2.5mg of Bisoprolol twice a day for my atrial tachycardia. In the night I get two or three episodes of feeling very hot and clammy but then they don’t result in a fast heart rate but a tight chest. Are these episodes of SVT that are being dampened by the beta-blocker? I’m not sure of the physical processes.

[Shcldavies]

I cannot answer your question but I will say your heart is possibly irritated and you need to get it back to "normal". There are all sorts of things it could be and only a Dr and some examination/tests may get to the bottom of it. I can offer some self help suggestions for now:

Stop alcohol and caffeine

Drink more water, even through the night if your awake (and a glass first thing in the morning). Do not drink too much and increase you intake gradually.

Foods your eating may be the root cause so look to see if the episodes are more prevalent after certain foods.

Make sure your electorates in your cells are normal (easier said than done but this could be the problem), electrolytes in your blood may give an indication of some shortfalls but will not provide a definitive count in your cells.

Your dose of Bisopropolol may need to reduced as your HR may be dropping too low overnight leaving time for the foci in your heart to generate abnormal signals. Do not reduce the dose yourself, see a Dr for any change in medication.

You could try taking the Bisoprolol in the morning (if you don't already) as that will leave the least dose in your system overnight and reduce the chance of your foci firing abnormal signals.

I would also try magnesium supplements (not oxide) to see if they help (nearly all of us have a shortage of magnesium).

Potassium/iron supplements may help but too high a dose may make things worst (many have a shortage of these but some have too much).

You may also have too much calcium/sodium for your heart but I cannot advise how to fix this.

So its a bit of trial and error, nothing is going to work straight away, you will have to stick with it for a few weeks/months, though you may see some improvement after a few days.

[HowMyHeartSings in reply to Shcldavies]

Thank you. Any idea how you get tested for the various levels of these elements in the body? Private blood tests? I've just started taking something called a Cal-Mag Citrate made by Thorne - it says 'Magnesium as Citrate/Ascorbate reached from Magnesium oxide' - is that OK? I know I have to educate myself far better on all these things but hugely appreciate your kind help as I'm at the beginning of living with this Atrial Tachycardia.

[Shcldavies in reply to HowMyHeartSings]

I do not know about the magnesium your taking, just that magnesium oxide is ineffective as it does not get absorbed well and can make you go to the toilet often. When taking magnesium you should not take any PPIs as your stomach needs acid to absorb it (and you need good levels of vitamin D).

I know that people have gone private for the cellular electrolyte count, I did not, I just took magnesium Taurate initially then "Heart Calm" which also contains potassium, Q10 and other heart calming ingredients (I get heart calm online from the manufacturer in the US). I also eat more avocado and banana to boot magnesium and potassium. Sodium and mainly calcium makes your heart contract and potassium relaxes it, magnesium is needed to get the balance right but magnesium cannot get the balance right if you do not have the right amounts of calcium and potassium in the first place, too little iron depletes your potassium so it really is a bit of trial and error to replenish any electrolyte shortfall. Thankfully our bodies are pretty good at compensating but only up to a point.

If you have not tried it yet the first thing I would do is take an Epsom's Salts bath before bed, use at least 1/2 a packet and soak in a hot bath for at least 20 minutes. This alone could quickly help you symptoms (I forgot to add this in my initial response to you).

If you want to find out about your condition I suggest you go on youtube then search "Yorkcardiology", here you will find Dr Gupta videos, look at the ones on Tachycardia and you will be well informed by a Cardiologist, in fact I would look at all his videos on the heart, they are the best single source of information on our condition and will make you feel much better.

[HamishBoxer]

Magnesium yes,though not Mag Citrate,try Mag Glycinate.Dr,s Best off Ebay is very good.

[HowMyHeartSings in reply to HamishBoxer]

Thanks. Why not Cal-Mag Citrate?

[HamishBoxer in reply to HowMyHeartSings]

Magnesium Citrate has a very good laxative effect. Glycinate I believe can cross the blood brain barrier.