AFib

There are a lot of thoughts over on the Afib forum that low-carb exacerbates Afib. As a proponent of both, any thoughts please.

Di

[Sewnknit]

Interesting - my mum had AF and so do 2 of my brothers. I haven't been checked out (yet).

Any science behind this?

[Hidden in reply to Sewnknit]

No idea but my son has told me this morning he now has it xx

[cheritorrox]

Sorry can't help - do the people saying that actually quote some science? i only ask as we all know the "cholesterol" worries are just a myth so would be interesting to know where this comes from (I plead to knowing nothing about AF so apologies if this sounds sceptical ... just got used to being cynical I guess!)

[Penel]

This is a readable account of the research

healthline.com/health-news/...?

There seems to be no definitive cause and effect, only a correlation.

It may be that people following a low carb diet gave up eating any vegetables. It may be that the original reason they started the diet was because they were obese or diabetic and these conditions are associated with AFib.

My husband had AFib many years ago. He’s now fitted with a pace maker, is following a fairly low carb diet and doing well.

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to Penel]

The article seems to one of those implying that veganism is the answer, but I would humbly suggest that since proper LCHF is a "whole foods plant-based diet", the author may be labouring under some sort of misconception.

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador]

Not impossible, I guess. AF has multiple possible causes, including some in that big category "unknown". There may be some situations where LCHF would exacerbate the problem, and I wouldn't suggest that it's a magic bullet for people with AF, or that people who find it makes their symptoms worse should persevere with it. Bear in mind, though, that a fair number of cases are caused by decades of low-fat high-carb eating (that is, general cardiovascular damage leading eventually to AF). So the chances of any given individual seeing some benefit is higher than the chances of him/her making things worse.

I suppose the problem is that you only get to hear from the people who have problems. You have no way of knowing from forum reports how many are eating LCHF and doing just fine - because if people are doing fine, they tend not to make much noise about it.

Similarly, you're unlikely to hear from people who are eating a Government-standard "healthy diet", because ... well, they're eating a healthy diet, right? Can't possibly have any negative influence on their heart health!

So ... lots of bias in unofficial surveys.

Also, as Penel said, a lot of people who think they're "doing LCHF" have got completely the wrong end of the stick. Although there's a fair amount of flexibility, a common mistake is eating a high-protein low-carb diet, or attempting to do low-salt and low-carb.

[Praveen55]

Hidden

From dietdoctor.com website.

Please follow the link below for what Dr Bret Scher has to say about AFib and low carb.

Dr. Bret Scher is a board certified cardiologist and lipidologist practicing in San Diego. He’s our full-time Medical Director, writes medical blogs, reviews guides and news stories for medical accuracy and hosts The Diet Doctor Podcast.

dietdoctor.com/inaccurate-n...

[Hidden]

Many thanks

[Sewnknit]

Well that will teach me! I've just got back from spending most of the day in a +e at the hospital where I work. It helps bit when you're 'one of us', but the shock is just kicking in. It looks like I've had it some time. Now stuffed full of Beta blockers and looking forward to a cardio version.

I am going to stick with the LCHF as it keeps me full and the extra weight has got to go.

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to Sewnknit]

wow ... that must be a bit of a shock. I would try not to worry overmuch though. Doctors do love to dose people up with pills, but as far as I'm aware AF is mostly harmless, just disconcerting. The main risk is clots forming during an episode of abnormal heart rhythm.

My mum had AF that appeared to be stress-related; it resolved itself. The S.O. had an ectopic pacemaker which occasionally caused an excessively-fast heartrate (not AF). She had surgery for that that seemed successful. Do keep us updated on your progress, it will be interesting to see if the situation improves after you've lost the excess baggage.

Did they tell you you have to go on a low-everything diet?

[Sewnknit in reply to TheAwfulToad]

I think they were so impressed with my weight loss they couldn't!

The beta blockers are hard going, but the doc I saw today suggested shifting the time I take them. Beta blockers until the cardio and the anti consultants for 6 weeks after. Fingers crossed.

[Hidden in reply to Sewnknit]

My son has just been diagnosed. He has to take Bisoprolol for 3 weeks until he has his cardio plus anticoagulants. Have they not given you one?

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to Sewnknit]

>> anti consultants

Awesome autocorrect failure there. God save us from the doctors

[Sewnknit in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Doh! They were all super though.

[Sewnknit]

Yes, bisprolol and an anti-coagulant. I had to go back in to work this morning for 'counselling' AKA a pep talk about them. I've got to wait 6 weeks. Not sure if that is the process in my trust, or because its been going on for a while.

Going to be a long 6 weeks.

[Hidden in reply to Sewnknit]

Nick has private health so they said he’d seen the cardiologist too soon and had to wait 3 weeks.