Tachycardia & LC

[Belfrybat]

I have a condition called sinus tachycardia where my heart rate will increase to 130+ beats per minute for several hours at a time. Over the years I've learned to stay away from caffeine, alcohol and sudafed. By doing that as well as taking Atenalol daily I minimize the attacks tremendously--EXCEPT when low carbing. Since getting serious (once again) with PP and primarily staying under 40 ECC a day, I'm having three or more tachycardia episodes a week, sometimes lasting 12 hours or more at a time. They are dehibilitating enough that I can only "stay vertical" for an hour at a time, then have to lie down. Alternating being up and lying down in equal amounts is not my idea of fun and games. Usually when an episode begins, taking a half Atenalol will quieten things down, but not when I'm low carbing.

I'm trying to understand more about this phenomena, but I haven't been able to find anything on the 'net that links LC with tachycardia. Does anyone have references or even ideas on why the two might be linked?

It looks like I'm going to be forced into a different eating plan as the past five to six weeks that I've been more faithful to this WOE have just been too hard. It's a pity as my blood sugars are much more stable, but the trade off with the racing heart is wearing me down.

[Gaelen]

BelfryBat, what does your cardiologist say?

[Mitra]

Assuming that you've had the problem checked by your doctor/cardiologist, you could try increasing your carbs just slightly. Maybe going up from 40 per day to transition levels of 50 or 60 (say, about 15 for each meal and another 10 for snacks).

As long as you keep the carbs spread out evenly through the day, a small increase might still keep your blood sugars under control, but allow you to feel better, too.

I wonder if Ca/Mg/K are involved, though when I ate less than 40g per day I felt weak, shaky and as if my heart was racing (though it usually wasn't - just raised very easily), and I never saw any improvement from adjusting my supplements. We rarely change just one thing, and when I increased carbs, I also increased calories, was no longer losing weight (or only very slowly - because I'd reached my goal), and, coincidentally, started eating more red meat, whereas in the early months I'd eaten mainly fish and chicken. So I can't be absolutely certain it was the carb level that changed things for me, though I have once or twice started to feel a bit shaky and unsettled after letting my carb levels go lower for a few days. It doesn't seem to happen to others here, so I've not pursued it very hard - what I'm eating now seems to work.

Like you, I did some googling, and found very little that looked scientific, and as many people who had palpitations/tachycardia resolved by eating low carb as there were people saying they had problems with them.

I think we need some input from a biochemist ;).

[Gaelen]

I wonder if Ca/Mg/K are involved, though when I ate less than 40g per day I felt weak, shaky and as if my heart was racing (though it usually wasn't - just raised very easily), and I never saw any improvement from adjusting my supplements. We rarely change just one thing, and when I increased carbs, I also increased calories, was no longer losing weight (or only very slowly - because I'd reached my goal), and, coincidentally, started eating more red meat, whereas in the early months I'd eaten mainly fish and chicken. So I can't be absolutely certain it was the carb level that changed things for me, though I have once or twice started to feel a bit shaky and unsettled after letting my carb levels go lower for a few days. It doesn't seem to happen to others here, so I've not pursued it very hard - what I'm eating now seems to work.

Actually, I found quite a bit when googling. Diabetes and diabetes meds (if you're pre-diabetic and taking Metformin) are two of the main things listed as affecting true sinus tach; there are also cautions to be sure it truly is sinus tach and hasn't progressed to other variations of tachycardia or additional dysfunction in the sinus node. Calcium, magnesium and potassium levels, all of which affect heart function, absolutely could be affecting/producing tachycardia if they are out of balance for the individual.

As for the slightly increasing carbs and shakiness under 40g ECC...I, too, got shaky at 30g ECC and would not have been able to stay on plan if I hadn't gone up to 40-45g ECC per day. Did I lose as fast? No, although I continued to lose 2-3 lbs. per month. Did I lose more safely? Yes...and I was able to stay on plan, rather than just chucking something that ultimately gave me long-term health improvements.

But unresolved and uncontrolled tachycardia is not a 'just ignore it, it'll go away' health condition...this is something that really does need a doctor's supervision, especially in the pre-diabetic and in people already on meds.

[banshee]

I also have tachycardia and take metoprolol daily to control it. Without it, my resting heart rate is at about 110-120. I haven't found that low carb makes it worse. I'm not sure if it has made it better. I have been able to go from taking the meds twice a day to just once a day, but I don't know if that was from my diet or my exercise or ???

Since the medicine is controlling it for me, I haven't worried to much. I did have a scare last year where I thought the meds weren't working anymore, but it turns out it wasn't tachycardia causing my chest pains and breathlessness, but asthma.

I'm probably not helping since for me, low carb hasn't made things worse and may have made things better, but thought I'd chime in because there can be other medical conditions that make your heart rate go up. In my case it was asthma, and as soon as I had that under control, I've felt a lot better.

[Belfrybat]

Thanks for your replies. I don't currently have a cardiologist as I don't have the funds to pay for one, but have worn a holter monitor on a couple of occasions, and of course, had several EKG's and a stress test. All passed with flying colours. The diagnosis is always sinus tachycardia -- nothing to worry about. Most folks can take a higher dose of meds to control it than I can since I have low blood pressure and the meds (beta blockers) to control tachycardia also bring blood pressure down. My normal blood pressure is +/- 100/70 and it falls to +/- 90/65 when I low carb and I'd rather it not go lower.

Gaelen, I'd be grateful for links to any resources you found that you think might be helpful. I haven't been able to find anything other than passing remarks or entries from folks on forums. And the Eades do not address "racing heart" in any of their literature I've discovered.

I raised ECC to 45 - 50 a day a few months ago and it didn't seem to help much plus I quit losing weight, so went back down to 40. Maybe I'll try 15 ECC a meal as Janet suggests plus a snack but cut back on calories.

I did find a reference on a cardiology forum to keeping magnesium high-- 900 mg a day was suggested. In the past week I've increased to 600 mg a day in addition to what I get through food. Any higher and it effects my digestive track. (Is that a nice way of describing what too much magnesium does? :) :eek: :) ). Since I don't have muscle cramps, I'm assuming potassium levels are OK -- I do use No-Salt regularly. I quit taking calcium supplements when I started eating more yogurt and kefir, but perhaps I might start again.

Anyway, it's a mystery to me and I really would like to understand the phenomena in more depth.

[Gaelen]

BelfryBat, I will try to get those articles I found back and post the links tomorrow. I know a couple of them were cardiology review/dianostics sites.

[banshee]

Just a quick word about magnesium. I've done a lot of research on this because apparently I was deficient in magnesium, misdiagnosed as having fibromyalgia. Taking magnesium has gotten me off 4 different prescription medications and given me my life back!

I take 800-1200mg per day in my supplements plus whatever I get in my daily protein shake. If I took that much magnesium oxide, I'd be in the bathroom all the time. I'm guessing that's what you are taking, because it's the most common form of magnesium sold as a supplement. One of the best books I ever read on supplements was Dr. Atkin's supplement book (whose name of course I can't remember.) In it, he says that while magnesium oxide will get your blood levels up, there are other forms that are better at raising intracellular levels. The two he recommends are magnesium aspartate and magnesium orotate. They have the added benefit of not causing the laxative effect that magnesium oxide tends to cause in high doses. This made sense to me if it is being taken up in the cells instead of left circulating in the blood.

Anyway, I found a brand - Solaray - at a local health store that is called magnesium asporotate. It combines magnesium aspartate, magnesium citrate, magnesium orotate and a small amount of magnesium oxide in one capsule. I don't get the gastric effects taking it. I do keep some magnesium oxide around for the rare occasions when I'm a bit constipated, but mostly I stick with the higher quality stuff.

Just something to think about,
Mary

[Belfrybat]

Just a quick word about magnesium... I take 800-1200mg per day in my supplements plus whatever I get in my daily protein shake. If I took that much magnesium oxide, I'd be in the bathroom all the time. I'm guessing that's what you are taking, because it's the most common form of magnesium sold as a supplement.
Anyway, I found a brand - Solaray - at a local health store that is called magnesium asporotate. It combines magnesium aspartate, magnesium citrate, magnesium orotate and a small amount of magnesium oxide in one capsule. I don't get the gastric effects taking it. I do keep some magnesium oxide around for the rare occasions when I'm a bit constipated, but mostly I stick with the higher quality stuff.
Just something to think about,
Mary

Thank you, Mary. I didn't know there were other kinds. I'm getting ready to place an order with Netrition.com and will look and see if they have Soloray or a mixture of kinds you mention above. 600 mg of oxide is the most I can supplement with. Although if I used more I might lose weight faster?!?!?! :eek: No, won't go there!

[Dodger]

You may need more sodium. Without eating processed foods, the sodium level in foods is not high. As you use No-Salt, your sodium intake may be low. I use Lite-Salt, a combination of sodium and potassium salts.

I found this recommendation on a site (http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/arrhythmias/a/IST_2.htm) explaining sinustachcardia.


Increase salt intake. This must be done with the approval of the physician, because it goes against society’s and the medical profession’s prejudice against sodium. But salt increases the blood volume, and to the extent that a reduced blood volume contributes to symptoms, increasing the salt intake might help alleviate symptoms.

[Belfrybat]

Thanks Dodger about the heads up on sodium. I usually go over the daily allowed limit (1400 mg) according to Diet Power so thought I was getting plenty. I also use Lite Salt, along with Aunt Jane's Crazy Mixed up Salt -- my favourite as the salt particles are larger. Maybe I'll increase by 200 mg and see what happens. Since upping carbs and magnesium, I've only had one episode this week, so perhaps I'm getting a handle on it.

[deirdra]

Pseudoephedrine has given me frightening bouts of tachycardia, too. I avoid it now, but back when I had problems with it I was on a very low sodium diet (I had used Sudafed for years with no problems before that). It will be interesting to see if increasing sodium has an effect on your symptoms.

[uskrums]

Belfrybat, I, too, have the same problem. I have had this since I was little and usually only affects me when I am actively playing sports like tennis, or raquetball. When I was younger it didn't happen quite as frequently as it has over the past 3 years. Same thing from the doctors and cardiologists. Resting heart rate is normally around 65-70 but it sure does get racing! I can continue to play a match, but, like you, it is better if I slow down, even lie down and take some long breaths.

I have never had an episode just sitting around that I can remember, it always has to do with quick spurts of energy. Even mowing the lawn, drenched in sweat doesn't bring it on (maybe I could get out of mowing the lawn!). As such, I don't take any medicine for it. The Dr did say that I could look at beta blockers if it did become more problematic. I tried to do some research and, like you, couldn't find much so I would be happy to have some info as well.

I chalked it up to a little genetics and maybe out of shape. But it did spur me to get more firmly rooted in PP. I first started back in 1998 and saw great blood results (I don't really need the weight loss). I have been sort of on it over the years, but just recently finished PP LP and found this site. What a great resource! Back in 1998, people thought I was whacked to be eating eggs, cheese, and bacon double-cheeseburgers without the bun!

[Belfrybat]

Thought I'd give a brief update. In the two months since I first posted about tacchycardia problems, I changed the diet around to 55-60 ECC daily, started taking 800 mg. magnesium a day, and WellBetX PGX fibre. In the past 6 weeks, I've only had three episodes of tacchycardia and all were related to a discernible trigger -- ie that second glass of wine or caffeine. And interestingly, I've lost 10 lbs in the last two months after basically being stalled for several months previously. I think the scale loss has to do with the fact I can be more active when my heart is not racing so I'm burning more calories. Also, fasting blood sugars are much more stable and I'm not having the spikes I used to. I was afraid they would rise with the increased carbs, but instead have gone down a bit. Thank you all for your suggestions.

[banshee]

Great job, BB! So glad to hear you've gotten the tachy mostly controlled.

[Mitra]

Thank you for the update - I was wondering how it was going. And losing 10 lbs is nice, too :D.