Questions posted in the Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Subject: Re: Aspartame (NutraSweet) and the Heart
Forum: The Heart Forum
Topic Area: Arrhythmia
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on November 17, 1998 at 15:24:13:
In Reply to: Aspartame (NutraSweet) and the Heart posted by Todd Wright on November 17, 1998 at 14:53:22:


In 1990 i had a bout with Anxiety that took me to the hospital emergency
room. I swore I was having a heart attack so they ran all the usual test
on me at that time. Of course everything checked out and i was released
that night. But since that night I have battled Anxiety constantly.

In 1994 while at work I bent down to pick up something. When I stood up
my heart went into atrial fibrilation. Had every test available and stayed
overnight in the hospital. My heart converted back over on its own that
night. My docter suggested getting of caffeine and nicotine (snuff)products.
From that point on i switched to caffeine free diet cokes. I did continue
to use the snuff though.

I went back in the hospital with Atrial fib about 1 year later in 1995. I
had to be converted back to a normal rhythm with medications from this
point on. At that time i decided to quit the snuff due to the Doc's advice and
concern over the nicotine.

I was back in the hospital again about a year from the day in 1996, and then
again in March of 1998. No caffeine no nicotine. I have been on Lanoxin and
Altenolol. Neither worked for me. Currently I am taking 80mg Betapace twice
a day. My docters have no good explanation as to why a current 31 year old male
would be having successive bouts with Atrial fib. They have just said to
try and see if the betapace keeps me out of this rhythm. I am on no other
medications at this time.

My question is this. I have recently pinned down the start of my diet coke
intake to about the 1990 time frame. The same time my anxiety and heart
palpatations began to appear. I have had constant bouts with PVC's as well
throughout this entire time frame. Would there be any case to pin the
use of the product "aspartame" (Nurtasweet)as the reason for having PVC's
and Atrial fib or is it a coincidence that i started using it around the
same time these problems developed?

Never had any of these problems prior to 1990. Still drink caffeine free
diet coke everyday. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry for the long winded letter,

Todd Wright

Dear Todd

There is no connection that I am aware of and none that I can theorize. It would be reasonable to stop the soft drink intake and see if it makes a difference; it can't hurt and might help.

There are young people out there with afib and no obvious cause; they tend to do much better with afib than older individuals. Hopefully, the Betapace will do the trick.

I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.

If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.

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