Heart races at night

[beki]

I am a 43 year old active female. Last year went through non Hodgkin

[Fran71]

Does magnesium really help? I suffer from sinus tachycardia and PVCs with some PACs. My cardiologist said my heart is OK and it just periodically overreacts to any form of stress or stimulus like catecolamines. He said that although my blood tests are OK I should try to eat food with lots of magnesium and potassium, but didn't suggest I take supplements. Anyone here has had benefit from magnesium supplements? I now take Indeal daily. I know supplements cannot replace meds but maybe they might decrease bad tachy episodes?

Thanks

Fran

[Hally123]

Hi, I was so happy to find this sight, and read all the posts. I ended up in the er 3 weeks ago with atrial fib. my heart was staying at rate over 200, and my blood pressure was also in the 200's over 160's. i ended up being cardioverted. Then a week ago, i went to the er again after I lay down to sleep for the night, and all of a sudden by heart started racing  My blood pressure was up also., my face became flushed, I was shaking all over, and my mouth became totally dry. I had 2 more spisodes of the same thing in the er, but they don't do anything about it. I am on cardizem 180, for high bp, and to help my heart rate. I was on metoprolol before , which I think startd this whole problem to begin with. I was normal, and fine till starting bp meds. I again last night had 3 episodes of the racing heart, high bp, flushed face, shaking etc. It happened when I just lay down to sleep. It's driving me crazy. I'm worried about it all the time, I'm wearing an event monitor for 4 weeks, so I can catch the episodes, and send them. I'm having an echo cardiogram tomorrow, and seeing a cardiologist this week. I'm thinking of trying maganesium after hearing all the success with it. Thanks for all your posts!!!!!

[veryanxious]

Mag supplementing does tend to help me a little as it soothes the entire nervous system. Another good supplement for me is Taurine, an amino acid byproduct, found in any GNC, which works pretty good for me. Its supposed to calm the nervous system. Also , vitamin E works pretty good.

I have noticed that for me personally, b vitamins and flax oil seem to aggravate PVC's and PAC's big time, as well as Niacin (a b vitamin) the niacin REALLY made them bad.

The truth is NOTHING is a panacea for these things, and modern medicine still doesnt appear to know too much about them. With my limited layman knowledge, I am convinced that different neural pathways must be activated to activate the right circuts. I think different things such as panic, anxiety, depression, and stress can activate the bad ones, and it may take a long time (even after the anxiety and depression are not present) years, even, to get the healthy ones firing again. My theory isnt based on any science, just an instinctive feeling I have, as i have studied these things and observed them in myself to the point where it has consumed me....because they, basically, already have.

[fearfactor]

Actually, magnesium supplements work well for my PACs/PVCs.  My mag level was low-normal in blood testing and I started taking 400 mg per day of magnesium glycinate (very absorbable form by KAL).  My PACs/ PVCs have decreased.  I ran out of the supplement a couple weeks ago and while I was waiting to get a new shipment I started having worse palps so I know it works for me.  I eat an orange a day for potassium and don't take that in supplement form.  I also take Toprol XL, 12.5 mg a day, which helps with fast heartbeat (I have anxiety issues and it prevents my heart from going out of control when I have a panic attack!).

[mnjohn]

Does anyone ever feel like they are getting a wierd beat that feels nothing like PVC'S? Those are the ones that really freak me out, but i guess im still alive.

[LukeL]

Some say even if your blood serum magnesium is normal it doesn't mean your cellular magensium levels are normal. I am not sure if this is a bunch of lies or not.

I have said it to other people a low dose beta blocker can be a great option and usually has very few side effects and can work wonders in some people.

I am not a doctor and you should discuss this with him.