Salt and atrial fibrillation

I have recently developed atrial fibrillation. Attacks can be quite severe with blood pressure and pulse shooting over 200. Attacks last about 12 hours but usually can't allow the condition to go on that long with medical help. Have found most, if not all, attacks brought on within 20 minutes of eating a high salt meal, (around 2000 mgm, sometimes less). I am having to live on a very low salt diet for this reason. How common is this. I am taking 225 mg rhymol and 5 mg lysinopril twice a day. On really low salt days I don't believe I even need the lysinopril, although I continue to take it. Any advice on controlling the salt induced atrial fibrillation. My heart is otherwise fine, no blockage, no plaque, nothing.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

I haven't heard or read about salt induced atrial fibrillation before.  If it seems to work, there are other blood pressure benefits to low salt diets as well.  Talk to your doctor before changing your medications.  I would continue to take them as directed, but decisions should be based on discussions between you and your doctor.