potassium has cured my PACs (for now)(knock wood)

[High_Anxiety]

In addition to having tachycardias (both 1) chronically elevated HR w/ exertion intolerance and 2) paroxysmal tach of 180+ BPM which are currently undefined by my E.P.), I have experienced intermittent episodes of PACs.  I never get that many, really, and have gone weeks without one, but occasionally I will have a bad day with 50 or more.

When I had a blood test in April, my potassium level was found to be extremely low -- something like 1.8.

I started taking a daily prescribed supplement and have not had any PACs in a few weeks. Could be coincidence. We shall see.

I think the reason my level was so low is that I was drinking about 3-4 liters of Diet Cola every day. Cola drinks are known to leech potassium.

[achillea]

Potassium is indeed extremely important when it comes to 'excitable' cells, as heart cells are.   In a (simplified) nutshell, the cells of our body have a membrane around them that controls what goes in and what comes out.  To have a 'calm' cell, you want a relatively high concentration of potassium on the inside, compared to sodium on the outside.  When the amount of potassium on the inside gets low, the electrical status of the membrane is disturbed, and a cell that can fire off or contract will do so.

In the cells of the heart, the heart rate is normally determined by a *regular* electrical discharge and recharge of the cells' membrane, caused by the membrane's ability to control the sodium and potassium moving either way.  This fluctuation is normal, natural, and essential.

But it can be disturbed by problems within the cell membrane--as well as by the amount of potassium in the body.

In some people, low potassium is due to diet, but a number of folks have medical problems that don't let them store potassium well.

However, It should be noted that overdosing on potassium can kill you fast.    Prescriptions are designed to keep the level safe, so don't muck around with your dosage.

[marlinspike]

I would be interested to know what exactly you are taking and how much. I am having a bad spell this evening with 6 or so pvcs a minute, which makes me very anxious. Glad to hear you have found something that works. After several ekgs and monitors, I have occasionally had blood tests but never a potassium, magnesium or other electrolyte count.

[MichelleP_3811]

I have heard other cases where taking magnesium helped but not so much potassium but potassium does affect muscles and the heart is one big muscle so it makes sense.  Well good to hear you are feeling better.  :)