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Have Skipped Heart Condition For Long, Resting Heart Rate Is Very Low. Can Magnesium Help?

Posted on Wed, 2 Oct 2013

Question: Hi there, I have a skipped heart condition for many years now. The doctor said there is nothing he can do. He did say I might need a pacemaker when I get older. My resting heart rate is around 42 beats per minute. I have heard that magnesium can be very beneficial with palpitations. I would like to start taking it because I notice it from time to time and its bothering me! Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Mg may not help / EPS may be needed

Detailed Answer:
Hi friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic

     Magnesium is unlikely to benefit – unless there s deficiency / simple blood test can document it.
     If there are no clues and if the problem is still bothering to the extent of interfering with life style, there are advanced techniques of investigations of increasing complexity – Electro Physiological Studies (EPS) > it resembles angio – a catheter is put inside the heart / electrical activity recorded / stimulation and suppression tests are carried out / suitable medicine tested and so on. Though the test is the gold standard, it is INVASIVE and is not generally done unless there are compelling indications. This super-speciality expert is called ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGIST.
     The treating doctor may suggest them depending on need, based on his assessment of the situation.

Take care
Wishing speedy recovery
God bless
Good luck

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (6 minutes later)

Is there anything naturally I can take that would help my skipped beats. Will a pacemaker or ICD be able to help? Also, I have heard that people with skipping heart beats are more at risk for strokes. Is this true? Please provide more input doctor! I am always concern I will drop dead one day!

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Be positive / You will be well

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

It depends on the cause... Relaxation, biofeed back, yoga help some
Pacemaker helps for sure – if the slow rate is the cause of symptoms...
ICD is for specific indications only and is useful..
Exact diagnosis is essential to decide on the device

     A beat comes earlier than normal – this itself is not usually felt. The next beat is a bit delayed - longer time to recover form early extra beat – so heart fills more and the beat appears forcible – thud / lubb - - dubb - - lubb - - dubb - lub - - - DUBB / So, there is extra beat – nothing to worry...
     Ectopic beats can arise from ventricle (lower chamber of the heart - Ventricular Ectopic; VPC) or Atrium (upper chamber - Atrial Ectopic; APC). APCs are generally harmless. Even VPCs are often harmless – ‘benign’.
     Relax. You are young; you sound intelligent – you stand an excellent chance of returning to normalcy.
Be positive – why fear the heart beats faster, forcible or more? You are tolerating the rate well - means that you may not have any basic disease of the valve, muscle and so on.
Be in touch with your doctor - it is a question of time and you will be well.
Medicine is well advanced nowadays – management is possible for almost all situations...

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (3 hours later)

Thanks for replying back doctor! Honestly, I am very annoyed by the feeling! It gets bothersome when I am trying to take a test at school or when I sleep, so that is why I want to know what can be done to minimize the feeling of the beats. If there is something that can reduce the feeling in my chest by 10 percent, I would be grateful! Please provide me more input!

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
More the merrier!

Detailed Answer:
Dear friend,

Relax... stress and anxiety may increase
Learn to ignore... Be active – busy so that your attention is diverted...
The feeling depends on individual sensitivity – some do not feel them at all / some may feel every beat.

Anaemia / Anxiety / Alcohol / Tobacco (smoking) / Caffeine (too much tea, coffee, cola) / Fever / Infection / Pain / Stress / Thyroid / Medicines like Phenylephrine used for ‘cold’; Salbutamol used for asthma and so on – are often responsible for missed beats.... / Only ocasionally, are abnormal nerve paths in the heart (bypass tracts) or disease of the conduction system are accountable!

Enjoy your life / Keep following up with your doctor
Most people do well – in spite of us doctors, if not because of us!

God bless you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (5 hours later)

Thank you doctor! So as for now, there is nothing that can be done to lessen the feeling I am getting? There is no device or medicine to help me?

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Things can be done

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Nothing need be done / Rather than, nothing can be done...
You may benefit from a device or medicine / but, for that, further assessment and exact diagnosis is necessary... That demands EPS, which is invasive... and is done only when it is absolutely necessary... Therapeutic manipulations (like ablation) can also be done by the procedure..

Regards

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar