I have been having what doctors call palpitations every day

I read that the vagus nerve, which runs from the stem of your brain down to your lower spine can cause palpitations when irritated. I do exercises for this, but it comes back. Anyone else seen this theory?

@bluegirl6 Yes, there is such a condition known in the medical community called 'dysautonomia,' Vagal tone is widely accepted as a factor in how the heart functions, but also in how other organs function. The Vagus nerve regulates the 'calming' influence of the parasympathetic nervous system, whereas the sympathetic nervous system enables higher capacity than one would normally call on...the fight-or-flight response when the need is urgent. The sympathetic nervous response is associated with the amygdala in the brain (the fear center), and the adrenal cortex. People who are continually stressed have a higher baseline stress response with more epinephrine circulating and more cortisol (which is supposed to help healing if you get wounded in a fight or by a tiger/bear).

I tried various methods to soothe the Vagus nerve, or to restore its tone, and had mediocre results. Stroking the tragus on both ears helped some, but it was hardly worth my time since it didn't stop atrial fibrillation.

Hello, I'm wondering are you still having them? If not what did u do to change it and make them stop, I am also been having it for months.

Just to comment that there are a lot of types and causes of arrhythmias that might be labeled, palpitations. If you do a Web search you'll find a lot of claims about what works – sometimes for some people – like breathing exercise, meditation, changes in diet.or lifestyle, etc, If the palpitations are not A-fib or A-flutter, some interventions like the Valsalva maneuver might help. A doc might prescribe meds for symptoms if they were affecting QOL.

@gloaming what’s your perspective of magnesium taurate vs glycinate for PVCs reduction.?Taurate gives me stomach issues. Is one really better than the other from your view?

@desmondmartinwork stop consuming anything containing caffeine.

@713j I have done some reading on this and watched at least one pharmacological video on The Tube, and I have seen some weak evidence for one formulation being better for a given condition than one of the others widely available. I only take melatonin for sleep, and only allow myself that compound twice a week. I sleep well enough in between that I don't need more or any other 'remedy', including magnesium. When I take magnesium, about once a week...just 'cuz...I expect that it may help to keep me asleep longer. But it's really meant to ensure my heart doesn't go without. When in an ICU prior to my first ablation, they gave me two large white horse pills. I asked, and they said my potassium is low. Surprising, but who was I to argue, flat on my back 'n all. So, when I make a daily afternoon coffee for the missus and me, I sprinkle a dusting of potassium-chloride table salt (yes, at your grocers) into the carafe before pressing the power button. A dusting, again....just 'cuz. Not half a tsp.

I wanted to be comprehensive for you and for other readers later, hence my paragraph above. Back to Mg, I have only ever taken the citrate, bis-glycinate, and malate formulations. None of them did anything that I could put my finger on, good or bad. So, to me, you can take yer pick. The key is the Mg, in my mind. The most readily up-taken is the citrate formulation, according to the reading I have seen and to confirmatory posts by several other members here over the past two/three years. If your own reading and suspicion is that one works better than others, especially for sleep, or for the brain, etc, I wouldn't want to disabuse you of that assumption or conclusion. I honestly don't know any better.

Have you been fitted with a Ziopatch or other Holter type long term monitor?
Since you're having palpitations daily, one of these should catch it so docs can determine whether it's Afib or something else potentially serious.
Also, if you have a Fitbit, Apple or other fitness watch, these do a pretty good job of catching Afib, if that's what's going on.
I've some good luck with using transcutaneous electral vagal nerve stim (Tvns) for my Afib. I didn't know about that earlier when I was having noticeable palpitations, but various methods of cyclical deep breathing (which has vagal implications) seemed to help calm things down.

@713j
Know you did not tag me but will pass on what my EP at Mayo Jacksonville told me.

Magnesium comes in a lot of different forms and each has a different added benefit. I was told to take 400 mg of Magnesium Citrate by my EP for PVCs. Why? He stated was the most absorbable.

Some individuals take the citrate to help with bowel movements as magnesium help bring water into intestines (EP not me). So some can have an increase in loose bowels when taking citrate. I was told if that was the case (again my EP) to take the glycinate as second best absorbed form. I have been taking 400 mg of citrate for over 2 years now. And yes did help with my PVCs along with some additional medication ordered for me recently.

My post and type of magnesium are not from "my view" but directly the information from my Mayo EP.

@jc76 do you take the 400 mg of mag. everyday?