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Medical and other procedures triggering afib episodes
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: May 19, 2023 | Replies (24)Comment receiving replies
On the subject of the fickleness of incident paroxysmal atrial fibrillation:
This (what follows) sums up just about everything I have come to know about the fickle & very often infuriatingly unpredictable nature of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), whatever its genesis (whether it's iatrogenic or "Lone" AF or AF caused by myocardial damage from incident myocarditis...which was further caused by administration of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines or by a COVID-19 infection)--& I quote the first lines of this erudite & lengthy tract (which I heartily encourage others to read):
"It is likely that LAF only develops when three conditions are met:
1) The autonomic nervous system is dysfunctional.
2) The heart tissue is abnormally sensitive and capable of being triggered into and
sustaining an afib episode.
3) A trigger or precipitating cause capable of initiating an episode is present."
An abnormally sensitive heart tissue, if triggered, becomes a source of premature atrial complexes (PACs) or ectopic beats that, if frequent enough, may run together to create atrial fibrillation. German researchers have recently confirmed that the majority of afib episodes are preceded by a series of premature atrial beats. The origin of these beats is the left atrium in almost 80% of all cases."
See: https://www.afibbers.org/resources/aldosterone.pdf, entitled "Aldosterone: Villain of the Peace?" by Hans Larsen, MSc, ChE
Replies to "On the subject of the fickleness of incident paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: This (what follows) sums up..."
Thank you, Shoshin, for your responses, summing up just about everything you have come to know about the fickle & very often infuriatingly unpredictable nature of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and for the reference to "Aldosterone: Villain of the Peace" ( will try to read this). Will also try to learn more about metabolic/hormonal intervention. As you say, afib is extremely frustrating.
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Further quoting (because I have spent so much time thinking about, observing, operationalising my observations in an Excel spread sheet, & conducting simple tests of hypotheses...about my own experience of paroxysmal AF...& finding much of what Hans Larsen observes...in his own experience...to obtain in my own case):
"The violent movement and stretching of the atria and ventricles caused by the fibrillation result in the release of ANP and BNP. These hormones immediately start dumping Na+ and water through the kidneys causing increased urination and normalizing the Na+/K+ ratio. ANP partially blocks the calcium channels in cardiac myocytes and thereby helps slow the heart rate. ANP also suppresses not only aldosterone and cortisol production, but the entire RAAS causing aldosterone to leave the stage. This frees up beta to concentrate on converting cortisol to inactive cortisone resulting in a normalization of cortisol levels.
Once the Na+/K+ ratio and cortisol levels have been normalized the factors sustaining the afib have been removed and the ANS will once again be able to take control and terminate the episode. The return to normal sinus rhythm can sometimes be facilitated by light exercise, which is known to release additional ANP.
The duration of the afib episode will depend on the vigour of the ANP response. This response is less pronounced in older afibbers and in afibbers with LAF of long standing because of the progressive fibrosis of the heart tissue caused by many episodes."
So I have completely & religiously implemented the Sinatra metabolic cardiology protocol (e.g., increased level of Co-Q10 supplementation, added D-Ribose, hawthorne, glycine, BCAA, & L-glutamine) ...and have added almost all of the Patrick Chalmers et al. Afibbers.org metabolic supplemental protocol (including the basics, that is, taurine, potassium, magnesium taurate)--& tested each addition as I either added or removed the metabolic supplement.
Further re-reading ( I have read & re-read this Hans Larsen piece 8 times--& followed up with a search & review-- via PubMed, of a number of basic & clinical research articles investigating the biological/metabolic phenomena referenced by Hans Larsen)...has brought me to my latest n =1 case adventure:
So this week I am testing a new line of metabolic-hormonal intervention: I am seeking to re-regulate the cortisol response to bring the RAAS-potassium-magnesium dysregulation to something more normative.
As I do not have access to...eplereonone (& not sure I'd be comfortable using it anyway)...I am using...500 mg of ashwagandha b.i.d. (on an empty stomach)--& I take the evening dose just before I go to bed (in addition to all of the above-mentioned metabolic-cardiological supplementation; & I have completely re-revamped all of my supplementation, which is too much to go into in this post).
Ashwagandha--like other supplements, is NOT a concentrated chemical formulation & does NOT evince immediate & drastic effects. So time takes time.
Add to this the always present & powerful...placebo effect (the most undervalued medical intervention in the world)...& my experience (yesterday & today) of re-regulation of this cortisol-RAAS-potassium-magnesium deficiencies precipitating the onset of ectopic beats & AF...has me (as always) hopeful that this morning's absence of AF, a substantial drop in my average heart rate (RHR overnight also dropped dramatically), & normal orthostatic function/performance (which I first rise from bed in the morning)...indicates at least the potential for better management of my paroxysmal AF.
More will be revealed.
Final note: I say: "Stop guessing; start testing!"
I have taken up in earnest the use of blood-based in-home testing...to know with objectivity...where I stand. All of the testing I do (apart from using the Horiba potassium meter to gauge my extracellular potassium levels) uses...dried-blood testing technology through a certified lab (that uses silicon photonic sensors)...to assess/measure key biomarkers, including cardiac & inflammation biomarkers (& to guide my metabolic-cardiological supplementation).
I refuse any longer to be a passive slug relying exclusively upon the orders of a fee-for-service physician I do not know & who hardly knows me or how my biological-psychological life is lived...to order & oversee my testing (& much of my health care). Home testing, decentralised science & decentralised medicine....are the future (& that's not just my opinion).
Stay safe & all the best!