Re: Breast cancer, a-fib, and calcium tablets

I responded on another thread , under breast cancer 🙂

I don't know how calcium could cause afib. However, I do know there is "magical thinking" and assumptions in the medical community about calcium somehow magically going to your bones to strengthen them. And I DO know there's a reason a coronary artery calcium scan (CACS) – a simple CT of the heart performed without injection of any contrast dyes which easily shows calcification (plaque) in the three major heart arteries, ie heart disease that can lead to heart attacks. Uh… did you catch that? CALCIFICATION. The plaques are made of calcium. That's why it is important (don't listen to me, talk to a doctor who will TALK to you and who bothers to stay up on research — and there is tons on this) to take vitamin K2 and vitamin D which is needed to keep calcium, simply put, going to bones and not clogging arteries.. don't take my word for it, get someone who is medically literate to look at the research . One possible way excess calcium could potentially contribute to arrhythmia would be if you are not getting enough magnesium. Again, don't take what I say as truth. Read. Ask questions. Think. Consider.. don't panic. But please don't engage in "magical thinking" that calcium tablets just head to bone to keep it strong..

If there was a problem with calcium intake and treated AF, I would think it would be routine to advise patients to lower their intake of calcium, especially if supplements are used in addition to a regular diet that includes dairy. Of course, this changes from patient-to-patient, but I was not questioned about my own diet, and not told to desist from eating as much dairy when I was first treated for my own AF. Besides, you're on a calcium channel blocker which should suffice to keep the heart rate down and any hypertension controlled.

I would consult another internist about your conflicting prescriptions. If you need calcium to keep your skeleton intact, especially your hip joints, then I would be averse to limiting the utility of that prescription.